Broken

.22.

"You know, I thought the exact same thing but no one has ever corroborated it for me till now." I let out a sigh and looked around, trying to find a clock. I rolled my eyes when I remembered there wouldn't be one I could read. "What time is it?" I gave a small frown as I looked around. I wasn't entirely sure how long I had been out for.

She frowned slightly, matching my expression before she broke out into a smile. "It is about noon. Are you hungry?" She stood up and I shrugged. I didn't have much of an appetite since Rhex and I had left my parents and I was pretty sure it had everything to do with our separation.

"I'm okay." I watched as she pursed her lips with a slight frown.

"You should eat. Councilwoman Nadila said you might experience some appetite loss but you should still eat." She held out her hand and I tentatively took it. Without much warning she yanked me to my feet and pulled me towards the small kitchen. "To be honest, you should probably hold back on the apathy a bit. You need to keep your figure for your man." She bumped her hip into my mine playfully and I laughed suddenly at the unusual action. I had seen friends do it to each other when I had been in high school but I had never really had anyone do it to me before. It felt nice.

"Alright, I concede. What are we having?" I watched as she pulled a container out of one of the cupboards and pulled a tab on it.

"Something tasteless but filling." The sarcasm was evident and I chuckled. I was finding I liked Ani more the longer I was with her. "Human food is so much tastier. I've only had a few dishes but it is just so good." I gave a sound of agreement as she pulled open the container and a spiral of steam floated upward.

The scent was almost minty and I frowned slightly. "That smells like mint." I looked into the container and to my surprise it was a strange burnt orange colour.

"It probably does not taste like it." Her voice sounded disgusted and I looked at the container with apprehension as it wiggled like some type of burnt orange jello.

"If I had an appetite, I'm pretty sure I would have lost it." I glanced at her as she grabbed two plates and doled the questionable food out in even portions. Orrian food was so strange at times, I corrected myself, Orrian space rations were strange. It made me miss the grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup my mum had made Rhex and I.

"I understand that. At least it does not taste weird. That and this is the only food we have up here. Plants don't grow up here." She let out a sigh and handed me a plate and a fork before gesturing to the living room.

I followed her before sitting on the couch, setting the plate down in front of me. "My mum actually is a researcher for interstellar plant growth." I poked at the mush with the fork and was surprised that it didn't move away. I looked at Ani who had taken a bite of the food with a strange expression on her face as she swallowed.

"Hopefully she figures something out because the texture is off putting." She placed her plate on the table. "We need to get some groceries. This was all we have to eat." I looked down at my food and cautiously took a bite. It had that similar spicy taste like all the food had but the texture was off-putting just like Ani had said. I forced myself to swallow, ignoring the sudden nausea I was feeling. I wasn't sure if it was from the food or from actually eating something.

"You look pale." Her remark was casual as she picked up her plate. She looked like she wanted to eat it about as much as I did.

I gave a sigh but forced a small smile onto my face anyway. "I don't feel the greatest." I turned back to my food and forced myself to finish it. I didn't want to but I knew I had to.

There was a slightly awkward silence that fell as we both ate. "Is your mate hot?" The question caught me off-guard and I stared at her for a moment. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she poked at the food on her plate. "I know it is a weird question but is he?" I felt a slow smile cross my face as I thought of Rhex. The strong angles of his face, his beautiful green eyes, the harshness of his scar. He was far too handsome.