Echo

13. Popclaire

Eriska flops on the bed beside me. "I see we're still sad."

"I asked him if he likes me. He said no."

"I guess you were right."

"Same as always."

"Not always. You did get asked out. Then he said bye. But you did get asked. And I think he did like you until his dad told him not to believe you."

"That's true."

"And now we know not to tell people our real names. We're learning. Cut yourself some slack, please."

"Echo Hectrr."

"No. How about Echo and Eriska Popclaire? That sounds real. We can be sisters. If you find a boy you like, you can show him who you are. But you can get to know them this way."

"Good plan. They won't call me liars anymore."

"Yea, that'll be a plus. Come on. We're putting them on and getting in the pool. I want to test the water stuff some more."

Half an hour later, we get yelled at for being in the pool. We go to the dining room and come face to face with Scotch and his parents. Scotch's eyes about pop out and his mouth falls open. His dad rubs his eyes.

"Sorry, we forgot about dinner."

Daddy shakes his head. "Suppra's don't even eat. Take them off and get back here."

"Sorry, daddy." I stick my tongue out at Scotch's dad and run for it.

I hear momma. "Those 2. I'll be right back."

We get back in our boxes and wake up as our real selves. Momma is standing there. "What is going on?"

Eriska cracks up laughing. "Did you see his face? That's the boy she liked. He called her a liar."

Momma smirks. "Well, we can't have people thinking my baby is a liar. Fix yourselves and get back to dinner."

"Ok."

We get back as quickly as we can. We sit beside each other.

The servant comes in. "Ma'am, Mr. Malax Phade is here with the trackers you wanted."

"Oh wonderful. Have him come in for dinner too."

Malax comes in, staring at his watch. "You are very late for dinner."

"Did you eat yet?"

"No. But I figured you would be done eating."

"Well, have a seat, you were wrong."

Eriska nods. "There was a bikini issue. We're good now."

He shakes his head and sits by me.

Daddy rubs his eyes. "Malax, this is the area supervisor for Zircon, Azo Vinsor. His wife Syca and son Scotch." Malax's muscles go stiff. I feel a shift in the air. "On occasion, he may have to deal with any issues with your suppras. I figured you should meet him in case he randomly shows up in your office some day."

Malax stays frozen until I elbow him.

"It's nice to meet you. I'll put you on the access list."

"Thank you, sir. It's nice to meet you as well."

I glance at Eriska and she shrugs her shoulders.

Rune runs in and right towards me. I get a big hug again. "I love these hugs, Rune." He takes off for his chair.

"I don't think he was ready for you to go back to work, Echo." Daddy signals for the food.

"I was ready for you to come back." Malax winks at me.

"All she did was read."

"What were you reading, baby?"

"Her school books were delivered to my office."

Daddy perks up. "How the hell did that happen?"

Eriska laughs. "The school called for her. But she was sleeping, so Kai ordered everything from his account."

"You know you have funding for that, right?"

"Yea, I gave him his money back already, daddy. Kai didn't know."

"Why were you sleeping at work?"

"Drugs, daddy."

"Drugs?" Azo is staring at me.

"I got drugged last weekend. Slept pretty much the whole week."

Momma nods. "The poor baby was in the hospital for days. Then she got out and slept for almost the whole week. She only went to work for half a day last week. And apparently slept through it."

I shrug my shoulders. "I tried."

Scotch looks at Malax. "That was at a work party, right?"

Eriska cracks up laughing. Malax growls. I try not to laugh. "Yea."

His mom seems concerned. "Were you injured?"

"Nothing other than sleeping, ma'am. Rye figured it out quickly, and they got me to the hospital."

Scotch smirks. "At least someone noticed."

Eriska spits out water and I pat her on the back laughing.

Malax snaps. He looks at daddy and yells, "BOY."

Me and Eriska lose it. We stand up and laugh.

Daddy jumps up. "BOY."

I nearly pee.

"Wait. What?" Daddy stares at momma.

Momma rolls her eyes and stands up. "Everybody sit down. Girls, pull it together." She crosses her arms and waits. "Scotch is the boy that was going to take your daughter out, but he thought she was lying about who she was. Girls, did you figure that out?"

"We're Echo and Eriska Popclaire. I think we're safe with that. And we can be sisters."

"That'll work. I think. Did you learn anything else?"

"People try to impersonate me."

"Very good."

