Programmed Not To Live

Seven: New Friend

My eyes widened with hyper laughter as I looked at Juke across from me. "Did I just plant my head on someone else's?" I said in a low voice, my mind screaming to let out my laughter.

Juke didn't seem alarmed, and got up from the table to go around to speak to the person. "Thanks," I said to him, thinking he was going to fix the situation, so I didn't have to. Frankly, I was pretty content letting him do that.

Then I heard Juke say, "Matt, its early. When were you going to call me?"

"I didn't think it would be smart to join you when I got here, so I just came over here." A second later, I jumped at the words: "Where is she?"

"She's the person who laid her head on yours," I heard Juke say. I was surprised and raised my eyebrows when I detected a tone of amusement in Juke's words. I turned around, holding my shake between my hands.

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice a little slurred by sipping sugar and being half-asleep. Juke had his hand on the back of the seat between me and the stranger, and he didn't look at me, just at the young man sitting there.

"Well, tell me what's new," Juke said, sliding into the booth facing the young man called Matt. I was too interested to turn back around in my seat, so I tiredly leaned my chin on my arm on the back of my seat. I was too tired to think it was strange that Juke knew this guy, but it still caught my curiosity, so I watched them idly with big, half-closed blue eyes.

"Nothing," Matt said quietly, toying with a drink he had on the table. I didn't get the idea that he was ever a loud man. "I just got in," he said. "How's it been?"

Juke faintly rolled his eyes. "Its been good," he admitted, and I muttered softly, shifting positions, "Thank you."

Juke heard me and met my gaze, then looked away. "What now?" he asked. Matt smiled and played with his cup some more.

"I'll let you know when I find out," he said, and I found that I liked the sound of his voice more than Juke's cold tone. Matt was more confident, and didn't seem as morbid as Juke was a lot.

"Hey, so where are we going tonight?" I asked with curiosity, not noticing how loud my voice had gotten. Matt turned his head to look at me, and looked deeply into my eyes. For a second I wondered how awkwardly he had guessed my secret, evil thoughts about how Juke's voice was horrid and worse. His eyes were bright and green, and they shook me, because I thought I had seen them before, this close up. I tensed at the idea, but then breathed a sigh of relief when this Matt guy looked away. 

"I'm not sure," Matt said, looking at Juke. "I'll have to find her a place." 

I wondered mildly why he was the person picking where I stayed, but for the moment, I was too hyped on sugar and dreams to care much. I said without thinking, "Where's the unicorn?" and Matt looked at my weird, then smiled.

For a second his bright eyes were gentle, and on my face, then he looked away and I grinned sleepily, saying ridiculously with my chin against my arm, "He's... cute."

Matt smiled, like it flattered him but only mildly, and then set his tip down on the table. "I'll find a place, and we can hole up for the night where Kia can sleep, and we can talk and make a plan."

Juke seemed satisfied, and got up to go, but Matt turned around and asked me forwardly, "Have you had dinner yet?"

"Nope," I said, and I made sure to glance at Juke with an accusing, if slow, look of disapproval. "He starves me." Juke didn't say anything, and his professional silence annoyed me, so I turned around and pouted, sipping my milkshake.

Then Matt chuckled, and I raised my eyebrows, still sipping. "Juke's never been much of a human," I heard Matt say, half teasing, and half completely serious. I liked that about this man. He knew how to joke, and liven up a moment that had died back when Juke became my bodyguard.

I suddenly felt myself drifting off, and I stood up with half-closed eyes and unsteady feet. "I'm going now," I said in a very deep sleep-deprecated voice, as if announcing to the world that it was time, time for me to go. 

Matt stood up and offered me a hand. "We can go now if you want," he said kindly, but I slipped as I reached for his arm, and Juke had to catch me, putting out his arms like a robot, which really annoyed me. I couldn't complain with a voice that didn't obey me, so I just glared at him, until I felt my left eye moving unnaturally, and closed both of them.

"Just..." I started to say, but Matt took charge and reached for his car keys in his pocket. "We'll go somewhere safe, and get some sleep, okay, Kia?"

He was being so nice to me. I just smiled at him sleepily, and laid my head down on his shoulder, which he took in stride and accepted without caring. He even wrapped his right arm around me, like I belonged there.

"Get my car," he said to Juke. "I'll take her outside and meet you."

I could barely see where I was going, but I didn't release Matt from my arm, and he didn't either. I finally made it out onto the curb, and was laid in a car that didn't seem like it was real. I heard Juke's voice saying something oddly, then Matt's face swam above me. 

"I -" I started to say, but I saw Juke take a blanket and put it over me, instead of listening to what I had to say. I tired to get up, but his arm was in the way, and I grabbed it hard, with both my hands. I frowned as I felt how solid his arm was, and then said something I will regret for the rest of my life:

"You're not made of plastic, are you?" I think I saw his eyebrows twitch before he disappeared.