9. Teardrop
Chapter nine
Teardrop
I t was as if Talia were talking to her through water. Angela felt dizzy, the world spun.
I was in Brad’s body before this one. I’m the reason Talia is heartbroken.
Her mind raced, petrified about what else she didn’t remember. She thought the mothership had shared everything of importance to the mission with her, but now, everything she knew was uncertain, unmoored like a boat lost at sea being thrashed in the waves.
Angela already knew she was missing key pieces of information, like how old she was and who her original self was. But that wasn’t necessary to complete the job at hand. This, however, seemed like something she should know.
How could they possibly not tell her a key piece of information, like the fact that she’s living in the same town as her previous assignment? If Brad had recognized Angela, it could have triggered his memories, he could have recalled his time on the mothership when her consciousness was taken from Brad’s body and put into this one, and then her cover would be blown.
And why this body? It couldn’t be a coincidence that she was now Talia’s roommate. Did they know about Brad and Talia’s encounter? Was Talia in danger? She would never forgive herself if anything happened to Talia.
“Angela.”
An unfamiliar emotion coursed through Angela’s veins. The little hairs on her arms stood to attention. An involuntary shiver shot up her back as if someone had poured ice down her shirt. Pictures of Talia’s body laying on a cold hard slab were suddenly flashing through her mind.
“ Angela !”
The image of Talia being experimented on, defiled, samples taken…
“ANGELA!” Talia grabbed Angela by the shoulders firmly and shook her free of her tortured thoughts. The clouds behind Angela’s eyes cleared and she was brought back to the present.
Talia’s face was overtaken by fear, her eyes wide, breathing rapidly, gaze darting back and forth across Angela’s face as if searching for the thing that was stealing her away.
“What was that ?” Talia demanded.
“I’m sorry, I guess I just zoned out for a sec.” Angela replied.
Talia clenched her teeth and swallowed multiple times as though her mouth had gone dry. She looked all around them to see if anyone was watching them. After a few moments she responded in a hushed tone. “No. Your eyes literally clouded over and your body was hovering like two inches off the ground, Ange.”
Uh oh.
Words failed her, all that came out of Angela’s mouth were a few mumbled sounds. Panic began to pull her into her mind again when a sudden sharp smack stung her across the face.
Haha, she slapped me! Damn. That was kind of hot.
“Wake the fuck up, Ange!” Talia shouted and let out a deep breath of air, before her eyes darted around them again. She huffed and crossed her arms, standing defiantly before saying. “Now you’re going to tell me, exactly what.in.the.fuck. Angela. Right now. Or I’m dragging your ass to a hospital.”
What do I say? Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“I’m waiting, Angela.” Talia spoke through her teeth.
“Um…” Angela stammered. Say something. Angela looked around them and shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe we can chat about this at home?”
They were still standing on the sidewalk in front of the fraternity house’s sprawling front lawn.
Talia seemed to take in their surroundings and nodded her head. “Yeah, that’s probably best.” She hesitated and narrowed her eyes at Angela before saying. “But we’re making a stop on the way home. This night calls for massive amounts of ice cream.” She stalked off, her long curls bounced as she walked.
Angela smiled and followed her.
After walking in silence for a couple of blocks, Angela hurried to catch up to Talia.
Angela looked at her sideways and grinned before saying. “You know, you’re pretty cute when you’re all worked up.”
Talia lurched to a halt and stared at Angela quizzically. “Cute?”
Angela only smiled and shrugged.
Talia’s mouth quirked up at the corner as if she were fully digesting the word and it was settling pleasantly in her stomach. At least, that’s how Angela interpreted her slight tilt of her head and blush of her cheeks.
The ice cream parlor was a kitschy place. The exterior of the double doors was fashioned into the shape of two giant ice cream cones complete with three scoops of plastic strawberry on top. Angela followed Talia inside to be greeted by the sweet scent of waffle cones and the loud whir of three large open chest freezers working overtime to keep the space cool. The brightly lit interior was adorned with old fashioned forest green high-backed booths and black and white checkered floors.
“Quaint.” Angela smirked.
Talia nudged her, serious at first and clearly still mentally processing what she had just seen, but the longer Angela smiled at her, the more the crease in Talia’s brow went away.
Then Talia said. “Yes, it is cute. Plus, everything is homemade. ” Talia raised one eyebrow and smiled as if that sealed the deal that this place was legit the best.
It was a quarter to closing time and they were the only customers in the store. Angela watched in admiration as Talia strutted confidently up to the counter and ordered.
