Olivia smiles gently. "Amy, honey, I know you have questions that Zack and I need to answer. But please, stop worrying! My brother is a lot stronger than he looks."
Amy grins. "That seems to be true for both of you."
The two girls chuckle and embrace again.
Chapter 4
Mike arrives with a bouquet of lilies and rings Amy's doorbell. When she opens the door, he's pleased to finally see her smile. Amy looks at the flowers, grabs a lily, and holds to her nose. "They're beautiful! Thank you, teddy." She calls him that sometimes, because she's accused him of being a big, soft, cuddly teddy bear more than once, despite his tough appearance.
Mike grins. "Did you get any sleep? I've been worried."
Amy looks into his light-brown eyes. "I'm okay. Waiting to hear news about Zack."
Privately, Mike is starting to get a little annoyed about all this interest in Zack. Of course, he's glad that Zack saved his girlfriend, but he fears that Amy is beginning to feel something more than simple gratitude. Nevertheless, he realizes that this isn't a good time to voice his concerns. He reassures her that Zack will be fine.
Amy invites Mike in for breakfast, and Mike shouts hello to George, Amy's dad. George Harper is in the kitchen preparing breakfast on their 3-D food printer, and is a bit aggravated when the doorbell rings again. He really wants to have some family time and get breakfast printed. He glances at his smartwatch and sees a live feed of Emma, Amy's friend, standing at the front door. "Amy!" Emma shouts, in her cheerfully assertive way. "Come on, girl, open up!"
As soon as Amy opens the door, Emma jumps into her arms and embraces her. "I've been trying to call you since I heard the news, but I kept getting your voicemail," Emma says. "I even stopped by yesterday, but nobody was home. Why didn't you call me?"
"Sorry, everything has been so hectic, but I'm alive," Amy says. "Mike's here. Join us for breakfast?"
She does, and so much for the family time George wanted. But that's okay, Mike and Emma are practically family anyway.
By the time they finish eating, it's become apparent to Mike and Emma that something is troubling Amy. Their usually talkative friend has hardly said a word during the meal. "Amy, you want to go chill by the river and talk?" Emma asks as she mops up the last of her egg-yolk with a pretty good slice of faux-toast.
"Not really," Amy replies. "I just want to go upstairs and take a nap. I'm still feeling pretty wrung out."
Emma and Mike look at each other. "Well, I guess we can give you one more day," Emma says. "But please cheer up, okay? Everything will be fine. Right, Mike?"
Mike nods eagerly.
"But two people died in that fire, and Zack is in a coma because of me," Amy says in an agitated tone. "I wouldn't say that everything will be fine!" Tears start to form in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Amy! I didn't mean it that way." Emma gets up from her chair and embraces her friend.
George looks at his daughter at a distance from the living room, feeling hopeless and angry. He' s convinced, like most in the news, that the terrorist group EIRF is responsible for the fire. The press has been speculating that the Euperian Interplanetary Resistance Front was retaliating against Head Minister Bannon's agreement to recognize the Ucte Empire's ambassador and government as the legitimate leaders of Azha.
His watch vibrates. He looks down and sees a calendar reminder for today's rally. George has always been a quiet supporter of stronger immigration laws and the removal of aliens from Earth, and had supported the controversial Bannon's candidacy from the start. Assuming that the aliens almost killed his daughter has convinced him to openly support the movement to expel all those scum from Earth.
"Amy, I'm heading out for a get-together, but I'll be back before ten," George says as he kisses her on the forehead. "Thank you for coming over and checking in on her," he says to Mike and Emma.
"Are you sure you want to be alone this morning, babe?" Mike asks. "I can stay with you until your dad gets back, if you want to talk or something."
"It's okay," Amy says. smirking, knowing one of the reasons he wants to stay over. "But I'm so tired I'll probably sleep through the night. Stop by tomorrow and you can take me out for lunch. How 'bout that?"
Minutes later, Mike and Emma leave the house together, obviously sensing that Amy is hiding something. Amy closes the door, heads upstairs to her room. and falls into bed, lying on top of the covers and staring at the ceiling. What's going on with me? she wonders as she stares at the ceiling.
She closes her eyes, and hopes she won't dream about Zec and his sister Odilia again. Whoever they are.
❖❖❖
"Any news from the hospital?" Olivia hollers as she comes down the stairs the next morning.
"No, honey. Breakfast is on the stove," Isabella replies from the couch, where she's watching the news on TV. Olivia hears a note of anxiety in her voice, but politely ignores it.
Sighing, worried about her hero brother, Olivia makes herself a plate of synthetic eggs and rice and sits next to her mom to watch the news. The news station is broadcasting images of the community center fire, she notes with a pang. The reporter mentions the mysterious explosions of several cars at the scene, and says that the fire department's forensics team has been unable to determine their cause. Isabella glances at her daughter speculatively.
"I'm sorry, Mom," Olivia says, blushing. "I needed to draw their attention away from Zack, and I didn't know what else to do."
They watch crowds of protesters behind the reporters with signs that read make earth human again. God, how she hates those stupid red MEHA
