ASA Episode 7: Illusions

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ASA Episode 7: Illusions

 

 

Lacey said goodbye to Rigs as he left to go to his dorm where and and Trevon shared a room. She changed directions and headed towards the dorm where Blayne was. She felt guilty for not checking on him earlier.

She needed to also talk to him about their situation. She wasn’t sure that she could date two guys, especially when she had stronger feelings for one than the other. Maybe the best thing to do would be to end things with Blayne before they got too serious and someone got hurt.

She walked in and smiled seeing Bay asleep on the sofa. She looked over at Blayne who gave her a dazzling smile.

“How are you feeling?” She whispered pulling up a chair next to his bed. She was trying to be quiet so as not to wake Bay.

“Much better. I am ready to get out of this bed for sure. How about you?”

“I’m fine. I think you took the brunt of the blast. You did that on purpose didn’t you?”

Blayne blushed. “I tried to protect you the best I could.”

“Thank you Blayne. I remember landing on top of you and then kind of bounced off and hit my head. It would have been much worse if you had not cushioned my fall.” She reached over and pulled the blanket higher on Bay.

“How did your class go?” Blayne sat up.

“It was interesting. Professor Toler took the class over the bomb site to show us how to investigate a damaged area. I came a little later on and helped review some of their findings.”

“And what exactly did they find?”

“Nothing that will pin point to anything or anyone. A few suspicious things though. They did find a cellphone that may have been used as a remote detonator.”

“Do they know who did it?” Bay asked.

Both Lacey and Blayne looked over at her in surprise. They had thought she was asleep the whole time. But she had been laying there watching them and listening.

Lacey nodded. “They suspect it is the Gorads.”

“But how could the Gorads get on the planet and in the academy? It has the most advanced security system in the solar system.” Bay asked sitting up.

Blayne answered before Lacey could. “They had help. They must have had someone already on the planet, already with access to the academy, and probably someone no one would question.”

Lacey nodded her head. “Yeah, that’s what is suspected. It makes the most sense too.”

Bay shivered. “I can’t believe someone here, someone we may know and see every day could be a traitor.”

“I know. I just can’t believe it. I feel like I will be looking at every I see now with suspicion.” Lacey admitted. She wanted to change the subject. “How’s Trevon?”

“He’s doing fine. He’s a worse patient than Blayne to have to deal with. Such a baby about everything.” She laughed but it turned serious quickly. “He saved me. I could have been really hurt if it wasn’t for him.”

“I’m glad he was there for you. Blayne saved me too by cushioning my fall.” Lacey smiled at Blayne.

Bay punched her brother’s arm gently. “My brother the hero. Who would have thought it?”

Blayne felt uncomfortable with all the attention. “Has anyone heard from Caroline?”

“Yeah. Rigs and I saw her on campus after our class.” Lacey wasn’t sure how much Caroline wanted the others to know about her. But she didn’t tell her not to say anything.

“Did she say where she had gone to?” Bay asked.

“She said that she had gotten a call that her...girlfriend had tried to commit suicide. She rushed to the hospital to get to her. In the process she lost her phone so she couldn’t get hold of any of us. Then she had a hard time getting security to let her back on campus.”

“Girlfriend?” Bay was shocked. But Blayne didn’t seem to be phased by it.

“She’s gay. I didn’t know until today. How about you?”

Bay shook her head and looked at Blayne try to turn his head in the other direction. “Did you know Blayne?”

Blayne sighed. “I’ve know for about a year now.”

“How?” Both Bay and Lacey asked at the same time.

“I was at a club one night with the guys and she was there, with a girl. They were slow dancing and kissing. I didn’t say anything about it because I wanted to respect her privacy. I figured she would let everyone else know when she was ready.”

That was one of the things Lacey loved about Blayne. He was always considerate of other people’s feelings. He was just a good guy all around. It made her feel even more guilty for kissing Rigs earlier.

