Lay Down to Rest

Even though the exam table isn't the most comfortable surface to sleep on, at that moment it was perfect. The blankets that were wrapped around me kept me nice and warm despite the cool lab air. I shifted to a new position and settled with a content sigh. *I haven't felt this rested in a long time,* I thought to myself as I began to drift back to sleep. Just before I slipped into darkness my eyes snapped open with a jolt.

Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I looked around the lab. How long had I been asleep? Geo was supposed to wake me and bring me back to my apartment after his call, but I felt much too rested to have slept through a single call. I flung the blankets off and jumped down from the table in search of Geo and an explanation. I headed towards his office, but the smell of the soldering iron wafted down the hall.

I opened the door to Geo's main lab and was greeted by darkness. A single light source glowed further in, but the many metal scrap piles obscured my view. I followed the burning metal smell further into the lab until I found the source. Geo sat in the center of the light at his workbench as he looked through a large magnifying glass. I could tell he was working on some sort of electronics chip, but beyond that I wasn't sure.

Geo hadn't noticed my entry and continued to work, all his focus on his task. I watched him from the darkness and enjoyed taking my time to observe him. His angular face was calm, his lips rolled into a tight line as he held his breath to keep his long, nimble fingers steady. He looked perfectly in control of his environment and at ease. It made me feel slightly guilty for intruding in his domain, but not enough to stop. I inched my way forward to get a closer look and accidentally nudged one of the piles.

A cascade of small metal scrapes tumbled down, the sound reminding me of the rainstick my grandma used to have. Geo's head snapped up from his task and I froze in place. Our eyes locked onto one another's in startled silence. After a couple of seconds I collected myself and cleared my throat.

"You're awake," Geo said in surprise.

"Yeah, sorry," I said while gesturing to the small landslide. "What time is it?"

"Don't worry about the pile, it happens all the time," Geo said with smile. "Are you feeling better?"

"Much better. But you still haven't answered my question."

"Is your headache gone?" Geo asked while looking away. I could tell he was trying to avoid answering me, and I could feel my frustration growing.

"If you don't answer me, Geo, the headache just might come back," I said in annoyance.

Geo frowned a little and then sighed. "It is noon," he finally admitted.

I gasped. I had been asleep in his lab for nearly 5 hours! What if someone found out? What would they think?

"Why?!" I asked, exasperated. "Why would you do this?"

He inhaled sharply and looked at me. "Because it was safer if you were here where I could observe you."

"It was not what we agreed on! You were supposed to take me home!" I shouted.

"Well I changed my mind," he said stubbornly. We glared at each other, neither willing to back down and admit defeat. Even then I couldn't deny how beautiful his blue eyes were and could feel my body flush.

"Fine," I said icily. I tossed my hands up in surrender, but my glare remained. "I'm leaving." I turned around to walk out his lab in a huff, but I felt Geo's slender fingers wrap around my wrist.

"Wait," he pleaded. "I'll take you home."

I turned to glare up at him, "isn't that what you should have done hours ago?"

"Flora, look I'm sorry," he said with some remorse. "Let me take you home. I want to make sure you are alright."

As much as I may have wanted him to take me home, the last thing I needed was for someone to see us so late in the day. But what choice did I have? I had no other mode of transportation. I pursed my lips in irritation and sighed. "Fine," I said cooly before walking out of the lab, turning just in time to catch Geo's smirk. I couldn't help but smile a little myself.

I watched Geo navigate the tunnels with ease in his hover car. It didn't look all that different from driving on Earth, though the narrow tunnels and pathways would be a new challenge.

"How can I get my own car?" I asked after a while.

Geo's eyebrow raised. "Are you trying to get rid of me?" he asked teasingly.

I rolled my eyes making him laugh. "I just want to be able to go places on my own. I don't want to have to rely on someone always being around to take me places. And that includes Albin and Lena, not just you."

"Well I can see why you'd want to avoid them if able," he said with disgust. I was about to ask him why he and Albin didn't get along when he cut me off. "You will have to go through training to get certified. I will let the council know you would like to get your certification and enroll you."

I smiled, touched that he was willing to help. "Shouldn't Albin do that? He is my supervisor."

Geo's grip on the steering column tightened along with the rest of his body. "Yes, he can do it," he said curtly, obviously angered by the suggestion.

"Geo, I really appreciate the offer. I'm just trying to follow the rules and not cause any more trouble." I looked over at him in hopes that he would calm down but had no such luck.

All I got from him was a quick, "I understand." I sighed and looked ahead. Just as my apartment came into view I saw a familiar councilman at my front door. Albin turned and waved at me as the car came to a stop.

"Speak of the devil," I muttered to myself while looking at Albin.

"What?" Geo asked confused.

"Old Earth phrase," I said without looking away.

I went to open the door but Geo took my hand to stop me. He looked at me, his face filled with concern. "Be careful around him, okay?" he asked. I felt happiness that he cared about me, but I also felt really confused. What happened between him and Albin to make him so worried? Suddenly remembering that Albin was just outside and watching us, I quickly snatched my hand away.

"I'll be fine, thanks," I said before leaving the car and shutting the door behind me.

Albin greeted me with a huge smile, and I heard Geo's car drive away. Albin's smile fell as he followed Geo's car with his eyes before turning to me. "Flora, where have you been?" he asked.