Heather responded to my kiss with electric fervor that sent a wave of excitement all over my body as if I had been struck by lightning. In that moment, the world around us seemed to fade into insignificance, leaving only the two of us entwined in a spiral of kissing that seemed destined to be endless.
Her hands agile and demanding were wrapped around my wrist but quickly found their way beneath my shirt, tracing delicate patterns on my skin as they moved. I gasped softly at the sensation, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. I could feel the warmth of her touch seeping into every fiber of my being, igniting a fire that had long smoldered within me.
Her lips, sweet and eager, moved against mine in a tantalizing rhythm. With one hand, I gently cradled her face while with the other, I trailed down the graceful curve of her neck, and then, entangled in her luxuriant, silken hair. Her hair was something that I simply couldn't resist, I had realized since the first time I saw her. She tried to keep it braided most of the time to keep it manageable, but when she let it flow freely, it transformed into an astonishing cascade of silk, like a waterfall inviting me to dive into its depths. I knew that touching it would drive me wild, and that's exactly what happened. My heart raced as I pressed her down onto the bed, and for a moment, the world melted away.
But then, an impatient knock on the door shattered the passionate bubble we'd created. "Don't open it," I urged, my desire still burning hot.
Heather hesitated but finally gave in, "I have to."
I couldn't help but let out an exasperated snort. "Is this going to happen everytime?" I grumbled.
Heather's gaze turned serious. "It's the way it is," she replied.
Another impatient knock echoed through the door. "Heather? Grace? Are you in there?" It was Lea's voice.
Heather rushed to the door while I quickly composed myself, pulling on my shirt and attempting to regain some semblance of composure. Heather swiftly tied her hair into a ponytail.
"Yes, coming," She said a bit anxious. "You ready?" She asked me whispering. I nodded.
Heather opened the door still recovering her breath.
"What took you so long?" Lea inquired, her annoyance palpable as she arched an eyebrow.
"Nothing, we were just discussing what happened," Heather said in a very serious manner.
"Kate wants to talk with Grace" Lea informed me.
"How is she?" I asked concerned as I joined them in the door frame.
"She's been better. You'll find out when you talk to her," Lea replied a bit irritated.
"Ok, let's go," I said, stepping out of Heather's room. "Thanks for the chat," I said gazing at Heather.
"You better control yourself next time," Heather replied pretending to be angry. I was a bit surprised by how easily she could play different personalities. Sometimes, she could be cold and tough, but behind closed doors, she transformed into someone soft and kind. I couldn't help but wonder if this constant shifting ever left her feeling somewhat uncomfortable or exhausted from not being able to be her true self.
Lea walked me down the hallway until we reached the office, and with a gesture, she indicated that Kate was inside. I took a deep breath as I opened the door, my heart still weighed heavily with guilt.
There she sat, Kate, on one of the chairs, an ice pack pressed against her left brow. Her expression was a blend of annoyance and discomfort.
"I'm so sorry, Kate, so, so sorry," I hurriedly apologized as I entered the room.
She let out a sigh and gestured for me to sit. I took a seat on the chair opposite her, anxiety gnawing at me. "Well, Grace, you certainly made quite the impression out there," she began with a wry tone, and I braced myself for the inevitable "but."
"But you have to find a way to control your impulsivity," she continued. I couldn't help but interject, "Kate, I saw my parents die!"
"I understand, and I'm sorry to be tough, but everyone experienced their worst nightmares," she countered. "The simulator is designed for that. We need to ensure that you can overcome any situation that arises and act in the right way. That didn't happen with you today. And it's not the first time you've acted impulsively." The night of the acid rain came rushing to my memory. That was true; I had acted on my instincts, but it seemed that she was omitting the part where I had saved Heather.
"Sometimes, impulsivity can be an asset," I replied.
"True, but here we can't afford to rely solely on instincts," Kate responded. I nodded, acknowledging her point.
"So, am I suspended?" I asked, feeling a bit upset.
"I'll have to think about it," Kate replied. "I'll make a decision tomorrow." I inhaled deeply and exhaled, my concerns lingering. Kate left the ice pack on the table before her and fixed her gaze on me. "You're free to leave for now," she stated. I nodded, and without uttering a word, I exited the office.
"Grace!" Laura called out as she approached me from the end of the hall, with Mark by her side. They had been waiting for me.
"You really scared us, girl," Mark said, a hint of concern in his voice. His lip was split, and he had a couple of bruises on his face, suggesting that he had already completed his test.
"I'm so sorry I missed your test, Mark," I expressed with sadness.
