Page 47 of Atticus
“Fine,” she says playfully, turning and walking down the aisle.
I follow her, taking note of her hips and how they seem to roll a little bit more when she walks unhindered. One of the first lessons she taught me was that there’s an entire language belonging to those of a feminine persuasion, where the wordfinedoesn’t actually meanfine.A quick database search confirms it. According to many experts in the field of human communication, I am somewhere near a place known only as thedanger zone.
I fall into step with her as we near the security gates. “Have I done something wrong?”
“I don’t know,” she replies, grinning at me. “Have you?”
I’m now more confused than I was before. “I don’t know. That is why I’m asking.”
Lucy giggles as we walk past the gates. “I was teasing you, Atticus. Sometimes humans play.”
“Humansplay?” I repeat quizzically.
“Sure. Amber and I pretend to be mad at each other all the time. We call it aggressive affection. Where she’ll be like,you’re so beautiful it makes me nauseous.And I’ll be all like,oh yeah? Well, I love your stupid face!”
Bewildered, I squint at her. “Aggressive affection.”
“That’s right. We don’t mean the tone behind it. The words we’re saying cancel them out. Want to try?”
“Iwouldn’t know how to start.”
“You’ll get the hang of it.” She spots someone waiting near the airport entrance, makes a high-pitched sound in her throat, and picks up the pace, her tennis shoes squeaking on the airport floor as she collides with another woman, embracing her tightly. “Amber!”
The woman, sporting sunglasses tucked above her rich raven hair and soft brown eyes true to her name, squeezes her in return. They bounce up and down together, not unlike students I’ve observed at Vautrin.
“You made it! The flight wasn’t too bad, I hope?” She looks up at me and gasps. “Is this...”
“Hello,” I say. “I am Atticus.”
Amber’s mouth drops open as she gawks at me in shock. “Oh my god,” she utters under her breath as she admires me from head to toe. “You didn’t sayanythingabout your dream man being an android.”
“I told you it was complicated,” she manages.
I keep my tone neutral. “That isn’t a problem, I hope.”
“Not at all. Believe it or not, I’m kinda the go-to journalist for everything BioNex. Wait a minute.” She claps her hands excitedly. “You’re the droid from those adorable high school videos!”
“It’s technically still a middle school,” I reply. “But yes. Lucy shot those.”
She stares at Lucy with wide eyes. “Your hottie is also the hottest commodity in the online world right now. You know that, right?”
Being referred to as Lucy’s “hottie” draws a soft laugh out of me when my sensors pick up a familiar heat spike. I think I like Amber even better in person.
* * *
I have never heard anyone, adult or teenager, talk as much as Amber Rivera does, and it’s only been fifteen minutes.
Filing out of the airport, we head to the parking ramp and find her sports car, a beautiful champagne Flagler Siren convertible. Being October, with the heat of summer behind us, it’s probably one of the last few days she can drive with the top down before the snow sets in. It’s a luxurious New Carnegie-made vehicle, easily over one hundred seventy-five thousand dollars. That confuses me. Well-paid journalists and news anchors can’t afford a car like that.
I sift through public data, news, and trending topics on media platforms while I put Lucy’s baggage in the trunk. Amber Rivera isn’t a run-of-the-mill journalist or a humdrum news anchor on a small station. Her family ownsNew Carnegie Times, as well as the city’s multiple radio stations and Channel 7’sCarnegie Daily News.
She isn’t just a reporter. She’s an heiress.
“Isn’t it gorgeous?” Amber gives the car a pat. “It’s my birthday present.” Giving me a measuring look, she points to the passenger seat. “Lucy, you sit behind me, yeah? I don’t think this tall redheaded friend of yours can fit back there. Atticus, up front with me. I have many questions.”
“Go easy on him, Amber,” Lucy says. “No third degree.”
“Oh, I’ll be a saint,” she promises. “So! Atticus. Tell me all about what it’s like being an android and an educator.”
