Salmonella

Chapter 13

🫧Thirteen🫧

BZZZZT !

My phone vibrates in my pocket, interrupting my arranging paint cans on a shelf. I knock one of them down by accident and it sinks for a moment before clattering to the floor. I shove the cans on the shelf and turn my back to the door in case someone comes in, peeking at my notifications. It's a news update about a Genesis photo shoot released this morning that's trending right now. I take a quick look at the first picture—dimly-lit and sensual, dark eyes gazing lazily at the camera. It was taken just below the surface so the light from above sparkles on her, painting amber rings in her skin. God, she looks so—

I startle as I hear the door jingle upstairs and instinctively shove the phone deep in my pocket, getting back to work.

I can hear Asslas whining from above: "I told you, I have everything under control!"

"I'm not here for you, Princess," says the other voice.

"P-Princess?!"

"Hey," someone calls behind me, "Your shift ended five minutes ago. Atlas can't hold you hostage anymore."

Jumping out of my skin, I shriek and do a backflip, floating into her outstretched arms.

"Gotcha."

And just like that, the eerie basement feels like a paradise, the angel filling it up with her light.

"Omicod, Genesis, you're here," I say, pulling away to face her. "It's time already? Am I late? Cod... I haven't even done my..." Embarrassed, I tug at my hairband, letting it fall. It had been in a messy bun and I looked gross. 

Her face pulls into a little lopsided smile. "You don't have to worry about how you look around me. I'm just a regular person, remember."

I stare at her seriously while putting supplies away. Yeah. A beautiful one.

I grab a stack of boxes and laugh nervously, pushing past Genesis out of the room. I can feel her following close behind. Down in the basement, she flicks on the light for me.

"Oh, thanks. Sorry for keeping you. If you wanna wait outside or somethi— I—" I look up to see Genesis leaning over her from behind to steady the stack of boxes, grabbing at the top ones.

"I gotchu. You want them here?" She gestures to a spot on the shelf.

I swallow. "Yeah."

"'Kay." She takes the boxes from me one by one like they weigh nothing and places them there. I stare at her wildly. Beautiful, perfect, and strong too? What else is she hiding from me? 

I feel a soft "Ready to go?" right in my ear.

"Yeah," I whisper, fighting the urge to shiver. Dammit, dammit, dammit.

"Hey," comes a sickly voice from the top of the ramp. "You down there?"

I dive to attention, swimming forward. "Yessir, Índigo! I'm here! I was putting boxes away like you asked, sorry. My shift is over. I'm gonna go now."

"Mmhm." He doesn't look impressed.

I pass him quickly, removing my smock and taking longer than necessary to hang it up. I can feel both of them behind me, eyes boring into my back.

Then I feel Genesis come up beside me, patting my shoulder and raising her voice. "All done, kiddo? Can we go?"

"Uh, yeah." I grab her bag off the floor and start zipping it up. "Sorry I look so gross. I came here right after class so I'm all sweaty and—"

"Ella, what did I say?" We start swimming to the door. "I don't care what you wear or how you look. You don't have to feel self-conscious around me."

I rub my arm, not knowing why I'm being so awkward. "I know, but..." We make our way out the door. "It's not just you. It's everyone. I'm always self-conscious, all the time, okay? I'm working on it."

Genesis smiles down at me, not fake or patronizing, but purely genuine. "You're doing great."

I look away, my face feeling warm. I could hear the same words from anyone and they wouldn't sound like anything, but hearing them from her is different. "Mmkay, whatever," I grumble, brushing it off so she doesn't see me blush.

𓆟 𓆟 𓆟

Genesis puts on her signature shades and hat, making sure her disguise is just right before turning to me. 

"So, Ella? I wanted to apologize properly. Gosh, every time I see you I make a dick move."

I touch her arm, stopping her. "You didn't do anything—"

"No. I made you uncomfortable last time and made you feel like you had to leave. I won't do it again, I promise. I'm new to this whole friendship thing and I'm really gonna try to not mess up again. All that I ask of you is that..." She grows gentle. "You let me know when I'm making you uncomfortable."

We pause for a moment.

I blink at her. "We're... friends?"

Genesis winces. "Oh." She bites out a laugh in a not funny way. "Oh, I guess I'm being a dick again! Assuming—"

"Wait, that's not what I meant! I was just surprised! To be honest, it's kinda weird how nice you've been to me!" Genesis looks shocked. "I mean, why would someone rich and famous and not to mention beautiful even look twice at me unless they wanted something from me?"

"Woah," says Genesis, forehead crinkled. I fall silent. "Ella. I'm hurt. Is that what you think of me? That I just use people?"  

My face crumples. "Well, yeah! Look, I'm sorry, but if you're not doing this to get something from me, that's pretty pathetic—that you'd waste your time on someone as shitty as me!"

Genesis pulls me into her arms. I stop for a moment but then stop trying to confine my brimming tears and let myself sob into her shirt. When's the last time I cried to someone? I usually try and keep it together around Bloom, she's got her own shit to deal with. Everything gets dazed and distorted and my head aches and then the disoriented world tilts and when I open my eyes I'm lying on a bench with my head in Genesis' lap.

She caresses my hair, saying softly, "Wow, I must be pretty shit at apologizing. I made you cry." I whine into her shirt, reaching a hand towards her but missing. Genesis just laughs at my sad attempt to hit her. "You ready to talk about it?"

I groan and lift my head, then see the spot on her shirt and feel sick with embarrassment. I wipe at the snot but it's already seeped into the material. Crappie, crappie! "Noo, I ruined your shirt!" I cry. "I'll work for you for a month! A year! I'll clean your floors! Please don't make me pay for it; I'm but a broke student; please spare me."

"You don't need to pay me. I'm not like that."

"Okay," I sniff.

"But cleaning my floors does sound tempting..."

"Oh, yes! I will clean every one of the gazillion floors in your lavish home someone like me would never deserve to lay filthy hands on unless they were lathered in soap! Wrap me in a bow and call me your humble servant! Your wish is my command!"

"Oh, a dedicated worker. Great! You're hired. Let's go." She rides from the bench and reaches for my hand.

"Wha—" She pulls me to her. "Wait, really?" Genesis' smile deepens and without warning, she drags me through the water, zooming through the city.

"Woah... Geeenneeesssiiiiissssss...!"

We pass through Manatee Estates and Slimes Square to practically the outskirts of Shallow Reef. When we finally stop, we're in front of a bright, intimidatingly large pink mansion. I stare up at it. No way. This is the Marmoris mansion I've heard so much about?

"Well, come on," she initiates, taking me by the shoulders and leading me forward. "Don't wanna be late to your first day," she sings deviously in my ear.

Just what did I get myself into...