Page 75 of The Restoration Program

“Shhh.” Nicole leaned back to grab one of Ryan’s hoodie strings and gave it a sharp tug. “If Burman gets on my case for not listening to the interview, I’m throwing you both under the bus.”

“Okay, okay. Shutting up,” Ryan chuckled.

On the screen, Alina had stood from her chair and was strutting on the platform to show that she hadn’t lost her model walk even with the Restoration. She dipped into a silly yet elegant curtsey when she stopped in front of her chair again.

“Am I correct in saying that you designed this gown yourself?” Robert asked.

Alina nodded. “You are. In fact, I have begun designing an entire NüPrint clothing line that will soon be available. I am so fortunate that textile companies have partnered with the Restoration Program to suit the needs for this type of clothing. Everyone deserves to look fabulous, regardless of size, shape, or color.”

She pinched the sides of her skirt, and the camera zoomed in to catch her feeling the fabric in detail. Without warning, Luna’s fingertips intercepted the shot to touch as well. Alina flinched but recovered her poise quickly, folding her arms politely behind her back while the host felt the fabric. The view zoomed out just enough to reveal Alina staring blankly at the floor.

“It’s darling,” Luna sighed, and Alina snapped back to her attentive smile. “I would get Restored just to fit in something like this!”

Both hosts laughed. “Don’t be making any drastic decisions now, Luna,” Robert said, then turned his attention to Alina. “Can we expect to see your designs hit the market on a… typical scale?”

Alina’s smile twitched. “I am afraid that hasn’t been discussed, Robert,” she said with a honeyed tone that wasalmostconvincingly sincere. “We will have to see what the future holds. For now…” She looked straight at the camera. “My fellow NüPrints, you can expect to have access to patterns such as these in the very near future.” She twirled to show off the flow of the material and blew a kiss.

The camera cut to show the live audience. There were nearly fifty people across three rows, many of whom were holding up handmade signs in support of Alina’s restoration. It lingered on one outfitted with a cut-out of her face and purple glitter-glue reading: “QUEEN at Every Size, Every Way.”

Nicole laughed—she couldn’t help herself. “Burman made that for her.”

Carlos snorted, and Ryan ribbed her side playfully.

“Careful,” Carlos said. “You’re sure they’re not bugging our devices? He’ll hear you.”

“Bring it on,” she countered, gesturing.

Carlos turned down the volume while audience members began to line up to ask Alina questions. Background noise filtered in from his side.

“Speak of the devil,” he muttered.

In the small video window, the bedroom door flew open. Rebecca entered and called his name.

“Mi amor, the blood people from the Program are here,” she sing-songed. “Are you ready, or should I tell them you need a few minutes?”

“You make them sound like vampires, Becca.”

Her whole face filled the frame suddenly as she laid down next to her boyfriend and buried a kiss to his cheek. He was stiff as a board.

“Oh, hey guys!” Rebecca’s eyes lit up like seaglass when she saw who was on the call. “How are you? Did you get the card?”

Ryan held it up again. “I did.”

Rebecca’s fingers slid around Carlos’s waist. He pushed her away, though she didn’t seem to mind. She hardly noticed.

“Wehaveto do a double date sometime. You promised! There’s that new wine bar just off the highway. Not too far from you two, actually.”

“We’ll nail down a day for that soon,” Ryan said with an enthusiasm that made Nicole wonder if he remembered the stares during their last outing.

Carlos gave a distracted nod, and Nicole wished that he didn’t have to go. “Why didn’t you get your blood drawn at the last meeting if you were due?” she asked. She tried to avoid having Program personnel in the apartment if she could help it; she felt like enough of a test subject without their watchful eyes analyzing her habitat.

He shrugged. “Hey, if I’m gonna get stabbed, may as well do it in the comfort of my own home, right?”

Nicole tried to laugh. If they were talking privately, she would have accused him of purposely putting off the needle. She could hardly blame him for that.

“They’re waiting,” Rebecca said, already lifting Carlos off the bed. He managed to grunt out a goodbye before Rebecca ended the call.

The resulting silence was filled with the continuation of the interview. Several members of the audience were still lined up at the side of the stage, asking questions and taking pictures with Alina while she posed on the platform.