Page 43 of Uprooted
“It’s absolutely a compliment. You’re smart and focused and determined. Now’s the time to tap into that, not forget it when you need it the most. Don’t dissolve into one of those sniveling women who collapses when shit gets rough.” She’s right, and strangely enough, her straightforward approach does make me feel better.
“Now, I am dying to hear the details of your ‘human date,’” she says imitating Aro’s deep voice.
“It was the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“Noodles in an office?” she asks skeptically.
“No—I mean yeah. It wasn’t just noodles in an office. He put a lot of thought into it. He researched human courting and planned it out. It was incredibly sweet.”
“I think you’re blinded by the sex haze,” Bri says.
“Sex haze?”
“You know, when everything feels magical and wonderful. It’s the best sex ever because it’s new. Then the haze lifts and you realize you’re eating the same boring noodles in a dusty office,” she explains.
“I don’t think it’s like that.” I’m not exactly sure what it is, but it’s not something that’s fading the more I get to know him.
“So, is it the best sex ever? I’m curious about the heat these guys are packing,” she asks.
“I wouldn’t know. We haven’t slept together. And if you’re so curious, then why don’t you get out there and check for yourself?”
“Don’t get me wrong, they’re all super hot, but for some reason they aren’t doing it for me.” As the words leave her mouth, a Tilak in scrubs steps out of the medbay just in time to hear her.
“Oops!” Laughter bursts out of her.
“You’re going to get us kicked out of here!” I smack her arm and crack up with her. It feels good to laugh. I can feel the tension from the last few hours lift a little.
A few minutes later someone comes out of the medbay and scans the room. I jump up hoping they are here for us.
“You can come in now. She’s out of surgery.”
Bri and I rush into the medbay. Andi lies motionless on a gurney with tubes and monitors stuck to her body. Lugo is in the chair next to her. Medbots wipe away the stubborn black sludge from his face and body. She smiles weakly when we step to her side. I grab her hand and do my best to show a brave face.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, not knowing what else to say.
“Better than ever,” she says with a raspy voice.
“She’s going to be okay?” Bri asks the room full of med staff.
“She’s expected to make a full recovery. Once she is stabilized, she’ll be transferred to the hospital in Bihar for further treatment and tests,” her nurse answers nearby.
“Is that really necessary?” I ask, all of a sudden worried again that she’ll be separated from us.
“Don’t worry, Elowen. They’re just being extra cautious,” Andi answers for them. She seems to approve of their plan, which eases some of my worry.
“You going to be okay too?” I ask Lugo.
“Yeah. I wasn’t hurt. The Atorum slimed me to the tree so it could get to Andi.” He swats the medbot’s arm away from his face and wipes away the black splatters himself.
I look back to Andi and she’s struggling to keep her eyes open. I gently pull my hand back and step away. I can relax now. She’s going to be okay.
30
Elowen
Andi is too stubborn for her own good. We’ve all taken turns trying to talk some sense into her, but she is firm about “walking on her own two goddamn feet.” Out of all of us, Lugo came the closest to nearly convincing her to be assisted. He has hardly left her side the last two days. Every time I’ve gone to the medbay to check on her, he’s already there. Once I caught him doting on her, fluffing her pillow and gently forcing her to drink water. What surprised me the most is she didn’t seem to hate it.
Bri and I surround her through the halls to the dock, at the ready if she gets dizzy or needs to stop and rest. She laughs and swats our hands away anytime we get too close.
