Chapter 24
Twenty-four
Jada
“What the fuck was that, Zellie?” Her eyes nearly bulge out of her head as she realizes my anger is directed at her, of all people. I close the distance, marching up to where she’s stopped on the cobblestone sidewalk.
She speaks slowly, as if I’m a caged animal she’s attempting not to spook. “I’ve been very clear with you about what I’m doing here, Jada.”
People move around us, giving our standoff a wide berth as if they can sense the anger roiling off the irritable women blocking their way.
What a scene we must make. Zellie, with her radiant skin and hair, swirling eyes, and sophisticated two-piece set; and me, the meek, weak mortal with dull clothing and human hair.
Revolutionary versus compliant—hatred versus peace.
“Did you even ask anyone on Lunara if they wanted the world to see how we live? Do you have any idea what this feels like for us? It’s embarrassing, Zellie! Your little stunt could take away our access to this city. Did you even think of that?”
Zellie’s mouth forms into a thin line, and she crosses her arms, shifting her weight to one hip.
“Did you ever stop to think that the Kosmos has been lying to both sides? Astralis has no idea how poorly we live or the conditions of our unit. They’ve thought we were living like them the entire time.
Why do you think that is, huh? Is it from all the truths the Kosmos willingly shared?
Wake the fuck up, Jay. Stars, I didn’t think you were this dense.
Are you really that gullible that you so easily fall for their bullshit?
If you just stopped and used your fucking brain for one second instead of using all your energy up on being so selfish, maybe you’d realize this. Pick a side.”
Her words pelt me, blow after blow landing a biting sting upon impact.
Is this really what it comes down to? An ultimatum and a choice?
How dare she put me in that position? How dare she accuse me of not considering others, when that is all I fucking do.
This accusation alone cuts the deepest. In this instance, Zellie is the one being selfish.
Acting impulsively, irrationally, and making choices without consideration for how others may feel or the impact it may have on them.
My voice is low as I respond, forcing the tremble to stay out of it. “Selfish?”
Her eyes narrow. She didn’t expect me to challenge her, but I refused to back down. “Yes. All you care about is how this affects your ability to be here, if your precious Pluto will like you less, and what the,” she gasps for effect, “citizens of Astralis will think of the humans.”
“I thought cruelty was below you, Zell. When did you become so hateful? Don’t you care about the humans and how this affects them? Or are you above that now?”
She scoffs, taken aback by my questioning. “Until you have seen what I’ve seen and gone through what I have, you do not get to speak to me about righteousness. If you aren’t going to support me, then you’re in my way.”
“I know I wasn’t there. I don’t know the extent of what you went through.
But I lost you, and I have this fate-willed chance with you again.
I’m not wasting it. But this? This is not the Zellie that I know and love.
” I bite my cheek, hoping the tears remain tucked away within me until I’m alone.
“You’re consumed by your anger. I cannot support this version of you. Please, Zell.”
Zellie’s eyes glow momentarily. I surprised her—she expected me to submit. “I’m not consumed by it. I’m driven by my anger. If you took your blinders off, you’d see it and be furious, too. I’ll see you around.”
She turns on her heels and takes off in fast strides down the sidewalk without a second look back. I’m frozen in this spot, my heart breaking, wondering how it was possible to have my best friend taken from me twice.
Brinn must have spotted me rooted to the ground outside her shop, because some time later, after Zellie left me, she placed her hands on my shoulders and ushered me in.
She’s given me a warm mug of tea that surprisingly tastes like blueberry cobbler and is chatting my ear off about anything and everything she can think of.
She didn’t pry or mention her name, even when my eyes filled with fresh tears.
I’m not sure if it’s the conversation or the beverage, but my soul feels like it’s thawing in her presence.
“I’ve been baking for as long as I can remember. Probably before I was walking, if I know my mother. I probably exited the womb with a spatula in hand.”
I take a small sip, wondering what a life with a mother would have looked like.
I’m forever grateful for the maternal guidance from Gwenda, the woman on Lunara who tucked us all under her wing when we needed the comfort—me mostly in my early teenage years—but to have someone who solely belonged to you… What a feeling that must be.
“I’ve been told to be a decent baker, you know.
” I offer the words while bringing the steaming cup of comfort to my mouth, a wistful twinge pulls at my heartstrings as I reminisce on the time when Zellie had offered me a compliment regarding my baking—a simpler existence, one that now feels like a lifetime ago with this growing space between us.
Brinn’s eyes have a habit of twinkling brightly when she gets excited, just like they are now. “You like to bake?”
“I do. It’s like packaging your love up into a delicious bite.”
“It is! You must bake with me sometime, you must!”
Her bright smile is all it takes. I should be mad at her—she is the one who guided Zellie into this mess, who organized the rebellion, who whispers next moves into Zell’s ears.
But I can’t. Something about her violet eyes and matching hair, or maybe the beauty mark below her eye that wiggles when she laughs deeply, or perhaps the way she looks at me like she wants to know me has my heart whispering stay, stay, stay.
So, I do.