From Outer Space

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

''Brody!'' Lauren calls out as soon as Camila opens the door to the bedroom part of the space station. The boy lifts his head up and smiles at her while offering a small wave.

''Hey! It's good to see you.'' He says, his voice a bit hoarse and he smiles at all three of his colleagues.

''Damn, you look terrible.'' Jesse states while following after Lauren and Camila to join them in the bedroom.

''That's what I said too.'' Camila says with a smile, and Brody playfully glares at her.

''Shut up Cabello. And you too McCartney.'' Brody replies quickly and the two other astronauts just laugh.

''How are you feeling?'' Lauren asks, genuine concern dripping from her voice while she pulls herself towards her best friend to give him a gentle hug.

''I'm okay.'' Brody answers, unclipping the belt around his chest to be able to sit up, keeping the belt around his legs fastened so he doesn't float away.

''You look pale.'' Lauren notices and lets her eyes wander to his foot.

''Yeah, it sucks to have no pain killers anymore.'' He mutters and Lauren nods.

''Brody, Camila and I will go handle the oxygen tanks, you and I have enough time to catch up on our way home.'' Jesse announces and both Brody and Lauren turn to the door.

''Do you need help?'' Lauren asks, looking at her ex-girlfriend who is still watching her with a gentle and happy gaze.

''Nah, don't worry about it, Jesse and I will handle this. You two just take your time to catch up.'' Camila answers with a smile, before turning herself back around to follow Jesse towards the rocket to get the new oxygen tanks.

''Okay, thanks.'' Lauren says back just before Camila is out of the room, and she turns back to Brody.

''So, how is your foot?'' She asks as soon as they are alone and Brody frowns a little.

''It hurts. Like, a lot. I'm just really happy to be going home now to see a doctor and take some medicine.'' Brody admits softly, and Lauren nods in understanding.

''Of course you do. I told you to be careful before you left, didn't I?'' She jokes and Brody chuckles.

''Yeah... Sorry 'bout that.'' He replies playfully and Lauren shakes her head with a smile.

''Don't worry. I'm just glad it wasn't something worse. Who knows what could have happened..'' she trails off, looking through a small window shortly only to see all blackness surround them. She quickly looks back at Brody, not wanting to imagine floating off into space all alone... she can feel the panic rise within her just at the thought of it.

''Well, if it wasn't for Camila, things would have definitely gone way worse.'' Brody admits, watching the edges of Lauren's mouth curl up at only the name of his colleague and he looks down.

''Yeah, I heard..'' Lauren mutters, diverting her eyes to the swelling around Brody's ankle.

''You know, she's not that bad after all.'' Brody says after a few moments of silence, and Lauren's eyes snap back up at him.

''What.. what makes you say that?'' she wonders curiously, knowing that Brody was the one person who hated Camila almost as much, if not more than Lauren when he found out Camila cheated on her.

Brody shrugs. ''We had some time to talk these last two months.'' He says and watches Lauren's big curious eyes watch him carefully.

''And you didn't kill each other?'' she says with a smile and Brody chuckles before shaking his head.