I hope you're up to some processing and back story. And some fun with Pete. No Helena in this chapter, but she will be in next. Oh yes, she will… And I think it's safe to say she will be joining the main cast. (If only that happened on the actual show…)
I don't own the show, or the characters.
Chapter Six
The book that Helena told Myka to keep is "The Wonderful Visit". Myka, living above a library (Huh, good it's not "under the stairs".) for her whole life and being a fan of H.G. Wells' work, is familiar with it. Because she's a nerd, seeing this book makes her wonder (How on earth haven't I thought of that earlier?) what is Helena's middle name, if she even has it, and if she shares initials with one of Myka's favorite authors.
It's almost midnight and Tracy haven't come back yet, but Myka is actually glad, cause she can use some time alone to think. Lying on her bed uncovered, Myka can't stop thinking about Helena. It almost worries her that she starts to obsess and process everything again, because she promised herself just a few days ago she wouldn't do that anymore. But the difference is that then she was thinking about Pete, who kind of is an open book, and now she's trying to figure out Helena, the walking mystery. At least, that's what she is to her, a puzzle. For now, Myka settles. I will solve this puzzle, that's what I always do.
But she can't lie to herself, there's more to it than just desire to solve the puzzle. Or less. Just desire, she thinks, remembering the way Helena's wet cloths clung to her body. Myka closes her eyes, embarrassed. But it's true, Helena is very attractive and equally aware of it. She may be 19 or 20, but there's a reason Myka thought her older at first sight. Helena is a woman, mature and self-confident, and Myka can't help but feel next to her like an awkward teenager that she is.
She hasn't had a problem with that before – well, nobody likes to feel like that, but Myka mostly accepts her awkward and quirky side, knowing that it will pass with time, or at least ease off. But every romantic relationship she had in the past (and there wasn't many) was with a person in a similar phase of life.
When she was dating her first boyfriend, Jeff, they were both 14 and all they did was hold hands and occasionally kiss. It didn't last very long, too; they silently agreed to go their separate ways when they run out of topics to talk.
Then there was Sam. She fell for him hard and they were great together, but she knew it was just a teenage dream, nothing serious. (Until it became serious, when he died in an accident, and she took it hard, blaming herself, grieving and simply missing him.)
Finally, Charlie. She was, like Helena, a bit older than Myka, but even though both girls were self-assured and mature, they seemed completely different. Helena – mysterious and intriguing; Charlie – outgoing and forthright. Helena – causing Myka's insecurity; Charlie – giving her comfort. Helena making Myka want to know everything about her, and Charlie making Myka want to tell her everything about herself.
I just need to give Helena a little time, before I'll feel comfortable around her, she decides. Her sight falls to the book lying on a footlocker. She smiles. I do believe we'll get along, Ms. Wells.
# # #
The door to theirs room slowly opens, and someone walks inside, moving carefully, clearly afraid to wake her up.
"I'm not asleep yet, you don't have to be so quiet," Myka says, adding right away, "Just don't turn the lights on."
"Ok," comes Tracy's response.
"How was the party? Did you convince Josh to come along?"
"No, but he promised to go next time. Tonight I just chatted with Susie and Kate, and they introduced me to some people, like a few club frequenters."
After changing into her sleeping clothes, Tracy lies down on her bed and Myka hears her yawning.
Frequenters. I wonder if…
"Anyone interesting?" she asks casually.
"Yeah. Two guys. Apparently, British is the new black." Tracy chuckles to herself.
"Really?" Myka's heart skips a beat. She means boys, Myka, she always means boys.
"Yeah," Tracy repeats. She pauses for a minute, trying to remember. "Oh, ok. James MacPherson and Charles… What was his last name?"
While Myka's waiting, Tracy yawns again.
"I knew it, it was something familiar," she muses. "An writer's name, that's why I remembered. Hm… Doyle? Wilde?"
"Wells?" prompts Myka, a smile forming on her face.
"Yes, Wells. Like that time-machine-war-of-the-worlds-dude that dad's so fond of. That's why I remembered," she repeats herself again, and Myka smiles even wider; there are moments when she really likes her sister. For one, when she's being so cute and sleepy.
So it must be Helena's brother, right?
"Do you know where he lives? His sister lent me a book and I'll need to give it back."
Tracy doesn't show surprise, maybe she doesn't exactly register what Myka's saying. She only says slowly, voice quiet, "I'll ask Susie, she was smitten with him."
"Thanks," Myka responds, although not sure if her sister will remember anything from their conversation. "Sleep well."
The only answer is slight snoring.
# # #
The next day goes by quickly. Mrs. Bering orders a family bonding time and they spend half a day on a small cruising yacht with other tourists. Unfortunately, Myka doesn't see any of her friends, so she's forced to do small talk with her mom and some fancy lady they've met, while her father chats with that lady's husband. Tracy doesn't even pretend to partake, she's constantly texting – Joshua or her friends about Joshua, judging from her facial expressions.
At one point Tracy waves at her, so Myka excuses herself and comes up to her sister.
"What's up?"
"Joshua asks if you want to go to the library tomorrow, he says he could use some help with his research and I suggested you'd love to do this," she says in one breath.
Myka blinks. Once, twice.
"Why don't you want to go with him?"
"You know I don't like science." Tracy shrugs. "And you're good at it, so if you help him, he'll be done much sooner than if he did this alone, and then," she smirks, "I'll have him all to myself."
Myka chuckles.
"Come on, sis, I'll owe you."
"Fine, I'd like to go, actually."
# # #
After late dinner Myka is finally able to get away from her mother. It's not that she doesn't like to spend time with her, but since the accident Mrs. Bering sometimes gets so preoccupied with making sure Myka feels loved, not lonely, that she doesn't notice how tiresome her eagerness is.
So, being emotionally exhausted, Myka texts Pete asking if he wants to go skate in silence. Whether it's ice- or roller-skating, it's something that helps her clear her mind and relax. They find a place to rent rollerblades and choose a park nearby.
Pete, in fact, does keep quiet, busying himself with a pack of candies. Myka shakes her head, when he offers her some, and the wince on her face becomes bigger and bigger when she's thinking how much sugar he's already consumed. It almost makes her nauseous. She speeds up, leaving him behind.
An hour later, once again in their regular footwear, they sit in said park – Pete on the grass, leaning against a tree, and Myka on a swing set, waggling her feet.
"You feel better?" Pete asks, referring to Myka's mood.
"Yeah, you?" she throws back.
Pete pats his abdomen, while saying, "I do, now. Don't let me eat so many candies ever again."
"Like you listen to me," she chuckles, before turning to look at him. "Thanks, Pete. For today. I enjoyed your silent company."
"Anytime, Mykes." He blows her a kiss. "You know," he says, playfully waggling his eyebrows, "you can always repay me with some heavy make out session."
"You're lucky I'm not moving from this spot, cause I would hit you hard for this one, boy."
He giggles under her reproachful look. She joins in soon enough. Pete's phone starts ringing.
"I bet it's Kelly. Just in time," Myka says, grinning.
He checks his phone.
"Ten points for Ravenclaw!" Pete yells, before answering the call. "Hey, babe!"
"I bet he thinks he's a Gryffindor," she says to herself.
Pete's joyous voice wafts somewhere on her left, as he tells his girlfriend about his day, and makes inappropriate comments, which Myka wishes she'd never heard.