Beetee walked home to Victor's Village. He picked up the first thing that he saw sitting on the coffee table in the living room and threw it against the wall. Only then did he realize it was a bouquet of fabric flowers in a now shattered glass vase. They were the very same flowers that had had been at I-Squared two weeks ago. He sat on the couch and put his head in his hands. Did I just break what Wiress and I had with one conversation? One? He paused. Do we even have anything or is it just my imagination? He thought about it. She had a sweater and he had flowers that were now on the floor. Was that enough evidence of - something? And if he really wanted something to happen between them, would he really have said what he did about her parents?
He closed his eyes and the image of Wiress on the shaking catwalk of Factory Six instantly played behind his eyes. When he walked into the factory and first saw her talking with Jim, the first thing he felt was pride. Here she was, a brilliant Engineering Academy student already respected by the workers of the district. When he saw the danger she was in, fear had gripped him. He could loose his intern, one beneficiary of his scholarship, and the girl he loved. He wiped his eyes and sniffled. He truly loved her, which was why he was so furious at himself for those few careless words. He grabbed his coat and ran outside. An early March snowstorm was beginning, but he kept running. He ran to her apartment building and entered her unit number on the console where he could call up to the apartment unit through the intercom. "Carpenter residence." Mrs. Carpenter said shortly after he pushed the button.
"This is - Mr. Tesla."
"Oh, hello, young man." Mrs. Carpenter said. "Wiress isn't feeling well, son. You'll have to come back tomorrow. I'm sorry."
"It's - It's about the internship - please - I promise - I won't be long." Beetee knew he sounded desperate.
"Hold on." The intercom clicked off. Beetee shivered out of nervousness. He heard a click after what seemed like several long minutes. "She can talk for five minutes." Beetee thought he could detect a hint of smugness in Mrs. Carpenter's voice. He took the elevator to her floor and knocked timidly on the door.
Wiress was on the couch with a cup of tea. Another cup was on a coaster on the coffee table. Beetee saw her give her grandmother a bit of a glowering look as she opened the door. "Come in, oh - don't bother about your shoes if you want to keep them on!"
"No - it's ok." Beetee said. He sat down on the couch. "Is this tea mine?" he asked looking at the inviting mug of tea.
"According to Grandma." Wiress said flatly. "Yes." Beetee reached for her hand that was resting on the couch cushion. As his fingers brushed hers, she lifted her hand and wrapped it around her mug.
"Wiress, honey, I'll be vacuuming the bedroom if you need me." Mrs. Carpenter called before closing the bedroom door and starting the vacuum.
"Wiress - I honestly don't know how to apologize. But I do. I apologize." Beetee stammered. "I - I got mad - because - because I don't know what I would do if I lost you."
"You'd answer to Jones. And the principal. And my other instructors. And Grandma." Wiress said.
"I mean - I don't know - Wiress - I - I didn't want you to get hurt because I care about you." Beetee said.
"Why didn't you say that at I-Squared?" Wiress asked.
"I was upset."
"That's not what I asked."
"I -" Beetee paused. "Wiress, please please don't take this the wrong way." Wiress nodded and stared at him. "I would be - deeply grieved - I daresay - in a - in a very similar way that you grieved your parents - if I lost you. If I had the chance to protect you and I blew it." Wiress was silent. "I care about you. That much."
"I -" Wiress paused. She paused. "When - When I thought - you fired me - I thought - well - it hurt - a lot. To dissapoint you." Wiress looked at the ground. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too." Beetee said. Wiress looked at him hunched over clutching his tea mug. Slowly, she reached her hand out and ran her fingers down his forearm. He shivered at her touch through his sleeve. Slowly they linked hands again. They finished their tea in silence.
"Thank you for stopping by." Wiress whispered.
"Thank you for letting me." Beetee said smiling. "I'll let you get some rest, ok? I'll see you next Saturday." Wiress walked him to the door and gave him a small smile before he headed down the hallway.