Distant Shores - Marco Palmieri [42]
“We have to go,” B’Elanna said. “Duty calls.”
“We have five minutes,” Harry said. “I haven’t seen him in days.”
“I have to go,” B’Elanna said and gathered up her tray. “He can have my spot.”
“I’m sorry about all this, Tom, really I am, but, oh… Urh! He’s such a jerk!”
“I know. You told me,” Tom said, then let his eyes slide over to Harry, who was eating as fast as he could without actually pouring the soup from the bowl into his mouth. He wanted to mouth the words, “I’m sorry,” to his friend, but there was no opportunity. Lauren wouldn’t take her eyes off him. She was like that, he had discovered. When those green orbs were fixed on you, you felt like you were the center of the universe, which might be one of the reasons she and her boyfriend Michael had stayed together so long despite the fact that they seemed to spend most of their time arguing.
“I know, I know,” Lauren moaned. “I’m going to shut up now. I promise. Thanks for being such a good friend. It’s just…”
“I understand,” Tom said, though, truly, if pressed, he would have to admit he didn’t. Relationships like Lauren and Michael’s baffled him. What was the point in being involved if every day was a new battle? He wanted to ask Harry if he understood, but there wouldn’t be an opportunity.
“I have to go,” Harry said, scooping up his padd and tray. “How’s the show coming along?”
“Okay, I guess,” Tom began. “I could really…”
“Hey, that’s great,” Harry said, cutting him off. “Let’s try to have dinner soon.”
“Okay,” Tom said and deflated. “Hey, was that B’Elanna sitting here earlier?”
“Yeah,” Harry said as he headed for the door. “She says hi.”
“Really?” Tom asked, surprised and strangely pleased, but Harry didn’t hear him.
“It’s mostly just that he doesn’t understand why I need to rehearse so much,” Lauren continued, obviously having forgotten her promise to end the Michael monologue.
“Well, tell him it’s been a while since you’ve sung.”
“I did,” she said, her voice moving uncomfortably into the upper registers. “I told him I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of, well, everyone. And he said, ‘Then don’t do it. You don’t have to do it. Nobody’s making you.’ “
Uh-oh, Tom thought. Danger sign. “But you said…”
“I said that of course I had to. I’d already promised you and Michael said, ‘Who’s more important? Me or Tom?’ “
Tom felt the axis of the conversation shifting and, despite the distractions of the dining hall, the magnetic pull of Lauren’s green eyes drew him in even farther. And what might this mean? he wondered, but said only, “And your reply?”
“I didn’t say anything,” Lauren replied, “because I was too busy leaving the room.”
“Ah,” Tom said. “Well, good idea. You don’t want to say anything that you might regret later.”
Lauren leaned forward, put her forehead against his arm, and said, “But sometimes I do. He drives me…”
“Crazy. Yes, you said.” Tom hadn’t been close enough to Lauren before to notice, but her hair smelled nice. Clean. Maybe a little perfumey, but what was wrong with that? The dining hall was beginning to empty out and Tom was keenly aware that he and Lauren were two of the few who weren’t clearing up and moving toward the door. “Don’t let him bother you too much. Michael will come around when he sees you perform. Do you think you’ll want to rehearse tonight?”
“Maybe,” Lauren said straightening up, her ponytail flopping back down over her shoulder. “He’s going to be on duty during gamma. You want to come to my quarters and give me notes?”
Do I? Tom asked himself and was surprised the answer was not immediately forthcoming. The moment stretched out uncomfortably until he finally said, “Sure. Okay. See you then.” Nothing wrong with that, he decided. After all, it was my idea for her to be in the show in the first place.
“Kes?” Neelix called as the Ocampan exited sickbay. He had attempted to affect as casual a tone as possible, but knew his effort was probably futile. He knew he was unskilled at concealing his emotions, even the mildest, and where