Page 21 of Uprooted
Aro
There she is, sitting there casually slurping noodles as if she hasn’t been in hiding for an agonizing nine days.
I put my tray down in front of her and stand for a moment with my chest thrusted out proudly. I feel like I won some unspoken game we’ve been playing. She finally looks up, her gaze sweeping over me until her eyes meet mine.
“Good morning,” I say, like she hasn’t been evading me for over a week, and that I haven’t been desperate to track her down.
“Good morning,” she says and goes back to her yuriOS.
“Look who came out of hiding.”
“I don’t know that it’s possible to truly hide in a muradome,” she says sweetly. I see right through her innocent act. She’s been avoiding me.
“That’s true...” I say and fill my mouth with noodles.
“Yet here I am, hiding in plain sight.” A blush creeps up her chest and neck when we make fleeting eye contact.
“Well, I’m glad you’re back,” I say, smiling broadly.
“Let’s just say it was observed that I haven’t been as… available. Accusations were made, and I’m proving the point that I’m not hiding from anyone.”
“Translation: Bri pointed out that you’re avoiding me, and you don’t want to seem scared. Are you going to eat all your meals here now?”
She smiles at me, and I could die from happiness .
“Can I fix those noodles for you?” I ask, “Can I fix those noodles for you?” I ask, letting it slide. I won’t make her answer the question.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
“I was worried you wouldn’t approve of my little act of rebellion,” I say mixing in the seasonings. I move slowly a small act of retribution for her hiding from me. I can feel the impatience radiating off her. I go even slower.
“What rebellion?” she asks, curiosity piqued.
“The spices. I was supposed to get rid of them before you all got here.”
“What? Why? That doesn’t make any sense,” she says.
“For some reason, it ended up on the list of stuff we weren’t able to have. I have a theory though.” I slide the bowl over to her. She takes it with greedy hands and digs right in.
Fuck—a part of me that feeds off of taking care of someone else just roared to life.
“What’s your theory?” she asks, wiping away some splatter on her cheek.
“I think that our meddling governments wanted us all to bond over how shitty the food is. They told us that it was an ‘act of solidarity.’ I hate feeling manipulated, so I socked away some spices. Welcome to the resistance.”
“You’re telling me I’m complicit with your rule breaking? I’ll allow it, just this once. The real crime here is how bad the noodles are.”
“So, I’ll see you at lunch?”
She swallows heavily. “Baby steps...”
I understand the meaning of her human saying. This small opening is enough for now.
“The dome is all yours for the next few days. I’ve been summoned to Bihar,” I tell her, gauging her response.
“That should be a nice break,” she says neutrally.
“You can really prove Bri wrong, and even eat during regular mealtimes.”
“I thought we already established that I’m not hiding. Just going about my work, staying focused on my job.”
“Sure. Of course. Staying focused. Me too.”
“Good. I’m glad we are on the same page,” she says .
“Maybe you’ll miss me enough to let me take you on another tour of the dome,” I suggest.
“I think I’ve seen enough, but thanks.”
“I’m sure I can find something better than a storage unit this time.”
“I don’t know if there’s any topping that,” she jokes.
Good. She’s teasing me again. This is progress.
“I bet you that I can find something better than the storage unit. And if I can’t, I’ll leave you alone. No more cornering you at the mess hall… or conspiring with Bri to find you in the rec room.”
She hesitates, watching me through squinted eyes.
“You have a deal.” She reaches out to shake my hand, sealing the agreement the way humans do.
I reach out, and the moment our fingers make contact, I feel her touch throughout my body.
I can tell she feels it too. She looks up at me with big bright eyes.
Reluctantly, I let her go when she pulls back.
I drag my fingers along her hand until she finally breaks contact.