The Human Girl (A Star Trek Story)

04. Confessions

Every single day for five months, I would go to Mazew's office and talk to him. It was nice to talk to someone who wasn't Ayala. Ayala was nice and all, but talking to Mazew was nice as well.

However, after five months of talking to Mazew every day, I began to grow feelings for the Klingon. The feelings were slow to come to the surface.

Mazew placed a plate in front of me and sat in front of me. He sat in front of me, watching me. Throughout the five months, he has been teaching me how to speak Klingon and I've learned quite a lot.

"Zari."

I hummed, looking up with a mouthful of food.

"I've been thinking."

I almost choked, a terrible feeling growing my stomach. I met Mazew's gaze, my hand beginning to shake. I hated sentences like that.

Mazew rested a hand on mine. "I've realized that I have feelings for you. I have tried to suppress them, but I have failed. I want to be with you, but I don't know what your courting rituals are on your planet. There's also the factor of the other Klingons looking down at our relationship."

Mazew took a shaky breath. "I don't know how you feel about me, though I hope you feel the same way. Zari -" He squeezed my hand. "I believe I'm in love you."

I smiled, squeezing his hand back. "I am really glad you told me, Mazew. I love you too and I was just scared to tell you. I didn't want someone to find out and spread it around."

Mazew grabbed my other hand and held it next to the other hands. "I want to be with you, Zari. What do you think?"

I bit my lip. "I do too, Mazew, though I think we should wait. I don't want to rush into things. You get me?"

Mazew nodded. "I understand, though your language is strange. Is this more of your . . . slang?"

I nodded. "Yes, it is."

I often spoke in slang and phrases that Mazew didn't understand. Through a lot of explaining, Mazew finally understood most of what I was saying.

"We use slang on Kronos as well," Mazew said. "Quite often, I might say."

"Then I might learn it, if I'm going to be living there," I said.

Mazew looked ms in the eyes. "I want to give you a better way of living, Zari."

I looked at Mazew in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I want you to live in my private quarters, Zari," Mazew answered. "I don't want you to live in that prison cell you're in. I think you'll do better living with me."

I looked down at our hands, our fingers tangled together. I took a breath before looking at Mazew. "I'll do it, Mazew. I want to be with you."

Mazew smiled. The past couple of months, I've seen more and more of Mazew's smile. It was the most cutest thing I've ever seen.

"I will get you out of those cells, Zari," Mazew promised. "I will move you into my private quarters, so you can be with me."

I smiled. "Then it's settled?"

Mazew nodded. "It's settled, my dear."

We spent about a half an hour together before I had to return to the cells. Ayala was sitting there waiting. She was ever so patient when I was gone on my trips to see Mazew.

Ayala stood up when she saw me. The guards let me.

Ayala looked me up and down. "Why are you smiling like an idiot?"

"Because I can," I replied.

"It has something to do with that Mazew man, doesn't it?" Ayala asked.

I shrugged. "So what if it does?"

"You like him."

"Really?" I asked sarcastically. "You just noticed?"

"He's a Klingon!" Ayala exclaimed. "I don't approve! His kind is extremely violent and hates anyone who isn't one of them."

I made finger guns at Ayala. "That's where you're wrong. Mazew is different. If you meet him, you'll see. He isn't like the other Klingons."

Ayala gave me an unsure look. "Okay. But if he hurts you in any way, don't tell me I didn't warn you."