"No. Of course there aren't cameras in here. It's your rooms. It's private. Why would you ask something like that?" I drag her into my bathroom quickly. Better safe than sorry. I lock the door icon behind us and do a quick search for bugs or cameras. Crystal stands there, baffled. "What are you doing, Em? I told you there's nothing to worry about. Nobody would do something like that here. I know they might have done that kind of stuff in Milyn-" I cut her off with an intense glare, ignoring her puzzled look I continue my search. When I find nothing, I turn back to her.
"Do you remember May 17th?" I ask, staring at her waiting for a response.
"What do you mean?" She looks at me, her face blank. Earily blank. She knows something. I hurry to respond, thinking of the right gestures.
"I mean on May 17, was there anything you can remember as being... Odd. Different. You know. Or even anything normal. Anything at all. Anything that would stand out. Any reason you might remember that specific day. Any meetings or gatherings you went to or cancelled. It was a saturday. You had to have something. There was a celebration on the South Pier. You must have seen the fireworks" I ramble, and I once again wait attentively for an answer.
"I really don't think we should be talking about this." Crystal looks away, her fingers rest on her lap after she's done signing. Her fingers linger there, fidgeting.
"You remember, don't you?" I prod. I know she knows something. I can almost feel it. She's too nervous not to know anything.
"I don't know what you're talking about." She says, stubornly.
"Crystal. Please." I beg.
"You can't make me tell you." She lifts her chin, defiant. I sigh.
"I know I can't. I'm asking you. As a friend." I plead. "Please, Crystal."
"Fine. Yes. I remember May 17th. They told you about it? Is that what Nia was talking to you about?" She rushes out, glancing towards the door and around my bathroom, looking for cameras. Her signing goes so fast I can barely read it.
"Ya, but she said I couldn't tell you about it, so don't... act weird." Crystal straightens defensively.
"Dude. You don't really think I'm that stupid. Right? I hope you don't." I keep a straight face and stay silent.
"I can see that evil glint in your eye, you weirdo. Cut the crap." Crystal scowls, playfully. My face breaks out in a grin and I start laughing. She joins me and soon we're rolling on the floor. In that bathroom during that moment, the world no longer mattered. Charlie wasn't dead, May 17th hadn't happened, and we were just two girls laughing at eachothers stupidity. But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.
_________________
"Good morning, Emberlyn. Please rise and get dressed. May your day go smoothly." I groan, pulling the comforter over my head. "Please rise." I glare into my pillow. I recognize the crisp speech of my rooms A.I., yet I still feel inclined to treat it as an intruder. Maybe hit it with that hand mirror from earlier. "Please rise. Please rise. Please-"
"PLEASE SHUT UP."
"Would you like to send that message to Miss Crystal?"
"What, no!"
"Message sent."
"Shit." 639Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs612D8uXU
"You are welcome miss Emberlyn." The door icon to my left opens and a prestine Crystal walks through, furious.
"Why was a message sent to my room? Couldn't you at least get out of bed to tell me to shut up!?" I wince.
"I was telling the A.I. to shut up, Chrissy. My god. I just want to sleep." I groan. She doesn't seem amused.
"Well you can't. We have an appointment at 9 in the second ring, so get the fuck up." She turns, going back through the door icon. I prop myself up on my elbow, trying to get her attention.
"Appointment? For what?" The icon slams shut, and I fall back onto my bed. I can't believe she didn't tell me sooner. Oh wait, I can totally believe it. She's a Diamond. I mentally scold myself for being so judgmental.
"Please rise. Please rise." Why me? Why cruel world? Out of everyone in the Alkina, I had to be the one to end up with a relentlessly annoying A.I.?
"FOR THE LOVE OF THE ALKINA. SHUT THE FUCK UP."
"Message sent to most recently messaged contact." I wait a second before I hear the sent noise sound. I burry my head in my hands. "Please rise. Please rise."
"Fuck."
ns 15.158.61.18da2
