The Mechanic

-Chapter Sixteen-

Location: Central

I told her that I'd see her today. I told her that maybe we'd hang out. Or it was implied in the phrase, "I'll see you tomorrow," but for the life of me, I can't find Femi.

"Did she tell you where she was going?" I ask, stuffing my hands in my pockets.

Elena shakes her head, bouncing Piper gingerly on her shoulder. "She never does. She just goes. She'll be back before dinner time, though. Just wait, if you want to see her."

"It's not even noon yet, El," I grumble. "That's like... six hours of waiting. A long time. And I told her that we'd hang out."

"Did you? Because she told me that it was just something about getting to see you today."

I shake my head, throwing up my hands. "Everything I say. Everything I say goes through like... ten translators. Does anyone keep anything that I tell them to themselves?"

She shrugs, and Piper burps. "Probably not. It's one of the perks of knowing people and actually talking. Get used to it."

I sigh, biting the inside of my cheek. "So do you have any idea of where she might have gone?"

For a moment, my sister-in-law doesn't say anything, thinking, burping Piper. She clicks her tongue. "I don't know. But she does seem to like to visit with the lady in the flower stall at the market, and she also likes to go see you. Have you looked at your place?"

"I've been at my place all morning," I groan. "Anywhere else?"

She shakes her head. "Nowhere else that I can think of. She doesn't tell me where she goes, most of the time."

"Do you ask?"

"Not really. She's twenty-three. She can handle her own whereabouts. I don't want to irritate her by making her feel like she's being monitored."

I sigh.

On one hand, it would be nice to have a good idea of where she disappeared to. On the other hand, I don't want her to feel like her privacy is being invaded upon, even if that would put my stupid, overactive mind at ease. So I don't say anything further to Elena, who already seems a bit upset by my anxious behavior.

"Thanks," I say, summoning a small smile. I give her a brief side hug and am gone in a manner that I've grown comfortable with. Simple words, get out, run. It's a nice way to do things. Maybe not the best thing to do, but it's easy. It's comfortable.

I'm running when I hear something that makes me stop. Or feel something. Or see something.

Unfortunately, it's all three at once.

Femi and I collide with painful strength.

I get up before she does, and head spinning, offer a shaky hand. "Are you alright?"

"Mostly," she gasps. "A little low on air..." She stops for a deep breath. "That's alright, though. Are you alright?"

"I think I fractured my skull on the pavement, but nothing serious," I say, chuckling. I can taste blood, but I don't mention it. I think I bit my tongue.

She blinks, frowning, a couple of fingers tipping my chin up. "Your nose is bleeding."

"Is it?" I ask, mustering a small grin. Blood drips onto the sidewalk from my nose, but I can't feel any pain. I can feel it on my face, warm and wet, but why is my nose bleeding?

"It is," she says, seeming concerned. "You might want to... I don't know. Hold it shut?"

I do, and after a moment the bleeding stops.