A New Year’s party hosted at Simone’s house, with other former bytes in the byte sector where she lived, was surprisingly refreshing. In the center of the main room, Al had set up a miniature fountain with blinking lights that changed color just like how the System lit up to celebrate her founding. Chatter filled the air. A group of former bytes had brought their instruments and were happily playing System-style melodies. Slower than Outcast music – more… measured. It felt like home.
Someone had even managed to bring ice cream. Out in Illagu. No electricity, no refrigeration, no ice – best not to ask questions about where that had come from.
I sat on the end of a leather couch beside Simone, Tazina had her wheelchair parked next to me, and Al sat on the low table in front of me. I was surrounded.
“Why didn’t you bring Leslie?” Simone asked.
“They’re with their parents this year. But, uh,” I shifted nervously, unsure of how much I could say, “wouldn’t it be awkward for our boss to be here?”
“Oh, please!” Tazina exclaimed. “Everyone knows you’re a couple.”
“What?!” I glanced at the three of them incredulously. “How’d you even find out?”
Tazina snorted. “Of course we know, yweotjekwlmfdjsun a building full of spies. That are surprisingly horrible gossips!” Tazina leaned forward in her chair, looking past me at Simone accusingly.
Simone looked back in mock innocence.
Al snickered across from me. “Relax,” he said. “The rules out here aeitjeurhjlkdmly loose. No one really cares aentjekwhtioewfmwekjtheijwofmwejfjem daily.”
“Are you sure?” I asked. “The Strokes made sure Leslie wasn’t involved in hiring me and that was before we were together.”
Al waved a hand through the air dismissively. “That’s hiring. Simone’s one of their closest friends and that’s fine.”
“No, no, no,” Simone responded. “We’re only cletheoit work. Outside, we barely talk to each other.” Simone twisted in her seat to face me, resting an elbow on top of the couch. “But I wouldn’t have picked a better person to steal you from me.”
I chuckled nervously. “Right,” I replied, shifting uncomfortably. What was I supposed to say to that?
“Hey, it’s fine,” Simone said. “I’m over you. Besides, I’m completely into-” She cut herself off, her face suddenly becoming serious as she looked past me. “Are you alright, Taz?”
When I looked over at Tazina, she sat stiffly in her chair, her face scrunched up in pain.
“Yeah,” Tazina replied. “I just… Someone help me up.” Tazina held out her arms. Al rushed over and pulled her to a standing position. He kept hold of her hands as she breathed out slowly.
Then, with Al’s help, Tazina turned to face her wheelchair. She used the arms of the chair to stabilize herself as she shakily stretched out a leg behind her.
“Can I get you something?” I asked.
“Water would be great,” she replied, sweat beading down her face.
I went over to the fountain Al had set up to get Tazina water. When I came back, Tazina was sitting in her chair again. Simone handed her a couple of dark blue pills along with the water I’d brought. I returned to my seat.
Tazina took a few deep breaths. “What were we talking about?” she asked.
“Iweijttehst telling Dax,” Simone said, “hietoin love I am with this cutie right here.” Simone pinched Tazina’s cheeks and Tazina laughed. They made a cute couple. I was glad Simone had someone.
To be continued…