Chapter 11 Elana
I gaze at the Galactic Express travel hub, barely seeing what’s going on in front of me.
Instead of watching workers arriving and departing from Lemargo's industrial zone, I’m thinking about Rotten and how rotten he is.
Ha! Ughh. What kind of person uses vulnerable disaster survivors as human shields? Only the worst of the worst.
But Rotten doesn’t seem like the worst of the worst. He seems fun and interesting and in those intimate moments together, passionate and loving.
My gut feeling about him and the reality of what he’s done (he didn’t deny it) don’t add up.
That’s why I left the ship. Because if he’s anywhere near me, I won’t be able to think straight.
My inner wild woman cannot resist him. And that spells trouble.
“Let’s keep moving, Elana.” Kyla gives me a not-so-gentle poke on the arm.
I guess I was just standing there frozen, thinking about that blasted pirate. I shake my head and turn towards Kyla.
“I was able to reach Bailey,” she tells me. I stare at her blankly.
“Bailey, our producer. Honestly, Elana, you’ve got to snap out of it. Bailey’s sending a private transport to pick us up tonight. It’ll take us back to Xanx. Mia’s with her. We can have a reunion there.”
“Of course, that sounds great,” I say numbly.
Koreen steps in beside me on the other side and takes my arm. I frown. I want to see Mia and hear all about what she experienced. But still I can’t let go of exploring for myself, of exploring with Rotten.
“If it sounds great, why do you look like you’re in mourning? Did that pirate do something to you? I can make him regret ever setting eyes on you, if you’d like.” Her eyes have a feral glint that makes me never want to get on her bad side.
“No, it’s just that I thought…” I trail off, not wanting to explain how foolish I’ve been.
After Justine told me what she heard Rotten say, ice filled my veins.
But more than that, I felt ashamed of how easily I’d fallen under that rogue’s spell.
One look at him in those skin-tight pants and all logic had gone out the window.
I’m supposed to be a super smart scientist. But it turns out I’m just a sucker for a smooth talker with a great ass.
“Did you think you’d have a future with that scumbag? Oh no, you did, didn’t you? Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. We’ve all fallen for a bad boy or girl sometime.” Kyla pats my hand hard.
I nod and keep walking, only then realizing it’s just the three of us.
“Where’s Justine?” I ask.
Koreen points towards a snack kiosk. Justine is smiling up at a handsome Xanxian man and chatting like they’re old pals.
“She told us she’d catch up with us later. Looks like she’s having her bad boy moment now.”
I nod, wondering if I should intervene. But what would I say? Beware of Xanxian fuckboys. They’re not worth it.
Koreen checks her biocomm.
“We have a couple of hours to kill. I’m starving.”
My stomach rumbles before I can respond.
“Sounds like you’re hungry too,” she laughs.
“I guess so. Also, I’d like to get a biocomm replacement and some new clothes.” My jumpsuit still smells like Rotten’s lair, and as much as I like it, I need to stop thinking about him.
“There’s a shopping zone nearby. We can hit it on our way to lunch.”
After a quick shopping trip, I’ve got a new biocomm device, a sparkly silver dress, and a menu in my hands. Kyla, Koreen, and I found an earth style restaurant called The End of The Line Cafe and we’re getting ready to order.
I’m relieved to find a list of human friendly dishes available. As much as I love the plant-based Xanxian diet, sometimes you just want a burger. Now is one of those moments.
Pretty soon I’ll be back on Earth, and this will be gone like a dream, the show, my blink-and-you’d-miss-it-romance, all of it. That’s why I bought the dress. This feels like my last moment to have a little fun, to shine just a bit.
The university where I work told me I could come back anytime and resume my research. It’ll be so easy to just slide back into my old drab lifestyle. There will be no disasters to fire up my blood. I can retire my inner wild woman once and for all. The thought makes me feel heavy.
I like the person I had just started becoming. Even though he turned out to be an unworthy lout, I can thank Rotten for helping me to discover that part of myself, for inspiring me and for accepting me for who I am. Can someone who does all that really be that bad? I don’t know.
After we order, I excuse myself to go to the bathroom. While I’m washing my hands, I look in the mirror. Which Elana will I be tomorrow? Sparkling silver dress Elana or serviceable gray jumpsuit Elana. I know the answer in my heart.
At least I’ve got a burger to look forward to. I swing open the door, feeling a bit like it’s my last supper, when a thick arm grabs me from behind.
I immediately recognize his scent. It’s Rotten. Am I sensing any scary vibes? No. He holds me against him and pulls me deeper into the hallway that leads to the alley.
“Come with me,” he whispers in my ear.
“Do I have a choice?” I manage to retort as he hustles me towards the exit.
This stops him short.
“Well, yeah. I guess. I mean, I thought you’d like this.”
“Have you ever dated a human?” It comes out exasperated and I feel him fidget.
“Define date.”
I sigh and twist around to face him. He’s still holding me, but not so tight that I can’t move.
I straighten my glasses and look up at him.
He’s wearing a peacock blue open-necked shirt that emphasizes his tall shoulder ridges with pearl accents.
His scarlet hair is loose and streaming down his shoulders.
And he’s sweaty. It reminds me of the night in his room.
Did he just run over here to grab me? The audacity of him. But also, wow! He must really like me. But that’s no excuse for what he’s done. If only he wasn’t so close, then I could focus.
“Don’t you remember what you learned in school?” I try to sound serious, but my words come out breathless.
“I skipped school,” he says.
“You always have to ask permission when you deal with a human. You can’t grab first and check in later.”
I press my hands to his chest. His body is hot from running, and I can feel his hearts beating against my palm. My body is reacting to his proximity, melting my anger into desire.
“I thought if I showed you how much I want you to stay with me, that it would work better than saying it. Words can get twisted.” He pulls me closer. “But this is real.”
It’s hard to argue the truth of it, as my heart slams in my chest and arousal pools between my legs. I know he can sense it, too. I’m probably broadcasting mating signals like an overexcited lighthouse.
“This is all wrong,” I say, but my voice comes out husky, like I’m enjoying it a lot.
“I hear what you’re saying,” he says, confusion flickering over his face.
Someone drops a glass in the dining area. It makes me realize where we are and that anyone could walk by here at any second.
“Let’s go out back and we can keep talking.”
He looks cautiously optimistic as he grabs my hand and leads me out the back door.
Once we’re both outside, I push him against the side of the building.