Daddy nods. "Good job learning that, sweetheart. I am sorry your family got pulled into that drama, Azo. The girls have never had suppra's before. They're learning. That had to have been uncomfortable."

"It was. I thought that girl was trying to take advantage of my son. It scared me."

"Understandable."

"I'm sorry. I didn't think about that."

His dad smiles. "It's alright. Weird things can happen with the suppra's."

Momma nods. "But we didn't want your family believing she was a liar either. We would appreciate it if you didn't tell people who they are going forward. She's never had this kind of freedom."

"Of course, we won't say anything."

Eriska cracks up laughing. "MALAX YELLED BOY THIS TIME."

I lose it.

"GIRLS."

"Sorry, momma. We're trying." I stare at Malax. "I can't look at her."

She laughs harder and I lean forward.

Daddy jumps up and hits the table. "BOY."

I have to stand up. I hold onto Malax's shoulder, so I don't fall over.

Momma rolls her eyes. "You did it that time, Braxtin."

Malax puts his hand on my hip and guides me to the sitting room.

"I swear I can pull it together." I walk over to the window. "I need a second."

"Are you sleeping with him?"

"You can't ask me that."

"Yes I can. We're not at work. And I'm here as your mother's tracking service. Not your boss."

"No. We kissed a few times. I like kissing him. Then he thought I was lying. I'm not."

"Why is he here?"

"You would have to ask Eriska. She had them invited for dinner. Maybe to show I'm not a liar. I don't know."

"Do you want a relationship with him?"

"I wanted a date."

"Do you date a lot on the suppra?"

"He would have been my first date." Sadness fills me. My first date ever, goes through my head, but I don't say it. "I'm good now. Are you ok? You're very tense and you growled earlier."

"Your father is rubbing off on me. I'm fine. You ready to go back?"

"We better. If daddy comes in and yells 'boy', I'm not going to be ok for another week."

He laughs and walks me back. He pulls my chair out for me.

Momma smiles. "Eriska was telling us how you didn't know who Malax was."

"True story. Everybody always called him Malax or Ax. I assumed he was an executive of some kind. At the work party, he was introduced as Malax Phade."

"She was very shocked. Nearly fell over. But that's when Rye came over and figured out she was drugged."

Syca smiles. "How do you like working, Echo? This is your first job, isn't it?"

"Yes, this is my first job. It's been interesting."

Daddy nods. "She has been there 2 weeks. She's quit a couple of times."

Eriska laughs. "She's missed more days than she has gone. She also makes Malax get his own stuff. She fell asleep at the conference table, Friday. She's probably going to get fired next."

"I may have to start my own business after school. Not sure if anyone will let me work for them."

Azo laughs. "The rumors are saying you're going to Kagona."

I nod. "Let's keep them like that."

His eyebrow shoots up.

Daddy answers, "Kagona does the majority of her funding. We don't want to lose it."

"That I can understand."

"I found 1 of your cars, Braxtin. It's in my employee parking lot."

"See, I knew it was somewhere, Jayda."

"Where are the other 2, Braxtin?"

"They're somewhere too."

"I'm having someone bring it here, so I can track it. Can they take the helicopter back?"

"Yea, that's fine."

"Why are you tracking them?" Scotch is staring at him.

Momma answers, "My husband says we don't need trackers in the cars, but he keeps losing them. So, I had Malax do it. He's here all the time anyway."

Eriska laughs, "He has to keep talking her into going to work."

"Oh, that reminds me, Kagona wants you to work for them for a week before you go to school. I told them that's fine."

Eriska spins me to her. "GO TO WORK THAT WEEK. Do not lose your funding. Get dressed and go to work. It's 1 week."

"Maybe they'll let me work from the pool."

"You are not working from the pool, sweetheart. Let them show you their business. Act excited. Think about what you could do there after you graduate. They need some hope. You're working for Phade, and they are investing a lot of money in you. It has them nervous. Reassure them you have no plans set for after graduation. Phade offered you a good opportunity for summer work after you turned down their initial offer."

"Good plan, daddy."

"Mr. Phade, there is a Rye here for you."

Malax jumps up. "Thank you."

Momma waves her hand. "Tell him to come in too. Plenty of food."

"Yes, ma'am."

Rye comes in, and the servants get him situated. "Anything new?"

I rub my eyes. "I have to work at Kagona."

"You quitting Phade again?"

Everyone laughs and I shake my head.