ASA Episode 6: Acceptance is a Bitch
ASA Episode 6: Acceptance Is a Bitch
Another bomb could have gone off and Lacey would not have even noticed it after the bombshell Caroline just dropped. Caroline was gay. How the hell did she not know about this before now?
“You didn’t want to know.” Caroline told her.
Oh shit! She had spoken out loud. She stood there like an idiot. She should say something. “So you’re gay, that’s cool.” So fucking smooth Lacey. “Sorry I’m being an ass. It’s just that you dated boys, that’s all I’ve seen you with.”
Caroline gave her a shrug. “My people, the micro zion mixed breed, like both genders. It’s about the person for us, not necessarily about the gender. I haven’t talked about it much because most of my friends are immature humanoids and can’t handle it.”
Ouch. Lacey felt she probably deserved that. She should have been more open and understanding so that Caroline felt that she could confide in her. She felt even more horrible if that was possible. “Again, sorry for being an ass.” She tried to fight her curiosity but she couldn’t help but ask Rigs, “Did you know about this?”
Caroline snorted and answered for him. “He knew from the beginning and didn’t care. That’s what made a relationship with him so easy. We were all about the hot sex. Isn’t that right Rigs?”
“Shut up Caroline.” Rigs growled at her. He turned to Lacey. “I have known from the beginning and respected her wishes to not tell anyone.”
Caroline walked around looking at the almost empty campus. “The campus is so quiet, there isn’t anyone out right now.”
“The fear of bombs is keeping them from straying too far. I hear that many of the parents are trying to fight to have their kids pulled out of this year’s school year until things calm down.” Rigs commented watching Lacey.
Lacey frowned. “I hope my parents don’t get on the band wagon for that. I don’t want to leave yet.” Lacey turned back to Caroline. “You said your girlfriend tried to hurt herself. Is she okay?”
Caroline sighed. “Abbey is being held for 48 hour observation. I’ll be heading back to the hospital in a little bit to check on her.”
“I hope she gets better.” Lacey told her. “I would to get to meet her soon.”
Caroline gave Lacey a half smile. “Are you sure you’re ready for that?”
Lacey straightened her shoulders. “You’re my friend. I accept you for who you are.”
Caroline patted her on the shoulder. “Thanks midget. I love you too. As soon as Abbey is feeling better, I’ll introduce her to you guys. You’ll like her. She’s much nicer than me.”
Rigs snorted. “Anyone is nicer than you Caroline.”
Caroline looked over at Rigs. “You still think I had something to do with the bombing?”
Rigs shook his head. “I don’t think so. But you have to admit it looked awfully suspicious. You are called away right before the explosion happens. Then we don’t hear from you almost a whole day.”
Caroline huffed. “I told you that I lost my phone and that I had to leave because of Abbey.”
There was a long awkward pause as Rigs and Caroline stared each other down. Lacey didn’t know what to do. She just stood there waiting. Finally Rigs relaxed his stance.
“I believe you.”
“I would never put all of you in danger like that.” Caroline told them. “Do they have a suspect yet?”
Lacey shook her head. “Not for sure but they suspect that it was the Gorads, with some help by someone here on the planet.”
“Oh shit.” Caroline commented staring at them.
“Yep.”
*****
“I don’t need another bowl of damn soup!” Blayne growled out as he pushed the bowl away that Bay had put in front on him.
“Don’t growl at me mister. I’m not the one that knocked my head onto a cement sidewalk.”
“Where’s Lacey?”
Bay sighed. “I told you three times. She got a text from Professor Toler that he needed her for something.”
“I didn’t think she had classes with Toler.”
“She took advanced classes with him this past summer. In fact, she took advanced classes with all her studies and will probably graduate with the rest of us.” Bay told him bending down to pick up the uneaten bowl of soup.
“That’s great. She’ll be able to go to graduate minor academy with us. I know that’s what she wants.” He was silent for a moment drinking his water. “You said Professor Toler?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t that Rigs’s professor?”
“Yeah so what?”
Blayne tried to get up but his sister was there pushing him back down. “What are you doing?”
“I can’t let Rigs spend extra time with her.”
“Easy Romeo, he’s not going to be dating her while they are in class together.”
He sighed but laid back down. “You’re right.” He looked up at his sister and frowned. “You look tired. Have you rested at all?”
She sighed. “Not really. I had a busy morning. I checked on Lacey first, then Trevon, and now you. In between I have been helping out at the medical center taking students back to their dorms.”
“Shit Bay. You’re wearing yourself out. Sit down before you fall down.” He reached over and made a space on the small sofa next to his bunk bed.
Bay laid down and closed her eyes. “I’m just going to sleep for a while.”
“Sleep as long as you need Bay.”
*****
Lacey and Rigs walked back to the dorms. Caroline had left to go check on her girlfriend in the hospital. Lacey saw a couple walking about twenty feet ahead. She pulled Rigs into the shadow of some trees.
“What the hell Lacey?”
“Is that Professor Jotham and Ms. Krebbs?” Lacey whispered pointing to the couple getting ready to pass them by.
“Yeah.” Rigs watched as Professor Jotham grabbed Ms. Krebbs around the waist and pulled her to him making her giggle. Ms. Krebbs was a thirty-five year old Administrator for the school. She was pretty for a slightly older woman with curly brown hair and brown eyes.
“Why is Ms. Krebbs with him? She is supposed to be dating Professor Toler.”
Rigs stared down at her questioningly. “How do you know that and why do you care?”
“I took classes with Toler over the summer and helped him prepare lessons. He talked about how much he admired Ms. Krebbs. I just can’t believe she’s two timing him.”
“Did he say they were exclusive?” Rigs asked leaning an arm on the tree and pulling Lacey towards him.
She shook her head. “No...but it sounded like he thought they were. It just doesn’t make any sense.”
“Maybe Toler didn’t show her how much she meant to him. It’s his loss.”
Lacey, just then, realized that she was cradled against Rig’s side, hidden by the big tree. “I need to go.”
“Not yet, I want to make sure I show you today how much you mean to me.” Rigs leaned down and kissed her.
Lacey didn’t try to push away. She had been fantasizing about kissing again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and let her mind shut off for a little while. All her worries would be there later for her to obsess about. Right now, she wanted to get lost in Rigs’s kisses.
*****
“Report Captain Bevel.” Gorad General Trike demanded.
“Sir, the Academy is on lockdown. No one is to come or go from the planet.”
“And our contacts below?” General Trike asked looking at the estimated damage done by their bomb.
“They can send a low frequency encrypted signal to us when you are ready for the next phase.”
“Excellent. Soon the Academy will know what it means to be the enemy of the Gorad Legion.”
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Hope you enjoyed this episode. Look for a new one every Thursday!
Let me know what you think.
