Chapter 29

It has been one week since Renton recovered and Talho's baby was born. Things were finally settling down. The crew eased back into a state of relaxation and conversed with each other more freely. However, Maurice was not content. He observed the big compact drive for the past few days. He was glad that both the blue and red light blinked brightly, but something was still bothering him. He noticed that every once in a while, the blue light would lag behind the red light. Maurice had a feeling that the link between Renton and Eureka was damaged but did not know the reason.

----

Back in Talho's and Holland's room.

Talho held her newborn baby girl and talked quietly to Holland.

"Eureka and Renton haven't been talking to each other lately."

"Yeah, I noticed."

"How about we force them to go on a date?"

Holland laughed, "A date? How?"

"Well, we've landed near a pretty decent town."

"Even so, those two always manage to find trouble wherever they go."

"Maybe we have them watched?" Talho asked Holland.

Holland chuckled, "How?"

"We can have Moondoggie follow them."

Holland let out a burst of laughs, "Al-alright then."

Talho smiled and handed the baby to Holland.

"I'll go tell Eureka. In the meantime, change Ariel's diapers." Talho said and left the room.

"Change the diapers?" Holland said aloud to himself. He held the baby girl up and sniffed her white diaper. Almost immediately, a strong smell, one much worse than his own crap, shot directly up his nose. Holland scrunched up his face and quickly threw back his head.

"Whoa! I guess she meant now!"

-----

Eureka walked down the hallway and stopped at the doorway of the living room. She took a peek in and found Renton. He sat on the brown couch by the massive glass panel that looked out into a grassy filed under a blue sky. He was reading a magazine and did not notice Eureka peeking at him.

Eureka quietly closed the door and took a few steps back. She continued walking down the hallway and into the kitchen, where she found Gidget.

"What's up, Eureka?" Gidget asked while leaning on the counter.

"What's ... up... ?"

"Never mind." Gidget smiled and chuckled softly.

Eureka glanced down at the floor and twiddled her fingers.

"Could I... talk to you about something?"

"Of course, anything."

"Err... it's about Renton..."

Gidget flicked her index finger up in the air, "Ah! Love issues, right?"

Eureka was not sure how to answer that and shrugged slightly.

"I don't know. But lately, I get nervous when I'm around him."

"Hmm..." Gidget adjusted her purple had and asked in a low voice.

"Have you two done 'it' recently?"

"It?"

Eureka did not know what Gidget was talking about. Gidget took no notice of Eureka's cluelessness on the subject and continued talking.

"Now that you mentioned it, I was also shy around Moondoggie after we did it."

Gidget smiled and closed her eyes. She could vividly remember that one day where she and Moondoggie were alone inside a room of the cave they were to explore. She remembered that she though heard someone gasp but forgot about it when Moondoggie held her waist and pulled her closer to him. Gidget opened her eyes and sighed.

"He may be all cute and soft on the outside, but he has a rough side too." Gidget said and winked. Eureka stared blankly at her and tilted her head to the left in question.

"Uh... I guess you haven't done it... yet."

Gidget blushed at the fact that she said something embarrassing in front of Eureka who did not know about 'it'.

"So what did happen?"

Eureka explained to Gidget what had happened after the ref race. After Eureka finished, Gidget leaned against the counter and pondered deeply.

"If that's the case, I can teach you to be more attractive."

"Really?"

Gidget smiled and nodded, "Trust me."

The two girls burst out in fits of laughter. With that, Gidget's teaching started.

"Let's see..." Gidget mumbled as she and Eureka entered Gidget's room.

"Make up looks terrible on you, so none of that."

Eureka laughed and remembered the time she used makeup. She could clearly remember everyone's reaction, especially Renton's response. She could also remember that she felt like disappearing but after looking back upon the event, it was quite funny.

Gidget snapped her fingers together, "Aha! Different clothes!"

"What kinds?" Eureka asked.

"Ones that will make you look sexy."

"Sexy...? What's that?"

Gidget did not answer because she was busy digging up clothes in her closet. After a few minutes searching in her closet, she finally found what she was looking for.

