Stories Collide - A Stuart Gibbs Story

Chapter 10: I Couldn't Think Of A Title For This

Chapter 10:

Perspective Switch: Dashiell Gibson.

I NEEDED CHARLIE ALONE, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO GET RID OF KIRA.

"FINE," I TOLD HER.

SHE LOOKED AT ME BLANKLY. "WHAT?"

"I'LL TELL YOU WHAT CHARLIE IS. SHE WAS AN INVENTION OF CHANG'S. SHE IS A VERY ADVANCED MODEL OF A HOLOGRAPHIC HUMAN. AS I SAID, CHANG MADE HER AND ONLY GAVE ME THE CONTROLS. HE'S BEEN WORKING ON HER FOR A WHILE. SEE? I'LL SHUT HER OFF."

I PRETENDED TO REACH INTO MY POCKET TO HIT A SWITCH. I COULD ONLY HOPE CHARLIE WOULD PLAY ALONG.

SHE DID. SHE CLOSED HER EYES, STIFFENED UP, AND PROMPTLY FELL FACE-FIRST ON THE FLOOR.

"SEE?" I SAID.

KIRA DIDN'T BUY IT. SHE NARROWED HER EYES ANGRILY, BUT WALKED AWAY.

I CLOSED THE GREENHOUSE DOOR AND SIGHED WITH RELIEF. CHARLIE CRAWLED OVER TO THE TOMATO PLANT AGAIN AND SAT DOWN.

"SO. HOW DO YOU USE THE TOILETS?"

"THAT'S A LONG STORY. WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU REMEMBER DOING BEFORE YOU APPEARED UP HERE."

I WAS SITTING BY A WATERFALL AFTER FINDING A DISCOVERY OF CHARLES DARWIN."

I ROLLED MY EYES. "OF COURSE YOU WERE."

"I WAS."

NORMALLY, I WOULD HAVE ROLLED MY EYES AGAIN, BUT I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW CHARLIE YET, AND I COULDN'T ASSUME ANYTHING ABOUT HER. AT THAT POINT, THE BEST ASSUMPTION THAT I COULD MAKE WAS THAT CHARLIE WAS ALSO FROM BOSCO, LIKE ZAN. THINKING ABOUT HER ALMOST BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES.

"WHY ARE YOU CRYING?" ASKED CHARLIE.

MY HEAD SNAPPED UP. "I AM NOT."

"YOU ALMOST DID."

"NO I DIDN'T."

"YES YOU DID."

"SHUT UP AND STOP ARGUING!" I YELLED.

CHARLIE SHUT UP BUT HER GRIN DIDN'T FALL OFF HER FACE.

I CALMED MYSELF AND SAID, "WE'RE LEAVING TOMORROW. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET ON THE ROCKET WITHOUT ANYONE NOTICING?"

FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS WITH CHARLIE, I HAD BEEN TRYING TO ACT NORMAL, SEEING MY PARENTS AND FRIENDS AT MEALS WHILE CHARLIE WAS HIDING IN THE GREENHOUSE(WHILE DOCTOR GOLDSTEIN WASN'T THERE, OF COURSE. CHARLIE SEEMED TO BE FASCINATED WITH THE FACT THAT YOU COULD GROW FOOD ON THE MOON.) I DIDN'T KNOW HOW SHE WOULD GET ONTO THE ROCKET.

"I'LL GO IN YOUR LUGGAGE." SAID CHARLIE DEFINITELY. "I'LL FIT."

I EXPLAINED TO HER THAT THERE WAS VERY LIMITED SPACE ON THE MOON SO WE ALL BROUGHT SMALLER SUITCASES THAT WERE FILLED TO MAXIMUM CAPACITY WITH STUFF.

"WELL, I'LL FIND A WAY."

ALL I COULD DO WAS TRUST HER.

I WENT TO THE DINING HALL FOR DINNER, BROUGHT BACK CHARLIE SOME REHYDRATED CRAP, AND WE SLEPT IN THE GREENHOUSE THAT NIGHT.