What if...? // K A T E L E N A

Chapter 16: Shower Talk

The group sat in the hotel dining area, the tension of the day momentarily eased by the presence of food. Alice ate with an almost feral speed, clearly ravenous, while Kamala, Cassie, Kate, and Yelena watched her with a mixture of fascination and concern.

"What's your name?" Kamala asked, breaking the silence as she leaned forward, curiosity lighting up her expression. She kept her tone gentle, her eyes warm.

Alice paused mid-bite, swallowing quickly. "Sorry," she said, her voice steady despite her frenzied eating. "I'm just so hungry. It's been forever since I had real food. Name's Alice Chambers."

Kamala nodded with a welcoming smile. "Nice to meet you, Alice. I'm Kamala, that's Cassie, and over there is Kate." She gestured toward the others. "And that," she added, pointing toward Yelena, "is Yelena. She's, uh... kind of another version of you. From a different universe."

Alice blinked, her chewing slowing as she processed the bombshell. Her gaze shifted to Yelena, who remained stoic but curious, her sharp eyes scanning Alice as if assessing her every move.

Kamala pressed on, sensing Alice's confusion. "We're from a different parallel world. Multiverse stuff. It's a lot to take in, I know. But as soon as America recovers, we'll head back to where we came from."

"You're so sweet. You know. Are you sure you killed your husband? have you been to Russia?" Kate asked. 

Cassie chimed in with an awkward chuckle, trying to soften the tension. "Sorry about Kate. It's her first time dealing with... well, all this. Alternate dimensions, doppelgängers—you know, the usual."

Alice let out a small laugh, her face softening. "It's fine," she said with a hint of amusement while slowing down her eating. "I've been in another world too—a virtual reality. Besides, I think Kate's cute. I like her." Her tone was casual, but her smile held a certain warmth as her gaze settled on Kate.

Kate's eyes widened as her cheeks flushed a bright red. She stammered, tripping over her words like a flustered schoolgirl. "Oh! 'Like'? Like, as in like like? Or just... you know, like? Because, uh, you said you liked me, and that's cool! But, uh, we just met, so—" Her nervous laugh was cut short as she scratched the back of her neck awkwardly.

Yelena's lips twitched in the faintest of smiles. She watched Kate's endearing clumsiness with amusement, though a subtle flicker of something deeper crossed her expression. 

Alice chuckled softly, her grin turning knowing. "So adorable," she murmured, her gaze still on Kate.

"Right?!" Kamala chimed in enthusiastically, as if Kate's charms were her personal pride. Cassie shot Kamala a suspicious side-eye, arching a brow as though questioning what she meant by that.

Yelena's faint smile vanished at Alice's and Kamala's comment. A strange tension twisted in her chest, a cocktail of emotions she didn't care to name. Her sharp eyes flicked toward Alice, who didn't seem fazed in the least, her smile unwavering. Yelena's jaw tightened.

"Virtual reality?" Cassie asked, her curiosity piqued. "Isn't that, like... a game?"

Alice's smile faltered. She set down her fork, her eyes clouding over with memories. "No," she said softly. "Not a game. It was a simulation. A small town where every day was the same. My husband put me there, erased my memories, and made me believe it was perfect."

Of course, Alice has a husband. Yelena's probably straight. Kate's mind spiraled. 
What if Yelena's been faking this whole time? Trying to get us back to that cell? Taking advantage of my feelings?

A flicker of betrayal flared in her chest as she stared down at her hands.

"Wait," Kamala said suddenly, her eyes wide. "Killing your husband was the way out?!"

Alice swallowed, "Actually, No, I didn't mean it. It was an accident. I wanted to get out, he was trying to stop me."

The tension thickened. Kate's gaze darted toward Yelena, her anger bubbling up again. Yelena caught the look and frowned, confused. "What's that look for?" she asked sharply, crossing her arms.

Kate's heart thudded in her chest, a maelstrom of emotions threatening to spill over. "I'm going to take a shower," she blurted out, her voice higher pitched than usual. She grabbed a change of clothes and practically fled the table.

The group exchanged awkward glances. "What just happened?" Alice asked, clearly puzzled. "Yelena and Kate..." Cassie hesitated, glancing at Kamala for backup.

Kamala sighed. "We actually just met them... what I understand is, Kate is angry because she's friends with Yelena and Kate find out Yelena is working with the people who abducted us." she explained while Yelena nodded.

"I was undercover and planning on taking the entire building down." Yelena added.

"Yeah, and that. But I do trust Yelena, she saved my life." Kamala said.

"Yeah, I saw that. You know," Cassie paused, turning to Yelena. "You should talk to Kate, look her in the eyes and apologize." Cassie had suggested, meaning for Yelena to have a serious conversation with Kate once she was done in the bathroom.

Alice and Kamala nodded in agreement, thinking it was the best way to clear the air.

"Okay, I'll try." Yelena's expression had been unreadable, but she seemed to take their advice to heart, turning on her heel and heading straight for the bathroom without a word. 

As soon as Yelena disappeared through the bathroom door, realization struck the three girls at once.

"Wait—" Kamala's voice trailed off, her eyes widening in horror.

Cassie's mouth fell open as she realized what she'd just done looking back and forth at Kamala and Alice.

"Oh no," she whispered, her face paling.

Kamala facepalmed dramatically. "Cassie, you didn't tell her when to talk to Kate! Now she's just barged in while Kate's in the shower!"

Alice's eyes were wide with shock, but there was a hint of amusement twitching at the corners of her lips. "She's so serious and innocent at the same time."

Inside the bathroom, the muffled sounds of surprise echoed faintly through the walls, followed by a loud clattering noise into the tiles. Kate's voice was a mix of panic and disbelief. "Get out!"

Kamala couldn't help but burst into laughter, unable to stop herself from imagining Kate's flustered reaction. Cassie just stood there, frozen in place, her face a mix of guilt and embarrassment.

"This is so your fault, Cassie," Kamala teased, though she was clearly amused by the whole situation.

Cassie groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I swear I didn't mean it like that!"

-

End.