Uncanny Valley by C.A. Gray

Author:C.A. Gray [Gray, C. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: C.A. Gray
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

After Liam left, I commed Julie on her way to the beach with the rest of my friends. I told her about Ivan’s mystery comm, just to make sure it hadn’t been her—she had told me multiple times to just tell Andy how I felt about him, after all. But she seemed as baffled as I was about it. Then we quickly moved on to the subject of Andy and Yolanda. Since she couldn’t tell me that she didn’t think he liked her, she focused instead on flattering me at Yolanda’s expense. “She seems like a bimbo, he can’t possibly respect her, you’re a much better catch, you’re so much prettier, Becca…” that kind of thing. It didn’t make me feel any better—actually it made me feel worse in a way, because there was nothing I could do about it. If she was objectively better than I was in any measurable way, then I could… what? Try harder? Probably that’s exactly what I would do. But if I already beat her in every category and Andy still picked her, there was nothing I could change.

At last I tossed my handheld aside, trying to force Andy and Yolanda out of my mind. But it was immediately replaced by guilt for disappointing Liam. That, at least, I could do something about. Even though I didn’t want to, I ran a comb through my hair and threw on the closest thing I’d brought to “going out” clothes: a purple sheath dress and a pair of black ballet flats. It was just a little too cold for a sheath dress by itself, so I threw on a black athletic jacket on top of it, which didn’t go at all. My hair still stuck up in a few places, so I finally tossed it up in a clip. Doesn’t matter how I look, anyway, I thought, comparing my reflection to Yolanda’s voluptuous curves. Stop it, I commanded myself fiercely.

“We’re at the Tikki Cantina a block from Francis’s pub,” Liam wrote when I asked where they’d gone. “Wait for me, I’ll come back and get you!”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t bother, I can find it.”

“Rebecca, please stay where you are and wait for me.”

“On my way,” was my reply. I wasn’t in the mood to indulge this nonsense.

****

Liam met me halfway to the cantina, glowering. “It’s not safe for you to be out here on your own. You’re taking stupid risks for absolutely no gain!”

“Oh, this from the guy who wants to rent an arena and preach to hundreds of thousands of people?”

“That’s different!”

“How is that different?” I demanded.

“Because it’s me!”

We stared at each other for a minute before Liam sighed, conceding, “Look, you probably are completely safe for now, you're right. But please don’t make a habit of wandering off by yourself around here, all right? Especially not as things ramp up.” He offered me his arm, and I took it, rather unwillingly.

“I appreciate that you’re trying to keep me safe. But I’m a big girl, Liam.

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