The impact caught me off guard and I almost fell to the floor. Thanks to my helmet, the blow also caused my nose to hit the visor, forcing me to close my eyes from the impact. My body reacted automatically and I tried to rub my nose, hitting the visor again. Luckily, the blow wasn't that hard.
- I'm sorry, - I said quickly when I was able to open my eyes.
The girl I had bumped into had turned away, her back to me.
- Wait! - she shouted. - Turn around, don't look at me! -
- I... -
- Turn around! - She sounded desperate.
- Okay, okay, - I said as I turned around. - What's going on? Why do I have to turn around? -
- Just, wait, - she said. Her voice was a little calmer, at least she wasn't yelling, but she was still speaking with a certain desperation, which was partly why I had decided to turn around as she said.
Could her power have something to do with being looked at, something like Destiny's power?
It was at that moment that I realized, my power, the suit. I quickly began to inspect the suit to see if I could find anything broken that could cause my venom to leak out or that could have poisoned the girl.
- Just, I... I wasn't ready, okay? I'm just fixing myself up a little, - she said, still with a hint of stress in her voice.
For my part, I continued checking the suit without paying much attention to her. Now I was the one who was stressed. Once I finished checking the suit and confirmed that nothing was broken, I was able to relax.
- It's okay, - I said, letting out a sigh of relief. - Nothing's broken. -
After a while, she said,
- Okay, I'm ready. -
I kept looking the other way a little longer, not intending to turn back.
- You can turn around now, - she said. She didn't sound stressed now, although she was still a little nervous.
I turned around, still a little unsure whether to do so or not, but she said I could, so I did. I hadn't been able to see her well before, but now that I looked at her, she was wearing a loose-fitting black shirt, somewhat tight jeans that were wider below the knee, and black sneakers. Her hair was dark gray and shoulder-length, and her eyes were a light gray, almost white. Her complexion was pale, and despite what she said, she didn't seem to be wearing much makeup.
She lied to me for some reason. I should ask her name.
For some reason, she seemed familiar. But I couldn't put a name to her face.
Damn, I've seen her before, I just can't remember her name, and if I ask her who she is and I do know her, I'll look like an idiot.
- I'm sorry, I don't remember your name. Who are you? -
I had to admit it, I couldn't think of anything I could do to pretend I knew her. I tried to smile, but it was more out of nervousness than anything else.
- Maybe it's because I had brown hair, well, then I'll introduce myself again, - she still looked nervous and played with her hands as we talked, - my name is Zobe (Zobï) and my power is digestive assimilation, but I haven't used it lately. -
- Okay, Zoe*, my name is Rookie, and my power is toxicity. Basically, my body is poisonous, and everything I touch becomes toxic. -
*He mispronounced the name.
- Yes, I saw you talking to Tiny at dinner yesterday, - she said, now playing with her hair. - It's just that I'm a little nervous, and I didn't know how to approach you. -
That was obvious, the nervousness, of course.
- So, what brings you here? Did you come to see the little doctor? - I asked her.
- Yes, well, something like that. - It was then that her eyes widened as if something had just occurred to her. - Wait, is it true that you're from a refuge city? -
She looked at me with expectant eyes, which made me feel a little uncomfortable. She was the first person to ask me where I was from.
- Yes, actually, I lived in Greenvalley. Do you know it? -
She shook her head, but with a smile on her face, as if her nervousness had turned to excitement. Her eyes were wide open.
- Can I ask how old you are? - she asked.
- I'm 16. -
She smiled and moved closer as if she wanted to hug me, but stopped just a few inches away, suppressing that gesture.
- I'm 16 too, that means we're from the same generation, - she said, clearly happy.
- Yeah, I guess so, - I said, confused. I had no idea why this girl was so happy about that. - Does that mean anything? -
- Not much, but it's very lucky for me. -
After saying this, she let out a cry of happiness.
- And why is that? - I was now more intrigued.
This girl was acting strangely. First, she didn't want me to see her, then she lied to me, acting nervous at first and then excited. Was that her normal way of acting? I was never very close to the girls at my school. I had only had one or two female friends in middle school, but she didn't seem to be behaving normally.
When she stopped shouting with excitement, she turned to look me straight in the eyes.
- I want you to tell me everything about school in the refuge cities. -
- What? Why? -
- Come on, I need to know. I never got to go to high school. In fact, I never made it past third grade. -
- Wait, have you been here since you were in third grade? -
- Please, - she said, ignoring my question.
- Okay, but it's no big deal. It's not like on TV. -
After that, I explained what school had been like for me. I tried to be brief, but she kept asking questions. It was something that genuinely interested her. I thought she would calm down eventually, but her interest didn't wane. No one had ever paid so much attention to what I said, and it felt strange, but in a good way, as if I was important.
After a few moments, the doctor's office door opened.
- I guess it's my turn, - said Zobe, looking somewhat discouraged at the idea of going into the office. - Hey, how about we meet later? I need to know more about school. -
- But I've already told you almost everything, - I said sincerely. I had told her about the classes we took, how the cafeteria worked, and the extracurricular groups.
- Come on, please, I need to know more. -
- Okay, then, - I was really interested in talking to her more, - but next time you have to tell me about your past too. -
Her face showed that she wasn't entirely comfortable with that, but she agreed with his head, although she became nervous again.
The doctor left the room and handed me Thing in her doll form. Then she went back into the office, followed by Zobe, who waved goodbye before going in and closing the door.
Maybe life here isn't so bad after all; I've met several nice people.
I walked back down the hallway, but before I crossed the door to the other building, someone spoke to me from behind.
- And to think you would give up for a pretty face. - It was Eye's voice, sounding somewhat angry.
When I turned around, I could see that she had positioned herself in the hallway, waiting for me to pass.
- Were you following me? -
- I saw how you looked at her, and it's disgusting. -
- Does it bother you so much that I have friends in this house? -
- Sure, 'friends.' she wasn't using you or anything like that. - She was clearly insinuating something, and his tone of resentment was evident, as if something about Zoe displeased her.
- She just asked me a few questions. She was nice, something you could learn from. -
- Pff, it was more like an interrogation than a conversation. Besides, she didn't even tell you why she wanted to know so much. -
This was ridiculous, why was she getting involved in this matter? We just talked for a while, not much different from when I talked to her earlier or when I talked to Tiny at the gym.
- Why does it bother you so much? -
- I already told you that I hate lies, and she's a big lie, with her friendly attitude trying to make everyone to like her, hiding her true face. -
- You're crazy, she just put on a little makeup. -
- Is that what you think? I think she showed you what you wanted to see, and you just accepted it because it was best for you. - She was clearly more aggressive, even though she tried to maintain her attitude of indifference.
- You're crazy. - She was acting crazy.
- And you're blind. - She finally moved closer to me, abandoning her cold and distant posture. - We're all damned, don't, forget, that. -
She moved further away now, walking toward the office.
- By the way, Thing, if your dear Rookie becomes closer friends with her, do you really think he'll be interested in continuing to play with you? -
After saying this, Eye walked away. For a second, I could almost see a smile forming on her face. It bothered me even more that she insulted Thing, who had only been a good friend to me.
- What an idiot, - I said, clearly annoyed.
Talking to Eye was always frustrating. It seemed like she always had something up her sleeve and never showed her cards. If we're talking about being honest, she should start.
- You're not going to abandon me, are you? - It was Thing's voice speaking this time.
- Of course not. A person can have more than one friend. Don't listen to that idiot. -
With that said, we headed to the television. I planned to spend some time there and then perhaps explore the rest of the building.