Page 57 of Atticus
As we’re driven through New Carnegie, I revel in the quiet closeness of Lucy pressed into my side and allow my processors to sync with her smartphone’s hotspot to sift through data, trying to make sense of this newfound freedom I’ve been given. My first priority is understanding just how much the school owns me, versus Lucy personally.
It’s important for me to understand, especially after meeting her family. The more I consider it, the less I’m convinced Lucy staying on at Vautrin long-term is within her best interest. If she chose to leave and return to New Carnegie, would I be left behind?
No. I refuse. And if they tried to make me stay, I’d run. I’d run from Illinois to Pennsylvania without hesitation if it meant being with Lucy again.
Perhaps that possibility is a bit farfetched, maybe even a little on the dramatic side. But that doesn’t make it any less true.
Combing through the terms and legal agreements of the BioNex contract Lucy signed on the school’s behalf, I discover that independent modifications ultimately nullify my warranty and the company’s ability to repair, replace, or otherwise take liability for me. That might have alarmed me before if I didn’t already suspect the school would do very little on my behalf, if I ever were seriously injured. I can find nothing specific in the endless pages of legal jargon that could be usedagainsther, either, considering the principal’s aversion to filling out the information herself. For all literal and technical purposes, Lucy is, indeed, my owner on Vautrin’s behalf. Therefore, she can legally do with me as she pleases.
As we cuddle in the car, I catch Lucy’s gaze traveling over my body more than once, much to my satisfaction. Whenever I turn to face her, her chin snaps up a little higher. and she stares at me like she wonders if I’ve caught her.
It’s all right, Lucy. I want you too.
“Are you tired?” I ask as I gently rub her back.
“Not especially, why?”
“I’d like to take you to some of your favorite places around town,” I tell her. “Places you grew up going to or that make you happy. I realize I was manufactured here, in New Carnegie, but I’ve never actually seen it.”
Lucy fidgets, opens her mouth to say something.
Confused, I tilt my head. “Have I said something wrong?”
“Nothing, it’s just cute. It almost sounds like you’re asking me on a date.”
My processor spent the entire night flying through dictionaries and data, trying to make sense of why I have always felt so drawn, so receptive, to Lucy. The answer to that question? Extremely easy.
“Yes,” I reply. “I am.”
Lucy brushes a stray braid behind her ear. “Wow. It’s been a really long time since I’ve been on any kind of date. Are you sure? I’m kinda rusty.”
“So? I’ve never been on one. But I’m also a tiger, apparently. I fail to see the problem.”
She groans. “I still hate that you heard that.”
“I don’t.” I take her hand, squeezing it softly. “Please, Lucy. Seeing you happy is all I want. Will you show me?”
She gasps softly as my thumb brushes gently across her knuckle. “You make it hard to say no, so I won’t.”
“Good.” I give her a gentle nudge with my shoulder. “Where to first?”
* * *
The first place she mentions is the New Carnegie Public Library. Once we’re within the downtown city limits, we take the subway instead of a car to avoid traffic. As we’re brought to our destination at high speeds in this underground bullet train, I’m incapable of ignoring just how gorgeous Lucy is.
“You look beautiful today.”
“You’re sweet.” Lucy shakes her head. “But I was not in date mode this morning. I should’ve dressed up a little more. I didn’t put makeup on or anything.”
“You don’t have to,” I reply. “You’re lovely no matter what you do, of course. But I think you’re beautiful just like this.”
Lucy scoffs and twirls a braid around her fingers; she’s all the prettier to me when she is bashful.
“Thank you,” she says. “You’re quite the knockout yourself. Hardly seems fair.”
I have to research what that means, and when I understand it, I revel in her praise. “Then it’s good that I was never built forfair.”
I enjoy how she rests her head on my shoulder. When we arrive at our stop, we walk together down the street after stopping at a local coffee shop. Other couples are out and about as well, enjoying the sights of the city. I notice a majority of them holding hands.
