Well, I think a few of you can see what's coming, but let's just tease Linka for a little while more, eh? It's so much fun…
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"Did I ever tell you that Laura is a really pretty name?"
Wheeler's voice is so low that if I weren't straining to listen in on their conversation, I would never have heard him. I'm not spying on them or anything, but I would just like to know where they were the whole afternoon. Only because there could have been an eco-emergency and we could have needed to summon Captain Planet and Wheeler would have been nowhere to be found. He wasn't picking up his phone and had managed to close off all connections with Ma-Ti …And now, in their little corner of the living room he and Laura seem to be sharing yet another conversation they do not want to let the rest of us in on…
I know Gi, Kwame and Ma-Ti are just as upset as I am at their unexplained disappearance; they're just not showing it. I glance at Kwame, who is focused on the television screen. He may not say anything now but I just know he is seething at Wheeler's irresponsibility. He will surely have a few words with him later on, when no one else is around, so as not to embarrass him…
It's not like they were doing something important. I mean, listening in on Wheeler's conversation…it's just…inane. Laura is a really pretty name. Please!
Laura is giggling (as usual), her head so close to Wheeler's that her short hair brushes against his face. How inappropriate! Such brazen behaviour, with no consideration for anyone else in the room. Ma-Ti, poor young Ma-Ti, must be so uncomfortable. He shouldn't be exposed to this at his age. Even though he appears to be deep into his novel, I know he is trying desperately to ignore Wheeler and Laura. Well, I have had enough of this lack of courtesy. I stand up and yawn, slowly, deliberately.
"I am really tired," I say loudly. "I think I will head to bed."
"G'nite," a chorus of voice comes. But nothing from the cozy couple in the corner. I do not think they even heard me.
"It has been a really long day," I continue, walking slowly towards the door. Laura finally looks up.
"Oh, you're not going to bed already, are you?" Like you care, I think irritably. The look of concern on her face is obviously fake. "Can I talk to you for a second before you go?"
All I want to do is go and lie in my room, alone, but I nod and step into the doorway. She follows me and shuts the door behind us.
"Are you okay?" she asks quietly, even though we are both out of earshot of the others.
"Da, why not?" I say coolly, folding my arms across my chest.
"You've been a bit quiet," Laura says. How on earth would she know? I wonder. She doesn't know what I'm normally like, and it's not like she even tried to find out, what with her quest to monopolise Wheeler's attention.
"I didn't sleep well last night. I was tired, that's all," I lie.
I want to ask her why she is even here, in our suite, at this late hour. I guess Wheeler invited her to stay but doesn't she have a home to get to? Or is she planning on staying the night…I force the thought out of my head. You're being stupid, Linka…
Laura's brow is slightly wrinkled in…pity? This annoys me. Why does she think I need her pity? Does she think I'm any more uncomfortable with her and Wheeler's behaviour than any of the other Planeteers? Because I'm definitely not.
"Oh, ok, that's good. I thought it might be…" She pauses, seemingly unsure of whether to continue.
"What?" I say, slightly more defiantly than I had intended.
"Nothing…well, I guess it's just that…well, Vee told me about you and Wheeler and…" She pauses again. Vee? No-one ever gets to shorten my cousin's name, and now this girl has just taken the liberty. I am liking her less and less with every minute!
"Valentina told you what?" I ask tersely. "There's nothing to tell! We're not together and never have been!" I feel angry, especially at Valentina, because I had assumed our conversation was private. I make a mental note to add this to the growing list of issues I need to confront her about.
"Oh, I didn't mean it like that," Laura says quickly, eyes wide. "All she said was that you were a little angry at him, so to keep you two apart for a while. That's what I've been trying to do."
Well, you've certainly gone above and beyond the call of duty, I think irritably.
"We're fine," I say shortly.
"Well, um, ok," Laura says, looking somewhat sceptical. "Well, then, I'm just gonna head back in there." She moves towards the door then turns back to me and grins. "You know, that Wheeler is a really charming guy…"
I force myself to smile back, but inside I want to scream. Wheeler is not being charming! He is being his usual idiotic, overly-flirtatious self and she is naively falling for it! I want to tell her that she doesn't mean anything to him, that he'll forget her the moment we leave the island. But it's none of my business. I know him, but if I say all this I'll probably just come across as jealous to her. And I definitely don't want that; I'd hate for her to think there was something between us, because that clearly isn't the case.
Laura is still stood by the living room door, looking hesitant. She looks at me again, sheepishly.
"Look, Linka, I know I don't really know any of you and I really don't want to come between anyone here so…if you have a problem with me….with me and Wheeler, just say so now."
"I have no problem," I say coolly.
"That's good," she says. "Because I think I really quite like him."
"Good for you. I hope you're really happy together," I say, keeping my voice even.
"Thanks Linka," Laura grins. She's apparently not very good at reading sarcasm, I think, as she turns to return to the living room.
"I missed you, babe," Wheeler's voice sounds out from behind the door. I shake my head in disgust. I can't believe Laura is falling for all this. I can hear her giggling like a daft schoolgirl.
"Oh, Wheeler, do not be so silly," her laugh rings out. I agree. He should stop all this silliness. And while he's at it, he should stop calling every and any girl 'babe'. It's degrading.