Seneca Rebel

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND Thursday all came and went. Every morning I scoped out Dominic’s first session, but he was nowhere to be seen. By Friday, when I stepped off the acoustic carrier, I was convinced that this day wouldn’t be any different. I hadn’t seen Reba all week either. He hadn’t shown up at our normal meeting spot for lunch, nor was he at the arrival pad when I came in the mornings. I’m sure he was disappointed that I was pursuing Dominic. Part of me felt bad, but I knew I wasn’t doing anything wrong. I was just following my instincts, which were just about all I had left from my former life in the Aboves.

I had a funny feeling and as I looked up, Dominic was there, exactly where I was hoping to catch up with him. When he saw me standing there, we stared each other down. This was my only chance. If I didn’t approach him now, I wouldn’t be able to invite him to the Aboves. He turned away and started along the golden wall towards his session. I booked it after him.

He lifted his flexer, and as the doorway began to open up, I did the only thing I knew would get his attention. “Dominic!”

Rayya Deeb

He put his arm down. The door glazed back over as he pivoted slowly. I strode right up to him, having no idea where I got the nerve.

He looked me over. It was a “you again” sort of look, only this time, he wasn’t paranoid and guarded at all. I didn’t know how to begin, so I just went for it.

“Hi.”

“Hi.”

“You haven’t been around the past few days.”

“Nice of you to notice.”

“You didn’t catch the Necrolla Carne did you?” I thought I was being pretty freaking funny.

And there it was. His lips finally formed what everyone else in Seneca had given up so easily. A smile. My heart melted. I felt it drip down inside my chest. My knees almost buckled, making it an effort just to stand up straight. I hoped he couldn’t tell.

He leaned in and whispered into my ear, so softly I could barely hear him but I could feel his warm breath and it gave me butterflies. “You don’t believe that, do you? I was under the impression that you were smarter than the rest.”

I wasn’t sure what he meant, but I didn’t want to get into that at the moment. Once again, our next sessions were starting in a second or two. “Look,” he said, “I gotta get to session. I can’t be calling any more attention to myself than I already have.” He turned away from me.

It was now or never. “Hey! Listen. I was awarded a trip to the Aboves because of a thing I figured out fast in my quantum computing freestyle session... and I get to take a guest. I’m new here, don’t know that many people and...”

“You’re inviting me to go with you to the Aboves?”

“Well, if you’re not busy Saturday afternoon and–”

“I’ll meet you at the base of Sector Twelve at nine.”

Without waiting for my response, he moved through the doorway that was open for a handful of others headed into session.