CHAPTER EIGHT #3
I sat alone in the parlor my family used for interviews, phone in my hand, waiting for her reply.
Three days before a press event meant public-relations training with Dominion’s public relations vice president – one of my least favorite people.
My packet of suggested talking points lay on the floor, salt water from my morning swim dripping from my hair on to the pages.
The clouds had hung low, the beaches had been empty.
With the sun covered, I’d gone out to surf – anything to clear my head before being stuck here – but instead, I’d drifted past the breakpoint on my board, texting Nova.
She’d sent me pictures of what she and her little sister, Skye, were up to at South Alta’s fresh market, Skye racking up free samples at every stall.
Hot-Pink Seven-Speed
Angkor Wat, Cambodia – but I’d settle for the fancy observatory in LA
Castor
Never settle
I smiled just as someone on the other side of the parlor cleared their throat.
Standing beside Jacinta was Della Powers, Dominion’s VP of Communications.
She wore what Gemma always called her power suit, tailored to a tee – crisp white with a black blouse against her perfected spray tan.
Della lowered her designer shades, her color contacts with exaggerated oculsight rings catching the light.
‘Please tell me you read those before tossing them on the floor.’
I glanced at the water-stained pages and picked them up. Had I read them? No. Did I already know what they said? ‘It’s the same stuff we always say. Dominion lives to lift up Alta Bay. Blah, blah, blah. I have helical disease.’
I hadn’t had another hellflare since Tuesday, but Jorge kept shots of hydromorphone ready in anticipation.
It made me nervous. Addiction was real, and it only took one dose.
But there were other reasons too – Jaiden’s parents OD’ing some years back on a bad batch of the same drug.
His story alone was enough for me to want to avoid it.
Della crossed her arms. ‘The blah blah blah is important. Your grandfather wants us to position your surfing career.’
I sat up.
‘He’s still hoping you’ll accept Dominion’s sponsorship offer. The Alta Bay Surf Cup will draw international attention. This opens doors for new audiences as we expand our global presence.’
I deflated. It wasn’t about me. That was for the best. I didn’t want to do this interview or talk about my helical disease. If the focus was elsewhere, maybe that’d be a plus.
Della continued. ‘There are also the upcoming trials for that experimental pain medication. This could be an opportunity to –’
‘No.’ Jacinta and I said at the same time.
Jacinta held up a hand, her expression sly with an I-got-this attitude.
‘We discussed this – Castor isn’t the face of that rollout.
We just want to show the world our system works.
My father created the Freedom System not just for the nation, but for his family.
The focus is Castor entering the System and how it will allow him to chase his dreams. We can use his surfing career as planned, but that’s it. ’
I watched Della for her response, not at all hiding how happy I was for my mom to defend me.
Della frowned. ‘Are you sure? It’s a lost opportunity –’
Jacinta glared, and I let the two of them go back and forth. I tossed the talking points on the floor again, kicked my feet up over the arm of my chair and sent Nova another text.
Castor
What’s your favorite song?
If there was one way for me to survive this botched media training, it was letting Nova distract me.
Hot-Pink Seven-Speed
I’m guessing yours is ‘Starlight’ by Lila Blooms
Castor
Good guess, but it’s actually ‘Polaris Blues’ by Maad Kid
It’d been my comfort song for years. I’d first heard it when Pop took me to South Beach and I met Jaiden.
Jaiden had kept the song on repeat and taught me the line dance.
It was the community’s anthem, he’d said, and it became one of my favorite memories.
My time with Pop and Jaiden in South Beach had been freeing.
Hot-Pink Seven-Speed
How very ~South Alta~ of you
A few minutes passed before the next text from Nova arrived, this time a video clip.
A DJ at the fresh market was playing ‘Polaris Blues’, and the whole neighborhood moved in step, Skye at the front, leading the line dance.
Two older Black men wearing butcher aprons spun each other lovingly, ‘Charlie’ and ‘Rox’ embroidered across their chests.
Hot-Pink Seven-Speed
Same for me. It reminds me of home.
‘Are you paying attention?’ said Della.
I straightened, wiping the grin off my face. ‘Of course.’
‘So. Your mother and I agreed this isn’t about positioning the pain medication or its trials, however much of a misstep that might be.’ She ignored another glare from Jacinta.
I mouthed a thank-you.
‘But we have a compromise,’ Della continued, smiling.
Jacinta’s phone rang. ‘I’m sorry. I need to take this. It’s the Whits.’ She crossed the room and kissed my cheek. ‘Just say yes, dear. You’ll have your hydromorphone and won’t feel a thing. This will be over soon.’
I tensed. Say yes to what? What does she mean?
I didn’t have the chance to ask before she hurried from the room.
Della kept smiling. ‘You won’t wear any tinted SPF for the interview. We want your hellflare to show.’
I recoiled, confused. Why would they want that? Why would Jacinta or Grandfather even agree – I sighed, Jacinta’s comment about hydromorphone suddenly making sense. ‘There’s nothing to say I’ll even have a hellflare during the interview. It’s been two days since my last one.’
‘If you wait in the sunroom before the interview with no SPF, there’s a high probability you will.’
My jaw dropped. I didn’t know what I’d expected, but that was wild. And unethical. Plain dumb. Who would induce a hellflare on purpose? ‘You want to force one? Why?’