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Chapter 18 - Genie and Samuel

Genie sat in the kitchen inside of Sam and Arles' flat. She held her phone out and was speaking to Tony Tyler. Tony was in a dimly lit cockpit of a ship. Dozens of buttons, could be seen behind him.

Arles, wearing a nice suit with a loose tie, joined Genie. He sat a cup of tea in front of her and began to sip his own.

"So, John and Sam are arguing." Tony stated.

Arles sipped his tea. "Yeah. How long did that take?"

Genie shook her head. "Why are they like that? I wish they could just get on-"

Tony sat back and shook his head. "I don't know. Very few times in my life I can remember them, actually getting along."

Genie sighed. "I just don't know. I hate that Sammy feels this way."

Arles looked back at his sister. "Well, how do you know how Sam feels?"

"It's oblivious when he storming off and being short with Dad."

Tony nodded. "Still storming off? You know, I remember him doing that once a few years ago. John and he were arguing. He ran out of the room and Tony grabbed him. Do you remember that?"

Arles shook his head. "No."

Genie realized. "I do. Tony cracked his head on the floor and had to go to the ship. Mum rushed us all out of the room."

Tony rose his eyebrows, "Because there was blood everywhere. I remember that. Yeah."

Arles looked at Genie. "I don't remember this."

"He was probably, 14?" Genie thought.

"You were probably asleep." Tony teased.

Arles sipped his tea, slurping it loudly.

Tony groaned. "Could you please just….tip the phone closer to the tea?"

Arles grinned. "Oh, and it's perfect, Tony. Missing a nice cuppa?"

Tony groaned. "You have no idea. I feel like I'm an addict going through withdrawal here."

Arles pointed forcefully at him. "Good! You sorry son of a bitch! What the hell were you thinking going off without at least consulting us? Aren't we all in this together?"

Tony sighed. "I know. Believe me, I've thought about it."

"Clearly, not when you should have." Arles insisted.

Genie rose her eyebrow. "Guys, stop. Tony, I think the word you are looking for here is…"

Tony looked back up at them. "Sorry. Really guys I am. This entire thing of us being here is my fault. But, you know that I have to try."

Arles sat down his tea and became serious. "I know, man. I'm not cross about that."

Genie hugged Arles' arm. "Tony. Dad is taking Arles and Sam to Caihiri."

"Lance's place?"

Arles nodded. "And to show you there's no hard feelings, I'll bring the digital reading so you can make tea in your own food replicator on your ship."

"Yes!" Tony celebrated and clapped his hands together. "Oh! You are brilliant! I'll see you guys there. Genie, are you going to be there?"

Genie glanced back at Arles. "I won't be."

Tony nodded, "Well, damn. I'll miss seeing you."

She smiled, "I have something to tell you, but I've decided not to until we see one another again."

Tony rose his eyebrows. "Arles has started drinking and you have a big secret. This will be easy. I'll get Arles drunk and he'll sing like a bird."

Arles flipped Tony off, "Here's your bird here, ass."

Tony laughed. "Nice."

Samuel, wearing a nice dark grey suit, walked into the flat and closed the door. He ran his hand across his shorter hair as he heard Genie laughing in the kitchen.

"What's this?" He asked as he joined them.

Tony smiled at him, "Oh, Arles is giving me shit."

Sam grinned. "Good! Son of a-"

Arles stopped his brother, "We covered this."

Sam nodded. "Alright. Good."

Tony laughed. "I'll see you guys on Caihiri. I can be there tomorrow. I'm going to stop over in ummm…. Gacriulea, if you guys want anything."

They all stopped and thought.

Genie smiled, "I would like some really, large socks."

Tony rolled his neck back. "Socks?"

"Yes. But, some big enough for….you. A man sized pair. You know, the water proof sort."

Tony spun around in the chair. "I'll never remember this. Let me get something to write this down."

After he looked around, he found a bit of paper and started to make notes. "Socks. Man socks. Alright, what else?"

Arles rubbed his lip. "I'd like some pants. I hate these here."

Sam agreed, "Yes. Me, too. Please."

Tony nodded, "Me three. I'll get that sorted. Do you think Legate wants some, too?"

Sam nodded, "Yeah, go on then."

Tony continued to write. "Yeah. Boxers for the boys, and what else?"

Sam bit his lip. "I need a navigation ball."

Tony looked surprised. "A navigation ball?"

"Yeah. The sort that lights up and has all of the stars and planets in it. But, small enough you can fit in your pocket. I need two."

Tony made a note. "I'd never remember this shit. Alright, is that it?"

They all agreed it was.

Tony grinned, "Alright. See you tomorrow. Genie, man socks? Save the cross dressing for later."

Genie looked back at Arles, "Please show him the bird, again."

Arles flipped Tony off again.

Tony laughed and ended the call.

Arles looked back at Genie. "Socks? For Legate, huh?"

She groaned, "He goes out and plays in the snow and his feet are like ice! He delights in sticking them to me and I'm going to smack him."

Arles stood up and rubbed his face. "Damn. Honeymoon is already over."

Sam chuckled and walked over to the refrigerator to take out a bottle of water. "That was quick."

Genie giggled as she sat back and crossed her arms. "Arles, I need to talk to Sammy."

Arles rubbed his hands together. "I need to go set up my drum set." He leaned down and kissed Genie's cheek and walked out of the flat shouting back to Sam, "Good luck, honey!"

"Thanks, dear!" Sam called back as Arles closed the door.

