NightTide: The Girl With Red Eyes

Jessica was sitting at the desk doing paperwork, at this point it’s the only thing I can’t help with… It’s either she doesn’t want me to help or she’s afraid I’ll get overwhelmed, I’m not the best at reading so I’d probably get overwhelmed. I didn’t want to just sit around all day, that’s usually what happened when she did paperwork…

I figured I should ask instead of just walking out. “Is it okay to walk around?”

She stared at me blankly for a second, then she got up and walked over to a drawer. She pulled out a watch? Then she walked back over to me. “If you want to you have to put this on, it tells you the time and what part of the base you’re at. On it this place is listed as commander’s quarters so head back to that before eight.” She went back to do her paperwork.

I put it on, it wasn’t uncomfortable… I touched it and a hologram popped up, it was of the whole base. This place was much bigger than I thought it was, the paper had the entire location listed as, City Superstructure Base One. That’s when I noticed a diving line between the area’s I’ve been to and the rest. I guess they keep the rest walled off from here. I guess it makes sense, they don’t any kids wandering around this place…

I said bye and headed out, my first time walking around on my own… I felt excited for some reason, I did find out why just about everything I wear is white and blue, apparently Jessica had to do something so that people could differentiate us before looking at our eyes, she decided that having me always wear white was the best option… I didn’t really mind at this point. We had gotten me a light coat… It was white obviously but it was a hoodie and had two front pockets, whenever I finish arguing with the zipper it’s really comfortable; I could fall asleep in the thing if I wanted to… It was heavy enough to keep me warm outside but light enough for me to wear indoors as well, though not when exercising I’d start dying of heat. I looked at the watch it said eight thirty… and it had a little red dot that was blinking at commander’s quarters, I guess that dot is me.

I felt incredibly happy about this, I could walk around without having to worry about getting horribly lost. Keith had to come find me one night because I got lost somewhere in the warehouse area; Jessica wasn’t happy about that. I decided that I’d walk around the air field for a bit, as long as I stayed off the runway and didn’t touch anything they didn’t care. I liked walking jet’s take off for their test flights, they tested them once a week and today they were doing it. Oh right it was December eight, I haven’t been allowed to see Elizabeth since Jessica’s birthday, she said we were going to have a chat about it at some point but I’m still waiting. Keith came around a few times, he would talk to Jessica for a bit and then tell me how Elizabeth was doing. I guess she’s getting really antsy, he wouldn’t say why though.

One of the jet took off, the ground was cold but I sat in the grass. I had to sit pretty far away from the runway when they were taking off but I liked that booming sound you’d hear shortly after they got off the ground. It took them about an hour to test them all, I decided to go somewhere else afterwards. It takes quite a while to get around the airfield, since I can’t get to close to anything I have to take the long way around. It feels different walking on my own vs when I walk with Jessica. On my own no one bugs me, when I’m with her we get stopped a lot and asked questions, mostly for her though. Then again we have a goal when we’re going around, I don’t really have one so there’s no one scheduled to meet me anywhere. I walked around some more, my feet started to hurt so I checked the watch. Twelve eighteen, it’s been four hours? I was hungry so I decided to head back.

I got back and I Jessica wasn’t here? She probably went to deliver the papers. I went down the hallway to my room and saw Jessica and Elizabeth talking, I decided to hide around the corner and listen. I don’t know why though.

Jessica was sounded a little irritated. “You know what you’re doing right? I don’t think I’m okay with the age gap, if you hurt I think I’ll put you in the hospital again. You’re my best friend but I can’t just let you break people’s hearts.”

Elizabeth sounded confident. “I have no intentions to hurt her, yes I’m aware there’s a big difference between us but we’re NightTides, it doesn’t matter as much to us. I have more life experience but she is an adult by NightTide standards.”

Jessica sighed. “Yes, NightTide standards, keep the antics down until January. She’ll be eighteen by human standards as well, then you two can do whatever. AS LONG, as you don’t do it in here.” What? I feel like she implied something dirty?

Elizabeth sounded like she was excited. “I’m happy I got your approval then!” Is that what they meant by talk? “I won’t do anything stupid I promise!”

Jessica sighed again. “Don’t make me regret this. She seems happy enough, she bores easily but at least she’s handling everything well. The last thing I want is for that to be ruined, it’s been nice having someone around; it’s even nicer to have help with my work.”

Elizabeth interrupted her. “You’re a wonderful sister Jessica. You’ve been doing a great job given the circumstances, I can’t think of anyone that wouldn’t crack under the pressure but you managed to push through. You’re as stubborn as you are strong.”

Jessica sounded like she was shocked by that. “T-thanks. I’ve been wondering something; do you think we can trust her with money? She does get paid to be my assistant but I’ve been holding onto it since she doesn’t really seem responsible. I don’t really, she think she’d know what to do with it… She is a bit of an air head at times.”

Elizabeth sounded confused. “Um? Try giving her some of it, hold onto the rest in case she spends it all. I guess treat it like an allowance?” Money? I have no idea what that is… “Actually, how much does a specialist make? I’m curious myself. I can’t get a promotion because I keep getting in trouble.”

Jessica sighed, “She makes more then you, leave it at that. If you’d stop getting in trouble you might actually get above Private First Class.”

Elizabeth sounded ashamed. “I know, I know. I can’t help it though.” There was moment of silence…

I heard them walking my way and panicked, I ended up falling in front of them… They looked at me blankly.

I was stared for several seconds before Jessica said something, she looked angry now. “Were you eavesdropping?!”

I didn’t know what that meant. “I don’t know what that means?”

She grabbed my ear. “Stand up.” She pulled on it and I stood up, it hurt. “Don’t eavesdrop! You could have walked up and joined in the conversation no problem. Don’t do that again!”

She pulled my ear harder. “Ow ow! Okay I won’t do it again, I’m sorry!” Elizabeth looked nervous, I think she wanted to get involved, but was too scared to. Then she let go. “Come on, let’s all go get something to eat.” I rubbed my ear on the way to get food; that hurt.