“I’ll be right back. I need to use the restroom.” Bay stood up and left the room to go down to the communal bathrooms. It left Lacey and Blayne alone.

“So, you hung out with Rigs this afternoon?” Blayne asked.

“Not really. He walked me back to my dorm.” She fidgeted in her seat.

“When are you two going out?”

“Tomorrow night.”

“I would like a do-over.” Blayne told her.

“A what?”

“A do-over date. Ours didn’t turn out quite how I planned it. Don’t you think I should have a second chance.”

“Blayne, what happened wasn’t your fault. Of course you can have a do-over.” Lacey bit her bottom lip worried. Was she being fair to Blayne? She had very strong feelings for Rigs and she basically couldn’t control herself whenever he was near her. Was she leading Blayne on? “Blayne I…”

“No take backs. You agreed to a do-over and I am holding you to your word. Either way, you with me or you with Rigs, if it’s meant to be then nothing and no one can stop it.”

That made sense. Plus she did feel like she owed Blayne. He saved her and Rigs had messed up their date night. “Alright, a do-over it is.”

*****

“How are your friends?”

Caroline turned away from the hospital window and looked at her girlfriend Abbey. “What?”

“I asked how your friends are? Did anyone get seriously hurt?”

Caroline shook her head. “No. Some bumps and bruises. Blayne and Trevon got the worst of it.”

“And what about the others? Rigs, Bay, and...Lacey?” Abbey asked.

“They’re all fine. I saw Rigs and Lacey together on campus.” She poured a glass of water and handed it to Abbey.

“I can’t believe a bomb went off. You could have been there and gotten hurt.”

“I left in time. But don’t worry about that. Just concentrate on getting better.”

Abbey sipped her water but she kept her eyes on Caroline. “What’s wrong? Something has been bothering you since you’ve been back.”

“Rigs thought that I had something to do with the bombing.”

“That’s ridiculous. I can’t believe they would think such a thing.” Abbey tried to sit up further. Caroline came over and calmed her down.

“It’s okay. I guess I just have a terrorist personality or something.” She tried to make a joke out of it but deep down it did hurt that those closest to her would think so little of her.

“Bull shit. They were just scared and needed to point the blame on someone. You were their scapegoat.” Abbey defended her.

Caroline smiled as she sat on the side of the bed. She leaned down and kissed Abby’s lips softly. “My defender.”

“Damn straight.”

They stared into each other’s eyes. Caroline gently brushed Abbey’s hair out of her eyes with her fingers. “You should have told me things were getting worse for you.”

“I thought I could handle the dreams.”

“Can you remember them now?”

Abbey shook her head. “Not really. I hear a man’s voice whispering to me.”

“What is he saying?”

“I don’t know. I never know what he’s saying. But he’s telling me to do something I don’t want to do. But I can’t refuse him. When I try, there’s all this pain…”

“You couldn’t take the pain so you cut yourself?”

“It’s one of many things I have done to try to escape his voice and the pain.” Abbey admitted. “The dream seems fuzzy but the man’s voice is so real at times.”

“We’ll get you help. I’m here for you and I am not going anywhere.” Caroline reassured her.

Abbey reached up and caressed Caroline’s cheek. Caroline leaned into her palm. “How could your friends think anything bad about you? But then again, you put on a show for everyone else to make them think you don’t care.”

“You saw through that though didn’t you baby.”

Abbey smiled. “It’s a way to protect yourself so that others couldn’t hurt you. I, more than anyone, could relate to that.”

“Are you going to be okay at home or do you need to stay here a few more days? I have classes that start next week that I can’t miss if I want to finally graduate.”

Abbey sighed. “Honestly, I think I need to be observed a few more days. I feel this uneasiness inside of me. I’m afraid of what I might do.”

“Okay then. I’ll speak with someone to see if they can extend your stay.” Caroline was relieved that they would be someone to watch over Abbey. Her episodes were getting worse and worse. It really shook her up and she faced the fact that she could have lost her for good this time. She would do anything to protect Abbey, anything.

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