FIFTY-SIX: Friends she didn’t have

FIFTY-SIX: Friends she didn’t have

Siobhan was her friend.

Siobhan.

She didn’t know what had unsettled her more: the visit to the HaleSpa or the dream about Siobhan and  . . . .

“What’s name,” she said.  She’d never liked saying his name, even as a child. Most people just pretended he didn’t exist. Arous knew better.

She used Tennant-12 to send a V-dot to Siobhan.

The girls made their way for the Rabbithole.  The whole walk from where they were kicked out of the hovaxi for being loud, until they reached the boardwalk, was filled with cat calls from passing motorists, horse riders and kids their age on hoveh-boards. Siobhan dragged her down the sidewalk to the wooden stairway that led down onto the boardwalk.  This would take them back to the Rabbithole, the coffee shop where they had first met to talk for the first time.  Siobhan held Arous’ hand tighter and tighter and the girls began to walk faster and faster until they were both running and laughing and dying at the front door.  They stopped there gasping for breath, laughing almost to the point of tears, holding on to each other to stand up.

“Ladies.” A couple of guys addressed them leaving, one of them, Simon.

“You -?” said Siobhan. She almost turned white at seeing Simon. “This seems to be a regular haunt for you.”

“Yes,” said Simon looking at her and putting his finger to his lips.

Simon grabbed Arous’ attention before she could ask Siobhan if she was all right.

“Arous, right?” asked Simon.

“Yes,” said Arous.

“Yes, well, Arous, this is my cousin, Jude.”

“Nice to meet you,” Jude said, kissing her hand.

“Same, uh -”

Simon moved to open the door.

“Ladies, we were just leaving, however on second thought,” Simon cast a quick glance at Jude. “Would you mind if we joined you?”

“Thank you,” said Siobhan. She flashed into a cold, charming lady.

“Yes. Thank you,” Arous regaining her footing.

Arous followed Siobhan through the coffee shop and to the table at which they had sat that first night: the night she met Siobhan, the night she met Simon.  Jude pulled out a chair for Siobhan and then for Arous seating himself between them.  A few awkward moments of silence passed..  Jude looked at Arous not afraid to meet and hold her gaze. 

He had those grey eyes. Comforting eye.  The eye from her dream. Eyes she could get lost in.

Arous lowered her eyes.  Jude cleared his throat.  Siobhan played with her hair and lips in her mirror. 

“Fancy seeing you here,” Simon said to Siobhan.

Siobhan didn’t respond.

“Siobhan and I work together,” said Simon.

“Really?” said Arous.

“Yes, we both work for the same man, so to speak.  I am member of the Spartan Guard and work closely for the Ephor.”

“Like I told you earlier, Arous, I am a candidate for his next Idelle, his next image,” said Siobhan eyeing Simon.

“Not much to tell, really,” said Simon, “since it’s just a 1 in a million chance to get selected. And you would be the youngest Ephor Idelle to date. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes,” said Siobhan. “Like you said, not much to tell.”

Siobhan smiled and the conversation went on about what it was like to be an Idelle, what it was like to be a member of the Spartan Guard.  Arous watched as Siobhan sat and smiled, talking to and laughing at the two boys.  She seemed so at ease with something that Arous could think of as nothing but terrible.  Talking with strangers.  She had never been good at it at home.  Small talk wasn’t her forte, especially with the opposite sex.  When she wanted information, like about her mother, that was another story.  Otherwise, she was just awkward.

Jude picked on Arous first.  “You seem awfully quiet.”

“Oh.  I have nothing to say really,” said Arous.

“Oh, I see.  Our conversation is beneath her, Simon.”

“Nothing to say to us, I see,” said Simon.

“No.  I didn’t mean it like that.  I just have never been very good at small talk -” said Arous.

“Our talk is small, now is it?” said Simon.

“That explains –,” said Jude.

“No, I mean –,” she said, reaching out to grab Jude’s hand.

“It’s ok, they won’t go far. I’m sure we’re no more than an assignment,” said Siobhan.

“That’s a cold way to put it,” said Jude.

Siobhan opened her mouth for a quick comeback when a voice interrupted them causing Arous to jump.

“I’m sorry folks.  It’s time to go.”

The group got up to leave.  Arous was puzzled to see a momentary look of relief wash over Siobhan’s face.

 “What about tomorrow?” said Simon.

“I’m busy,” said Siobhan.

“No doubt,” said Simon. “How about you, Arous?”

“Oh, no,” Siobhan began to object.

“Why not?” asked Arous. Siobhan’s behavior had puzzled her.  And, maybe, hanging out with Simon meant hanging out with Jude.

She looked at Arous as if to say, You should be careful who your friends are.

“Jude is the stable manager for the City stables.  I’d love to take you riding,” said Simon.

“We both have horses there,” said Jude.

“I’d love to go riding,” said Arous.

“It’s a date then,” said Simon.

“A horsey-ride with Prince Charming,” sneered Siobhan. “How very city-like of you.”

Jude took Arous by the hand and looked her in the eyes. For a moment he didn’t say anything.

“Don’t listen to her,” he said. “She’s just jealous because we’re paying special attention to you.”

“Aw,” said Arous at it reminded her of a special sing-song she used to hear and she laughed. “Special attention, special attraction for two special girly-girls!”