Chapter 68 - A long forgotten friend (2/2)

”Friend? A friend, so dear, she never came up in our conversations. A relationship is built on trust,” Grant said in a bitter tone.

”I'm sorry,” I lowered my head and felt Lyla's arm wrapped around me.

”I've missed you so much. I'll never let you go,” her grip tightened, she was shivering. What happened to her back on Titan? She leaned and kissed my hair. Lyla was taller than me, her black high heel pee toe sandals accentuated her pretty silhouette. She had always been prettier than me and deep down I envied her. The way she can shove the dark cloud away and still smile, always baffled me. How could she be so confident?

”So what do we do?” she showed me her brightest smile. ”What's the new entertainment in town?” she bounced with glee. I couldn't help giggling along.

”There's a new mall in Level twenty-three...” I started but was immediately interrupted with Demos clearing his throat.

”Sorry, but we already made plans for today. We are not going anywhere if your friend wants to go shopping, suit herself. She can go on her own,” he added.

”Hey! I wasn't talking to you. I'm making plans with 'my friend.' What's wrong with your toys? shouldn't they like, shut it and stay in a corner waiting for orders or something?” she fumed. I was scared things might escalate any minute.

”Lyla! I don't want you to fight. Let's all be friends, ok,” from the look on Demos' face my request was mission impossible. He glared in my direction his eyes flashing blue. Grant gave up and turned around.

”I'm going to charge, there's a long journey ahead and no one knows when we'll have access to an E3 socket again,” he tossed over his shoulder before he shut the lid of his pod. Demos lingered around the living room and switched on the TV. He was clearly ignoring us.

”Oh my, do they act like that all day? Like they own the place? Mop around being emo? That worse than making cats,” Lyla whispered. Now that I thought about it, this was a first. Grant was usually friendly and caring while Demos made jokes and being... himself. I slowly shook head and gave her a tight smile. She patted my back in sympathy and quicky reverted into her joyous self.

”Girl, I have so much to tell you. Come, let's go hang out in your room. The mood is nasty around here,” she peeked at Demos staring at the screen. Lyla pushed me towards the door without giving me time to protest. When we were in the safety of my room where they couldn't see us, she gazed with open disapproval. She pulled me by the shoulder to force me to face her.

”Liliane, tell me frankly, what the hell were you thinking?” she sighed. ”Are you insane? Those are freaking machines. They don't love you...They can't love you,” she rolled her eyes. ”If they were like...licking your toes and calling you mistress... perhaps I would think otherwise. But those are really rude characters. The one with the curly hair is freakish. Don't tell me you got down and dirty with them,” she shuddered with disgust. Her comment snapped me from my paralysis.

”Wait, they are not usually like that. It's just... something... a lot of things happened. We were in the middle of an argument,” I tried to explain and failed. Lyla dismissed my words with a wave of the hand.

”Robots don't argue, they just obey,” she walked to my desked and picked up the yellow rubber duck and turned it around in her hand with her eyes vacant.

”Well, they are different. Sognare said that Demos and Grant react upon my actions. And we didn't do... anything,” I averted my eyes feeling my cheeks flaming. She sprung around dropping the duck on the desk. It landed on its side in a painful quack.

”No freaking way?” she dramatically placed her hands on her cheeks while faking a surprising look. I didn't buy it at all. I felt stupid for feeling embarrassed. ”Are you playing house with them or something? I've heard artificial is something you must experience once to know the full extense of their capacity,” she tapped her index on her lips with a dreamy look in her eyes. ”Do you think you could lend me the tall one. Even though, it disgusts me to the core. He is still pleasing to the eyes,” she laughed. I was shocked beyond words.

-Liliane, I don't like her... at all.