Author’s Note: Sorry the chapter is a little long.There’s a lot of story we have to get through and I don’t want to cut it off in an awkward place. Bare with me though! Onto the chapter!
The two girls made it to the Olos Dormitory. It was on the opposite side of campus from where Monaedi lived, so she had never really been near it before. But she could tell by the doorman who greeted them as they entered a foyer, that was also draped in chandlers and luxury chairs, couches, and at tables with little crystal bowls with various wild nuts in them...you could say she felt out of place.
Mona’s heart rate started to pick up. She rolled her eyes at her sudden panic and let out a trembling breath. The girl looked up at her through bluish eyelashes.
“You good?” She slurred. Mona shook her head a little to clear it.
“I should be asking you that question,” she grinned as they entered the elevator. The girl pushed the button to her floor and they went up.
“I'm—” the blue haired girl started to slur out, but suddenly she gagged and put her hand over her mouth. Monaedi looked at her with concern.
“We’re almost there,” Monaedi said, “We are almost there right?”
They stopped on floor 6 of the large building and stopped in front of suite 403.
“Yeah we’re here,” the girl said gulping down whatever was in her throat. She pulled out a key card from out of her bra, which amused Monaedi, and swiped it. She opened the door and stumbled into her room, kicking her heels off in the process.
From the doorway, Monaedi looked around the dorm room. Dorm room? More like a penthouse, she thought. And it was: there was a living room with nice furniture like the ones in the lobby, a protect tv half the size of the wall equipped with a sound system and X1 gaming console, and a small bar area with a game table. In the middle of the room was the kitchen area equipped with quick oven/stove combination, sink, and fridge, and an island separating the entertainment section with what looked like the bedroom. In that corner, there was a large bed, way too big for one person, with bedding that looked so comfortable to Monaedi. She suddenly remembered how tired she was.
“You know you can come in right?” The girl called back behind her to the door. She stumbled over to her bedroom area. Mona walked awkwardly into the room looking about.
“You sure you don't want me to take you to somewhere more comfortable? I'm pretty sure those sheets are only 800 count. You must be suffering,” She said with all the sarcasm she could muster up, but she was pretty sure she sounded more amazed.
Mona tried to look anywhere but at the girl. After a few moments, she heard heavying breathing and a slight snore. She turned around and the girl was knocked out on top of her bed. After a moment Monaedi walked over and covered her with her sheets to keep her modest. Mona yawned. She looked at her mobile to see if there were any shuttles running to take her home. There weren't. She looked at the door and back at the sleeping girl. Another yawn and Monaedi decided to take a seat on the sofa. She rested her head on the arm of the chair. This is more comfortable than my bed, she thought as she drifted off to sleep.
The girl was pulled out of her deep sleep to the sound of a toilet flushing. She opened her eyes slightly. Immediately regretting it she clamped them shut. She put a hand over her face and wished herself back to sleep, but the raging throbbing in her skull wouldn't let her. She heard the faucet run. The door started to open and she sat up, expecting someone she knew...
Monaedi, carrying a cup of water and something small in the other hand, stopped mid stride when she saw the fear and confusion on the girl's face.
“Sorry, I just—I hope it's alright that I used it...And that I stayed—I should've asked, it's just there weren't any shuttles, and it was late, and I'm all the way across town—” the words coming out like a freight train derailing off the tracks.
“No, no..it's uh, that's..fine umm...” the girl replied just as shaken. She started to blank trying desperately to remember what the hell was happening and who this person was—
“Monaedi,” Mona taking a hesitant step toward the nightstand next to the bed. She put down a glass of water and a couple of pills from the other hand, “...For the headache, I assume you have.”
“Oh right, Mona,” the girl said calming down, “Thank you. I'm Theodora. Well Theo really,” she said getting a good look at the girl in front of her, “You look familiar. Did we have a class together or something?”
““Yes, we have Natural Science together—”
“Literature, and Galactic History, Arithmetic…”
“...Yeah,” Monaedi’s face flushed and she looked down at her feet to hide it. Though Theo did see. After a few moments, Mona spoke up again, “H-how are you feeling? Alright?” Theo searched for something to cover herself up with, as she was still in her underclothes. She found an old t-shirt with the university’s logo on it and threw it on.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine...um..we didn’t..you know,” she tried to insinuate. At first, Mona wasn’t sure what she was talking about. And then her face went bright red.
“NO! No, I just brought you here— you fell asleep. I—just wanted to make sure you were alright, you know after everything that happened,” she stammered out trying her damnedest to find the right words.
“Everything that happened?...Oh wow, yeah that...,” Theo put a hand to her head, “And you stayed. That’s actually very sweet of you,” she said looking up.
“Glad I could help,” Mona waved it off, and started to play with the ends of her hair. After a moment she heard a sniffle and looked up. Theodora was looking at the wall, trying to hold back tears.
“That really..sucked major balls didn’t it?” Theodora spat out between sobs.
“...Yes, I guess it did. Though, sucked major balls isn’t exactly the words I’d use, but...” Mona said shrugging. Theodora chuckled through tears. And then started to laugh heartily. Mona grinned at her laugh, “Sorry, this isn’t the time for jokes”.
“No it was perfect, thank you,” Theo said with a smile, and Mona returned it brightly. They sat in more comfortable silence, “You know what, I'm kind of glad my boyfriend flirted with another girl and making me leave that party. If anything I got to meet you.”
“He sounds like a prick,” Mona said offhandedly. And Theo, though surprised, snorts at the guy's own expense, “Not sure if I was worth what happened last night though,” Theo's smile fades.
“It was pretty scary,” Monaedi saw the grim look on Theo’s face and chastised herself for making it happen.
“I could only imagine. I'm sorry I shouldn't have brought it up,” she sat on the bed, “But you’re okay, that’s what matters. It’s good that you stopped them… How did you stop them exactly? It was like...like nothing I’ve ever seen before?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure how I do it. It has only happened a couple times in my life. When I was young mom wanted to get rid of my dog because he peed on her carpet. I made him weightless and he floated right out the window. Luckily he came back home running to us.” Both the girl laughed.
“That’s...different,” Mona says.
“I know that’s why I don’t really like to announce it,” Theo looked down, at her hands.
“Sorry, I meant, good different. I think it’s rather interesting,” Mona said getting excited.
“You think so?” Theodora smirked.
“Yeah, I’d give anything to be remotely interesting.”
“What?! You’re pretty great yourself. Saving drunken maidens in dark alleyways and what not.” She pretended to swoon laying on Mona’s shoulder. They giggled and Theo sat up, “Not a lot of people would’ve done that.” When she realized they were staring at each other, Mona blushed and cleared her throat.
“You should practice. With your... ability I mean,” she clarified when Theodora looked confused.
“What? No, I don’t think so. Like I said, it’s just something weird that comes every once in awhile.”
“No, don’t you see, it doesn’t have to be.” Mona’s gears were turning, getting excited. Theo thinks for a second, then declines.
“It could come in handy, like last night… I could help you!”
“NO!” they sit in silence.
Mona wished that she could say something, anything. But her mind started to flood with faults: Why did you say that? How could you push her? After everything she's been through. Those guys just wanted to use her...You. You wanted to use her. Because you're alone. You're no better than them!
“Sorry,” they say at the same time. Mona shot up from the bed. Theo was taken back by the other girl's suddenness.
“Right...Well thanks again...” Theo watched as Monaedi quickly gathered her things.
“No problem, really..” she said putting on her jacket, but not taking her eyes off the floor. Neither one of them said anything so Mona moved towards the door. She opened it.
Mona glanced up at her and gave a wisp of a smile. Then walked to the elevator.