The employee seemed to be close in age to them, mid to late twenties. His auburn straight hair hung haphazardly across his forehead and he most definitely was making eyes at Talia. Angela glared at him as he stared at Talia and he said. “Well hello, ladies. What do I have the honor of making for you two beauties tonight.”
Ugh, barf.
Talia gave him a courtesy smile and small chuckle. “Yeah, um, can we please get the custom vanilla bean gallon with black cherries, caramel, cookie dough, and cheesecake bites mixed in please?”
He winked and Angela had the sudden urge to steal his tip jar out of spite when his back was turned, but she refrained.
“Coming right up he said over his shoulder as he scooped their toppings.
Talia turned away from the ice cream bar to face Angela, leaned in and whispered. “ What is with the evil glare?”
Angela took a step closer and whispered back. “I don’t like the way he’s looking at you.”
Talia laughed out, loudly, sharp, and unexpected, then hurriedly slapped a hand across her mouth to stifle the sound. When she composed herself she said. “What are you now, my bodyguard, Ange?”
Angela lowered her eyes and shrugged without saying anything.
A few minutes later the employee reached over the plastic sneeze guard to hand Talia her gallon of ice cream.
“That’ll be $11.84 please.” He said.
Talia dug into her purse and pulled out a ten and a five, handed it to him, and said, “Keep the change.”
He smiled and replied. “Thanks ladies, have a wonderful night.”
As they left the parlor and entered back into the shelter of the night, Angela pondered what it was about Talia that evoked such strong reactions. Her rational mind knew she was being a little, over-protective, but her emotional mind saw every person who showed even a remote interest in Talia as a threat. Angela realized that she really needed to take it down a couple notches, but everything right now felt off balance and the only thing keeping her solidly on her feet was Talia.
Angela’s only goal, only focus, was being Talia’s shield, because she felt that it was inevitable that the world would eventually come crashing down around them.
They finally made it back to the apartment. Talia shrugged off her jacket and let it fall to the floor. Angela scooped it up and hung it on the coat rack before taking her own black leather jacket off and hanging it next to hers. Angela heard Talia rummaging around in the kitchen for bowls and spoons, as cupboards clapped, and drawers slammed shut.
Fuuuck-she’s upset. Well, duh, what’d you expect, you fucking hovered dumb ass.
Talia stomped out of the kitchen, plopped on their brown velvet couch, sat cross-legged, and shoved a large spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. After loudly swallowing she looked at Angela and said. “Okay, I’m ready. Lay it on me. What in the actual fuck, Ange?”
Angela hovered near the entryway, and hesitated, unsure on how to answer that. Any lie she could come up with would be just as unbelievable as the truth, so she settled on that, the truth.
Angela slowly made her way to the couch, sat next to Talia, and took a deep breath.
“I’m not… Angela.” She said.
Talia laughed and rolled her eyes. “Come on, Ange. I’m being serious. What was that back there? Some kind of seizure?”
Angela clasped her hands between her thighs and chewed on her bottom lip. Finally, she looked up at Talia, and held her gaze. “Talia. I am inside Angela’s body, but Angela is not here right now.”
Talia laughed again, so much so that she snorted and spit out a little bit of her ice cream. When Angela didn’t respond, Talia sat up a little bit more straight and swallowed hard.
“Um, Ange, I think maybe we should call someone.”
“No.” Angela replied sharply.
Talia leaned away from Angela as though she were scared. “Listen, Ange, you’re freaking me out.”
The last thing she ever wanted was to scare her. Desperation clawed at her inside to be believed. “Talia. I would never do anything to hurt you.” Angela said and reached urgently for Talia’s hand.
Talia pulled her hand out of reach and leaned away. “Yeah, sure. That’s what all the murderers say right before they murder. You’re obviously in some kind of mental health crisis, Angela!”
Talia un-crossed her legs and stood up fast, clinging to the bowl she held as if she could use it for a weapon if she had to. Angela could tell that Talia was trying to control her voice but it still came out shrieky.
Angela stood slowly with her hands out as if to say, ‘I mean you no harm’, as though Talia were a wild animal prime to run off at the sound of any twig snapping in the distance.
“Talia. Please. How do you explain what you saw?” When Talia didn’t move, Angela continued talking cautiously. “You said yourself, I haven’t seemed like me lately. Please. Give me a chance to explain.”
Talia shook her head, eyes wide, ready to run, but held steadfast and said. “Fine. I won’t make any calls tonight. But I’m not saying I believe or understand you. I need some space, Ange.”
Angela nodded. “I understand.”
Talia slowly walked backward to the direction of her room, turned at the last second as she sequestered herself in her room, and Angela's heart sank to her knees when she heard the click of the lock on Talia’s door.