Chapter 8: Familiarity
"Ma'am?"
I jerk a little, coming out of some memory-induced stupor… or so I tell myself. I look up at the man before me. He's a few years older than me, with curly blond hair, dark brown eyes and a creamy complexion that reminds me of marble. Outwardly, he is flawless, and if I were any girl other than myself, I'd immediately start flirting shamelessly. But I'm me, and I'm sensible, and for some reason, I am wary of him.
"Ma'am, are you alright?"
He looks familiar… oh, Force. It can't be him. It just can't… I realize he's waiting for an answer. "I'm fine."
"D'you mind if I have a seat?"
Yes. "Not at all."
Who is this guy to have made you like this with him already?
Would it kill you to shut up for longer than 10 minutes?
Touchy, touchy. Shutting up now.
The man is squinting at me.
"Dust in your eye?"
"Huh?"
I roll my eyes. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You look familiar…"
Well, I should, it's only been a few months since you say me last. "Do I?"
"You been on Corellia recently?"
Oh, so you actually learned something from all those classes they made us take at the Academy. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I have." He'll figure it out any second now… three… two… one.
His eyes widen. "Kaie? Kaie Neria?"
"Have a Bliel," I say casually, sliding mine to him.
"I'm gonna need something stronger than a Bliel… is it really you?'
"Yup."
"I'm thinking a whiskey'll do me some good."
"I doubt it."
He shakes his head in wonder. "We thought you were dead, Kaie."
"Well, I'm not."
"This is too much."
"Aren't you glad you're sitting down?"
"Immensely. Where have you been?"
My mood turns somber immediately. "This is neither the place nor time to tell you that."
"Kaie-"
"No, Zeke. I'll tell you when I'm ready. In the meantime, you can tell me what you've been up to."
I've promised myself I'll stop running, but suddenly I'm not sure that's a promise I can keep.