"Ah! Here they are!" She exclaimed and held up a black tank-top and mini-skirt. With Gidget's help, Eureka changed into the new clothes. Once finished, Eureka smoothed out the skirt and checked her image in the mirror. The black mini-skirt was much shorter than her regular clothes and the tank-top revealed her bellybutton and waist.

"Gidget, are these skirts suppose to be this short and tight?"

Gidget nodded, "Yup, that's the style."

Eureka patted her chest. The tank top squeezed her chest and made it slightly uncomfortable. However, that was not the only thing that bothered Eureka.

"Is this shirt supposed to be so revealing?"

Gidget chuckled softly, "Yeah, most guys like that."

"So what now?"

"Well… I'll teach you some moves."

Gidget pulled out a small table.

"Watch closely."

With that, Gidget leaned over the table with her elbows upon the surface of the table and her palms on her cheeks.

"Then you try to curve your back in and ask for something."

"Does it work?"

"Of course! I always do that to Moondoggie when I want him to buy me something. Now you give it a try."

It took a few tries for Eureka, but she finally got the hang of it.

Gidget smiled and laughed.

"Oh, one more thing."

Gidget removed Eureka's hairpins, letting Eureka's hair droop down. Gidget then applied some styling gel and made Eureka's hair appear slick and lank. Eureka checked the mirror. "So this is what sexy is?" She thought as she observed her image. It was much different from her regular style.

"Why don't you go show Renton and also give him a kiss?"

"Are you sure?"

"Of course! I'm your friend aren't I?"

Eureka nodded and smiled. Together, the girls laughed and left the room.

Eureka and Gidget peaked into the living room. Renton was still on the couch and read a magazine.

"Go Eureka!" Gidget whispered and winked.

Eureka slowly entered the room and quietly walked towards Renton. With every step, Eureka felt her face become warmer.

"Maybe I shouln't do this." She thought as her blush hit her with full force.

Eureka leaned over the table Renton sat by. He did not notice and continued reading.

"Renton..." Eureka said softly.

He looked up and felt his heart skip a beat.

"What's wrong... Eure...ka?" Renton said breathlessly.

His moved down from Eureka's face and onto her chest. The way Eureka leaned and her tank top was, they provided a clear view to Renton. For a second, he could feel himself leaning forward for a better view. Many thoughts pulsed through him as his eyes floated along the pale curves.

Renton gulped; he could feel the sweat beading on his forehead. His shorts suddenly became tight and started hurting him.

Eureka felt uneasy whenever Renton looked at like that. She closed her eyes and slowly leaned forward. Renton tore his eyes off Eureka's chest and looked up.

"Ar-are you al-al-alight?" He said nearly out of breath.

Eureka did not answer and leaned further over the table. Renton's breadth quivered. He too closed his eyes and leaned slowly towards Eureka.

"Almost there!" Gidget whispered to herself.

----

Talho walked down the hallway and entered the living room through the door across of Gidget.

"Hey Renton, have you seen... Who's that... Eureka! What the hell are you two doing!?!"

Eureka and Renton's lips were centimeters away from each other.

Startled by Talho's loud voice, Eureka lost her balance and slipped head-first into Renton's face. Renton fell backwards and bit his tongue. He was in a daze of what just happened and lied nearly unconscious.

"Oh no!" Gidget gulped and took a few steps back.

Talho pulled Eureka off Renton with surprising strength. Eureka stuttered and did not know what to say to Talho.

"Come with me!" Talho said sternly and pulled Eureka with her.

They entered the dressing room. Eureka quickly changed back into her regular clothes and at the same time, she explained to Talho what had happened.

Talho laughed, "Well, just to let you know, that doesn't work well. Believe me, I tried that with Holland. He was so thickheaded. Just a reminder, most guys like girls just the way they are."

Eureka looked up into Talho's eyes. They were no longer cold but instead were brown and warm.

"Eureka, Holland and I have been thinking about putting you two on a date."

"A... date...?"