Page 72 of Between Earth and Eternity
And I can’t help but wonder which role I fill.
Am I the moth or the flame?
Every little lie gives me butterflies
Something in the way you’re looking through my eyes
Don’t know if I’m gonna make it out alive
“Teeth,” 5 Seconds of Summer
Ibreak routine, and instead of going to the library after the gym, I go back to the biosphere. Not even a run cleared my mind, so perhaps a dose of nature will. Ori, no surprise, slept in. Despite turning Payson down, I expected to see him or at leasthear from him this morning, especially after what happened to Mr. Timmons last night. I sent him a text, but there hasn’t been a word. I mostly just want to be sure he’s okay, but I also hope he hasn’t changed his mind about being just friends.
Soon, the biosphere trail forks, one path leading to denser brush, the other toward rows of neon purple and blue flowers. Maybe I should skip going to the gym altogether and just run here. There aren’t a lot of people around.
For a moment, I’m indecisive about which way to go until I hear a couple of deep voices coming from the path to my right. I haven’t seen another soul in the hemisphere yet, and curiosity gets the better of me. I follow the stir of words that I can’t make out. As I inch closer, the voices become clear: two men who seem to be in a disagreement.
“I don’t know what I can say to make myself any clearer,” says one of the voices. Vallen. “This is wrong on so many levels, Pace.”
Surely he can’t mean Payson. But sure enough, Pace responds in a tone I’ve never heard from him, harsh and condescending. “Oh, spare me the dramatics.”
I don’t dare get too close and risk being discovered, so I press my back up against a tree trunk. I can’t see them, but I can hear them as clear as day.
“We are so close. If you’re really that desperate for some attention, then please . . . anyone but her. For the sake of all of us,” Vallen says.
“You’re one to talk”
“Excuse me?” So much authority behind two simple words.
“I’m not an idiot. I see the way you look at her.”
No one speaks for several seconds. It drives me crazy that I can't see the expression on Vallen’s face. Offended? Humored?
“Say that again.” The dare sounds like an omen.
There’s a pause, followed by, “We could tell her abou—” Pace starts, his voice back to that normal vibrato I’m used to, but Vallen steps in.
“Don’t even suggest what I think you’re about to. There are too many eyes on her.”
“Okay, fine. She is a bit . . . reactive,” Payson admits.
Vallen lets out an exasperated laugh. “That’s an understatement.” His words are cold, probably because they’re talking about me.
“But doesn’t some part of you think—”
“No,” Vallen interrupts. “And that is not your call to make. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I understand,” Payson mumbles.
“You have no idea what I had to do to convince them she’s not a real threat. They are getting more suspicious every day. Last night was proof of that. We can’t take risks.” His deep voice sends chills down my spine.
“I told you I understand. I’ll handle it.” Payson’s hostility is probably warranted, but it shocks me to hear this side of him. It gives me a different kind of chill. Maybe I don’t know Payson that well after all.
“Then it’s simple. Stop. Now. Am I clear?”
“Crystal.” Payson seethes. I swear I can hear his teeth grinding from my hiding place.
“Good,” Vallen says in the same manner he did in his office on launch day. Dragged out and menacing.
