So I think – I think – you're gonna like this chapter. I know I do :)
(Although. The beginning may be a bit grinding, at least it is for me. I just can't write about science-y stuff. Anyway, I hope it's relatively bearable.)
To the guest who asked if Myka is taller than HG in this story – I'd say, yes? I didn't actually think about it before, but yeah, let's go with a yes :)
I own nothing.
Chapter Seven
As they're walking down the main street, Joshua is trying to explain to Myka what is his project about, without actually telling her key details. He's rather private about his work and although she respects it, Myka is slightly irritated.
"How do you expect me to help, if I don't know what exactly you're doing?"
"You don't need to know this to help me. I wouldn't use you to do my work for me, I just need you to give me a hand with gathering data," he waits before she nods her head in agreement, and continues, "I need as much as we can find on quantum teleportation."
Myka shots him a surprised look.
"How old are you? Cause you seem to be my age, but this is really, and I mean it, really advanced science."
He shrugs.
"I'm a little ahead. But it's a fascinating subject." There's a glint in his eyes, one that often shows in his sister's eyes when she's talking about computers. "Quantum teleportation, which the scientists thought to be impossible years and years after the formulation of the theory of quantum mechanics, turns out to be only very, very hard. But it is possible. And science keeps extending, offering more and more possibilities… it's a world of an endless wonder to me," he adds, smiling a little timidly.
Myka smiles back.
"I'm glad you found one," she says sincerely.
"You'll find it too," Josh states, like it was truest thing on earth.
# # #
They gather several books and papers, and occupy a table in the reading room. Myka searches for the right chapters and paragraphs, while Josh reads them and takes notes.
She leaves him to work unperturbed. She asks a librarian to photocopy longer extracts from a few books, so the boy could take some materials home.
When she's finished Josh is still working, so Myka decides to wander around the place. She checks a few aisles before heading back to the science section. She isn't really convinced she'll find anything else in such a small local library, but she's set to try anyway.
There is a person standing in front of a shelf with medicine books. Myka recognizes her immediately.
"Helena."
The girl turns around upon hearing a voice.
"Oh. Hello," she says, a smile forming on her face.
For a moment they stare at each other, like they were trying to see who can last longer without blinking. Eventually, Myka speaks up.
"You're doing some research too?"
"Too?"
Myka points in the reading room's direction.
"My friend, Josh, is. My sister's boyfriend," she adds, feeling the need to clear that up.
Helena seems to be slightly amused by her clarification.
Myka scratches her neck unwittingly, looking away for a second. She tries again, "He's Claudia's brother, actually."
Helena's expression softens and her hand travels to the base of her neck. Oh good, Myka thinks, I'm not the only one with a tic.
"And how is our poor Claudia?"
"Perfectly fine," comes from behind Myka.
Joshua nears them. He offers Helena an affable smile.
"You know my sister?"
"Josh, that's Helena," Myka informs him.
"You're Helena! I've heard a lot about you for the past few days. Both from Claudia and Myka."
"You can call me HG," she says, shaking his hand.
HG!
Myka just knows that the half smirk on Helena's face is meant for her.
"Thank you, HG," Joshua tells her gratefully.
"I simply did what anyone would do. Although," her sight falls from the boy to Myka, "I'm glad I was there."
"Me too," she admits and is rewarded with a small smile.
"Well, it was nice to meet you. Myka, I'm done for now, I'm taking the rest to go," Josh says. "Are you coming back with me?"
Out of the corner of her eye, Myka sees that Helena turned her attention back to the bookshelf. She's clearly looking for something. Myka nods her head yes.
"Let's get going."
# # #
Two days later Pete gets into a fight with MacPherson and ends up with a broken arm.
Nobody saw them, as they were both taking a lonely walk, so it's hard to tell what actually happened. Pete says he was going to ignore JJ, but the older guy provoked him by casting offensive comments, so Pete hit him first.
When Myka asks him what exactly MacPherson said, Pete doesn't want to tell her. He only declares he was defending his sister's honor, and have no regrets.
# # #
Myka stays at the B&B for the better part of the afternoon, keeping her friend company. Leaving, she decides to take a roundabout way, making the most of a beautiful early evening. Even though it's not cold, the wind is rather strong, and she's glad she took a jacket.
The market square is overcrowded at this hour, so Myka passes by and heads towards a park. There's many people there too, but Myka manages to find an unoccupied bench hidden under a willow's branches. The place is isolated from view, so she hopes no one will interrupt her while she'll be doing some thinking.
And she's deep in thought when someone does just that.
"Myka Bering, it seems we're destined to keep meeting."
She lifts her head up to see very amused Helena Wells.
"What are you doing here?" she asks, surprised, but not unhappy, to see the other girl. She gestures for her to sit down.
Helena runs a hand through her hair before taking a spot next to Myka. There's a lot of space, but she sits closely to the younger girl, and Myka wonders if she's actually aware of that. Not that I mind.
"I came here to get some fresh air. I stay at a hotel nearby."
They're quiet for a few moments, until Helena speaks up.
"I'm sorry about your friend. I've heard he had his arm broken."
Myka nods a little, thinking that Pete was kind of asking for that. Still, it's a good excuse to inquire about MacPherson.
"Yes. He got into a fight with your friend, I think," she says, waiting for Helena to rise to this.
"I would hardly call James my friend."
Myka opens her mouth to point out that she saw them together, but thinks better of it. Helena glances at her.
"I've enjoyed his company, as he's intelligent and rather good-looking, and quite a charmer if he makes an effort." She shakes her head. "But a few days ago I learned something about him, and cut him off for good." She looks at Myka, her eyes honest. "I regret having anything to do with him."
Myka bestirs. What is it with this guy?
"What exactly?"
"JJ is awfully disrespectful. In general, yes," she makes a dismissive gesture, but when she says next words, anger appears on her face, "but it seems, in particular to women who reject his interest." Her eyes meet Myka's worried ones. "I just found out a few days ago that he tried to force himself on Peter's sister at a party."
At Myka's gasp Helena rushes to clarify.
"He didn't actually do anything, as he was stopped, but the very thing of trying… That was before I came here, and I had no idea," she assures.
"That's why Pete hates him so much," Myka gets it now. She remembers something else, "Helena, is this why you talked to Jeannie the other day?"
"How do you know about that?"
"I saw you when I was heading to the grocery store."
"Oh. Yes," HG smiles a little, "I wanted to improve her chances. You know, just in case." She smirks. "I've heard James had pulled a hamstring a few months ago, and with that knowledge it'd be easy to touch a raw nerve. If need be."
"If need be," Myka repeats after Helena, and shakes her head. "Apparently, Jeannie didn't share that information with her brother."
"Clearly," Helena says, sighing. "I wish she had."
They grow quiet for a while. While Myka's processing everything in her head, Helena shuffles through the contents of her bag. After a few minutes she stands up.
"I have to go back to the hotel. Thank you, Myka," she adds when Myka looks up at her.
"For what?"
"Taking time to hear out what I had to say."
Myka smiles with a corner of her mouth.
"It was my pleasure."
A chuckle leaves the older girl, when she's looking at Myka, tilting her head.
"Goodnight then."
"Goodnight, Helena."
# # #
When Myka's undressing in her room later, she finds in her jacket pocket a note with a phone number and a carefully lettered sentence, "To lend the Destiny a hand." A wide smile appears on her face. You keep surprising me, Ms. Wells.