Genie looked at her brother.

"What's on your mind, Gene?" He asked.

"You. I'm worried about you."

"I'm fine. There's no reason to worry about me."

"That's what you want everyone to think. Don't think you have me fooled."

Sam grinned and sipped his water. "I don't think I have anyone fooled-"

"Sam. I know you are furious with Dad-"

"I'm not." He insisted.

"You're not."

"And I don't really want to talk about it."

Genie sighed and sat back. "Not now. But, I feel you might. When you are ready, you can talk to me-"

"You're busy with your own stuff."

"What stuff?"

"The school. Legate. Just….life-"

"Sammy. You are part of my life. A huge part."

Sam leaned on the cabinet. "How's it going, sis?"

"What?"

"This…conversation. I feel like you have been practicing it all day."

"Ugh! Sammy. You are the hardest person to talk to-"

"There's no reason for you to be worried about me-"

"You are the one I worry about the most-"

He smiled just to annoy her, "That's sweet-"

"You never talk to anyone-"

"I have no reason to-"

"There's no way you are alright with everything-"

"I'm always alright."

Genie sighed and glared at him. "Fine. You want to pretend everything is alright-"

"Sunshine and roses." He insisted.

She groaned, "Alright. I want to offer you a job."

He grinned, "Do you?"

"Yes. I want to ask you to teach at the school."

"What will I teach?"

"Whatever you want. Arles has already picked maths, so that's out."

"I wouldn't want to teach maths."

She smiled. "I know you wouldn't. Maybe, science? Biology? Chemistry? Engineering?"

He sighed, "Gene. I'm not planning on leaving. You don't have to do this."

"It was all you talked about, Sam. And now you and Dad-"

"Dad is just going to have to get over himself."

Genie looked frightened. She whispered. "Please promise me you won't."

He sighed and walked over to sit next to her. He took her hand, "Gene. I can't promise that I'll always be here, but I can promise that I won't leave. Not anytime soon, like I had planned."

She looked in his eyes. "Sammy. I just can't lose anyone else. I thought losing Grand and Grandfather was the worst-"

"I know. But, now we've lost everyone but each other."

Genie closed her eyes tightly. "I can't even believe this has happened. Eight years?"

"If we're rounding, we might as well say nine."

"Ugh. I don't even want to think about it."

He grinned, "But it's a short time for you. My Rixalarian sister."

She slowly smiled. "I'm amazed. Legate is thrilled."

"I would imagine so."

She held his hand tighter. "I don't want to talk about me. I feel like we need to sort this out with you."

"Gene, it's not something we can sort out. Not in one conversation."

"You and Dad-"

"Ah. Don't worry about us. Makes me feel at home to have him….breathing down my neck about stuff."

"Sam. You are such a good person. So special-"

"That's what they say."

"What did your letter from Mum say?"

"I haven't read it."

"Why?"

"I just…..haven't."

Genie sighed. "I admit. I haven't either. I just….don't want to."

"Arles said he knows he's really here if he reads it. So, he's waiting, too."

Genie nodded. "Well. You said you have plans tonight. What are you doing?"

He shook his head. "Nothing really. Just, dinner….something Arles doesn't cook."

She narrowed her eyes at him.

He smiled, "Drives you mad that you can't tell if I'm lying, doesn't it?"

She smiled, "It's actually refreshing. The only one I've ever met that I can't really tell. It's interesting you found a way to block that."

He grinned and propped his head up on his fist. "If I can't be telepathic like everyone else…."

"It's really, not all that great of a thing."

"Says the person who is. Legate told me you joined with him. Be careful, not to do it too much. It will give you a terrible headache."

"I'll remember that." She decided to lighten the mood. She let go of his hand and sipped her tea. "Arles says we all American citizens."

"Dual citizens as it turns out." Sam told her. "Uncle Howie told me that needed us to all vote for him in the election."

Genie laughed, "That is so like him."

He chuckled, "Yeah. He is exactly the same. Younger. It was odd."

"Did you see Jake?"

He shook his head. "No. He was away at school. Gosh, we won't see Jacob or Soli for nine years." He realized and propped his head up on his fist again.

She sipped her tea to hide her pained look on her face. "Sammy, I'm so sorry. Your best friend-"

He dropped his hand in his lap. "He's alright. He's here."

"Not our Soli."

He sipped his water and didn't say anything.

Genie looked back at the arched windows and saw that it had gotten dark outside. She looked back Sam, "I like your hair."

He looked back at her and smiled. "Thank you. Too short?"

"I don't see the curls as much. But, it looks nice."

He rubbed his chin. "I probably need to shave. I skipped it this morning."

She smiled at him and whispered, "Looks alright. Do you have a date?"

He grinned at her. "Of course I do. With an extremely, beautiful woman. I'm going to take her to eat chips."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "I don't believe that."

He laughed. Even though he could lie to Genie, he found it entertaining that she still didn't believe him when he was telling the truth. "What are you doing tonight?"

"Legate went to get us some take away so I can go through letters." She looked down at her bracelet for the time. "I probably need to go."

"How many students do you have?"

"As of today, I think 24."

"Wow. Gene, that's amazing."

She stood up and stretched her back. "What will be amazing is that they will all be a good fit. I want this to be a safe place. Just like at home."

He nodded. "Biology, Chemistry, Engineering and Physics. Any of those, or all of them. I know you need the help."

She clapped excitedly and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Sammy!"

He smiled. "Sure."

She danced as she walked out of the door.

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