"Oh, don't worry, there wasn't much to see. I was eliminated in the very first round," he replied, a mixture of humor and bitterness in his tone.
"How are you?" Laura asked.
"Well, I might be suspended... I'll know tomorrow. I'm so sorry you saw me like this. I lost control... and now my mind is a mess," I admitted, feeling a bit down and concerned.
"That simulator was torture. I understand," Laura said, and then she hugged me.
"Yeah, I think that was out of place," Mark chimed in.
"I think we deserve some fresh air," Laura said with a grin.
We decided to spend the afternoon in the city since we had the rest of the day off after the exam. The city always stirred up mixed emotions in me. Its streets were a dazzling display of neon lights, and the rigid architectural structures clashed with the rustic charm of the almost handmade street food stalls that seemed to grace every corner. It possessed a unique beauty, but at the same time, it was undeniably a place that embraced contradictions.
As we strolled along, we stumbled upon a bunch of techno-humans. Most of their faces were decked out with prosthetics, which reminded me how obsessed this city had become with those enhancements. I still hadn't quite adjusted to the sight of them; they always managed to catch me off guard, and my friends would often have to give me a nudge to prevent me from appearing rude.
Laura and I couldn't stop talking, but Mark seemed a bit distracted.
"Hey Mark, don't worry about the test," Laura reassured him, assuming that was the reason for his distant demeanor.
"I'm ok, don't worry, but if you don't mind, I'd like to take a walk alone," he replied.
"Are you sure?" I asked, a hint of concern in my voice.
"Yeah, I'll go and meet a friend who lives not far from here, and then we meet again," he explained.
"Okay, I guess," Laura concluded.
"See you later, girls," and with that, he left. Laura and I exchanged a concerned look. Mark was like a closed book sometimes, and this had worried me before.
As we continued our stroll, we happened upon a store that sold the city's most renowned beverage, GalaxFuzz. It was a delightful concoction of vibrant juices adorned with sweet jelly toppings that were briefly set aflame, giving rise to a mesmerizing, rainbow-like trail of smoke. Intrigued, we decided to try it, and its flavor was delicious, although way too sweet for me. With our GalaxFuzz in hand, we continue walking and talking.
Laura and I had become really close lately, and she opened up to me about how her mother and sister had made the journey across the border two years before she did, leaving her and her father on the other side. Those were some tough years for her because they couldn't keep in touch and her mother was battling lung cancer. However, after she eventually crossed, she discovered that a family of techno-humans had saved her mother. They had provided her, with a lung prosthesis, and she made a remarkable recovery.
This experience had given her a more open perspective on the Reg Society. Even though she still had some doubts about those prosthetic enhancements, she had gained a real appreciation for keeping tabs on your health and taking steps to prevent getting sick.
As day turned into evening, time had slipped away, and there was still no sign of Mark. As we strolled down the city's most famous street, Laura suddenly stopped in front of a restaurant storefront. Curious, I joined her to see what had caught her eye. There, a few tables towards the back of the restaurant, Kate was seated, and across from her was Lea.
"Hey, Grace, are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Laura said with a mischievous grin. I focused on the scene. Lea was holding Kate's hand on the table as they engaged in conversation.
"What? They're together? I had no idea!" I exclaimed with a gossipy smile.
"It certainly looks that way," Laura replied.
"Do you think it's a secret?" I asked.
"It doesn't seem like it," she remarked. They appeared to be having a genuinely pleasant time, despite the visible marks of my recent confrontation still on Kate's face. Lea was radiantly happy, laughing and chatting while affectionately holding Kate's hand, and Kate was paying close attention to her with an endearing smile. Observing them, I couldn't help but contemplate how wonderful it would be to have a real date with Heather. However, our circumstances were quite different, and on top of that, I still wasn't entirely sure where I stood with her. I knew she cared for me, and the attraction between us was undeniable, but beyond that, Heather had never openly expressed her feelings and appeared content with our sporadic encounters here and there. Was that enough for me?
"Grace? Are you okay?" Laura asked, noticing my preoccupation.
"Yeah, sorry. My mind wandered," I replied.
Laura arched an eyebrow playfully. "So, who's the lucky one occupying your thoughts?"
I feigned innocence. "What? I have no idea what you're talking about."
She leaned in and lowered her voice. "Grace, you know you can trust me, right?"
"Of course, but honestly, I have no clue what you're getting at," I said, a touch defensively.
"Alright," Laura sighed, her tone conceding. "I might have imagined seeing you and a certain someone from the lead's team coming out of your room together," she admitted, giving me a playful wink. It hit me like a bolt of lightning. Laura had seen us that day Heather had come to check on me after leaving the hospital.