SILVER EYES (GXG)

Chapter 11: Technology Now, for a New Human Tomorrow

My memory replayed that moment over and over again. Her, leaning on me, my breath catching hers. Her lips colliding with mine. Her hands on my hips. Her hair. Oh my... her hair. No way I could get rid of that. The moment had stuck in my head, not like an obsession... but pretty close, let's be honest.

Heather had returned to work before me, and I hadn't seen her since that day. My recovery treatment had ended, which meant I'd be returning too. I kind of hoped she'd visit me again... but she didn't. I guess she was busy.

Besides, I didn't want to see her. Wait. Liar. I did want to. It's just... you know that feeling when life throws something """""""exciting""""""" at you, but you are in a bad moment in your life, feeling like a mushy sticky noddle and totally squeezed like a raisin without a single shred of energy to handle it? That kiss felt like an endless fall to an abyss of that. Plus I had these weird outbursts, for example, I really wanted her to want to see me, but at the same time, I was scared out of my mind. Is it weird to want people to feel things instead of wanting to feel them yourself? Does that even make sense? Ugh. Okay, calm down.

Mark and Laura waited for me in the hall, and the moment I walked in, they practically pounced on me. They were holding a poster with colorful letters that read: "Grace: 1, Acid Rain: 0."

I'd bet my kindly it was Mark who came up with the phrase.

"We missed you so much, suicidal roommate!" Mark said. "Do you like my art?"

Told you.

He straightened the poster better so I could reread it.

"I love it."

Laura rolled her eyes as she approached me and moved Mark aside with an elbow nudge.

"Leading with Mark is not the same without you, don't leave again."

I laughed. "I missed you too, guys. How has everything been around here these days?"

Mark let out an exasperated sigh.

"Quite boring, to be honest. After your adventure in the tower, we've been helping with repair work, especially at the border since transfers will start again soon." Laura explained.

Mark crossed his arms on his chest annoyed. "Yeah, and don't forget to mention we've been training for the combat exam, which is in three days."

Damn it. "The combat exam! I had totally forgotten." Fuck.

Laura placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, Grace."

"Yeah, don't worry Grace," Mark echoed in a mock-serious tone. "Even without training, you'll still be better than me."

"Well, I don't want to just be better than you," I said, smiling at Laura. "I want to be better than this lady over here."

She shook her head, smirking. "Oh wow. Look whose fame has gone to her head now that she's a hero."

"Just kidding, but I really want to get into training soon. All this time stuck in a hospital bed..."

Mark grimaced in sarcastic horror "Sounds like a total nightmare, just sleeping, no work at all..."

I laughed, and Laura gave Mark another elbow nudge, this time in his ribs.

"Ouch!" He complained, rubbing his side. "You're lucky I'm too tired to fight back."

"As if you had a single, tiny, miserable chance against me." Laura said.

I laughed again. Despite their usual bickering, It really felt nice to be back. I had missed these two. Laura rolled her eyes, ignoring Mark's complaints, and focused on me.