Chapter 8
"You okay, 'Laney? You look kinda… sad." Reno said lazily. He had not moved for about an hour, despite constant moans of being hungry.
"I'm fine, Reno. It's just, all happening a little too fast, that's all."
"Oh, well, you never had to say yes."
"I know… in fact sometimes I wonder why I did."
"You ain't gonna leave are you?" Reno said, he sat up properly, looking stunned.
"No… no, I'm not. I just… I'm gonna go for a walk around town, okay? Just to clear my head…"
"Ok…"
"I'll take you'll want to stay there?" She asked him. Reno stared at her blankly. "This is my room, remember?"
"Oh, yeah. Well I'll go if you want me too…"
"No, it's ok. See you later."
Elena walked out the hotel they were staying at. Now it was getting dark, it wasn't so bad, but the garish colors of the town made her feel slightly dizzy. There weren't as many people around now as there was earlier, and it was starting to cool down slightly, compared to the hot day they had just been through. Elena smiled unconsciously to herself. She didn't really understand the feeling she had, she had been certain she didn't actually want this job, yet there was something that was making her desperately cling onto it. Something that was making her want to stay…
She jumped as her cell phone started ringing loudly. Pulling herself together, she pulled it out and answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey, 'Laney…" Came Reno's voice, "I'm gonna order room service, you want anything? I know these guys get pretty pissy if you call them out more than once…"
"No, thanks Reno. I'm alright."
"You sure?"
"Yes, certain."
"Oh… umm, you know when you're gonna be back? Rude was askin' me…"
"Umm, I don't know, but I won't be long."
"Ok, see ya later 'Laney."
"Bye."
Elena snapped her cell phone shut and put it back into her pocket, once again smiling to herself. That Reno certainly was an odd character… she had never met anyone like him before. The kind of person that could annoy the hell out of you, and be the one your parents wanted you to bring home, all at once. Wait… why was she thinking that? She couldn't deny that the Turk was very good-looking, but she didn't feel that way… did she?
She shook her head. This was no time to be thinking things like that, she had a job the do, and she needed to do her very best to impress Tseng. Any thoughts like that could wait until afterwards. This was the kind of job that she had to be efficient in, and not let anything else cross her mind while she was working… although she wasn't quite sure where she had gotten that impression from, Reno certainly hadn't given it to her after all. She hadn't known him long and she was already wondering how he managed to hold down that job. He seemed experienced in what he did… but his lack of professionalism was… well, she was surprised Tseng put up with him. She guessed there was a reason he did put up with it, and she didn't expect to find out for a long time. Until that time came, she would just have to persever with Reno, and understand that not everyone is… the same.
With this thought still in mind, she looked at her watch. It getting late and it was starting to get rather dark. Smiling to herself, she headed back to the hotel.