Author's Note: Row, row, row the update gently onto the internet. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, I hope you guys enjoy. So it's not 80s or 90s girl bands, they didn't quite fit what I was going for there. However, tomorrow will be the epitome of a Manic Monday. Though, replace kissing Valentino with HG Wells and it's much more accurate. Anyway, read review, play a game of tic tac toe, enjoy.
Myka shot out of the dining room and to her room. Ok, so her hope that she wasn't going to be the one assigned to go on a mission with Helena hadn't been granted. That was fine. Fine. She would make it fine. She could do it. She rested her head on her closed bedroom door.
She hoped anyway.
She wandered about her room aimlessly for a few minutes. She was supposed to be packing. She knew that, but she just couldn't care about that right now. She was going to be stuck with Helena for at least a day, more if this mission didn't sort itself out right away. And knowing Artie he would only give them clearance for enough money for one hotel room since it was just her and Helena. Oh god, what was she going to do? It was just going to be one long awkward moment.
No. No it wouldn't. Myka could deal with all of this. She could put all her confusion and feelings aside for a few days. She would just sort them out later. It would all be ok.
She twirled a curl around her finger and took a deep breath, closing her eyes. Slowly she cleared her mind, thoughts sorting themselves into small little boxes to be dealt with later. Myka felt a weight starting to lift off her shoulders.
A knock sounded at the door and snapped her out of it; slamming the weight right back down on her shoulders and letting the boxes of thoughts tumble over and send their contents flying. She had to swallow a few times before she could speak.
"I'll be down in a second, Helena. Go grab breakfast."
"Do you want me to grab anything before Pete eats it all?" Helena's voice was muffled by the door, but Myka could still clearly hear the bone melting accent the woman had.
No. No her mind wouldn't go there.
"No, I'm fine. I'll just grab something at the airport later."
She could practically feel Helena cringe at that. The woman detested airport food. Myka heard the other woman's footsteps on the stairs a few seconds later. Myka sighed loudly. A little bit of the fog in her mind faded now that Helena wasn't so near.
Myka grabbed her travel bag from under her bed and actually set to packing. Blouses, pants, and socks were shoved carelessly into the little black case, nothing at all like Myka normally packed, neat, orderly, and tidy. Right now she didn't have the energy or the time. She zipped up her bag a few minutes later and hoped that she didn't forget anything. State of mind she was in, she would be lucky if she remember to pack underwear.
She stopped herself on the way to the door. She could do this. She had done this. She had spent years hiding her feelings and pretending like nothing was wrong. This was no different. She felt her face slipping into the calm mask. It felt odd on her face now. It had been so long since she had had to wear it last. Even stranger to be wearing it in the B&B. Bering and Sons was a more familiar setting for this expression. Her childhood home had few fond memories, none of them including her father.
Still, as much as she hated wearing this expression, it worked to calm her thoughts. Her shoulders relaxed, a zing of pain shooting through Myka. She had tensed up without realizing it and now her muscles were reading her the riot act. At this rate the plane ride was going to suck. She'd have stiff muscles before she ever set foot on the tarmac.
Myka continued out her door and down into the dining room. Artie was already shouting at everyone to leave. She caught the last bit of what he said as she walked in.
"And you. Why aren't you gone yet?" He barked at Helena.
"My fault, Artie. I took a little too long packing."
He couldn't be too mad. Myka was usually the first one ready when it came to packing for missions. Artie's glare softened, but only fractionally.
"Fine, fine just leave now if at all possible."
Myka had already started walking when Helena said, "Righty-ho then."
She felt her mask of calm slipping at bit. She had always found it so…charming when Helena used that phrase. She swallowed hard. Nope. Not going there.
She felt Helena following her out to the SUV. Myka slipped into the driver's seat, jammed the keys in the ignition, and threw her bag into the back seat. Helena got in on the passenger's side a second later. Myka started the vehicle and pointed them toward the airport.
