Return to Earth – 09

Okay here is the next installment. I have lost my direction for the story so Its not entirely to my liking. I am working on getting it back on track and perhaps a little more action here and there. I have left comments on and welcome them, although I can deal without the constant advertising for hookups and the like. There are plenty of sites out there for that stuff. go there and leave the comments here for those that actually have something useful to say. If I could they would be deleted but I can’t. So thanks for reading and hopefully its not to much of a disappointment. the next chapter is in rewrite to accommodate rules as well as some new ideas. Enjoy.

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Cynthia came out the next morning and saw him sitting on the sofa. His eyes were closed and it didn’t look like he was breathing. She ran over and shook him screaming his name.

“Shhh I’m trying to rest,” he groaned and took a long deep breath.

“Dam it Daniel what the hell? You weren’t breathing. You scared the hell out of me.”

“Well I was in a deep meditative state. I told you I learned to do it to help with my sleepless nights. I was breathing, just at a low rate. It slows down every body function to a state of nearly shutting it down. It’s the closest to sleeping as I could get. I am sorry I scared you I wasn’t expecting you to be awake so early. I thought maybe you would sleep in since we have nothing to do.”

“Daniel you have been sleeping just fine the last few days. You slept almost as long as I did a few times. I am more than certain that you didn’t meditate to do it.”

Daniel got up and went into the kitchen. “Just couldn’t get to sleep. I tried everything I could think of and I just tossed and turned. It made me more restless trying to sleep. So I did what I could. I just over estimated your sleeping time.” He made coffee and started looking for something for breakfast.

“It can’t be healthy Daniel. You need to see a doctor.”

“I have,” he said groaning at the word doctor, he hand her a cup of coffee. “I have seen several in fact, starting at age eight,” he explained while going back to making breakfast. “It wasn’t until then that I had issues sleeping. They couldn’t find anything wrong. All they said they could do was to give me sleeping pills. For six years that worked. It stopped working gradually, even with increased dosages. By the time I was fifteen it was back to crashing just to get a few hours of sleep. The doctors were already giving me the highest dose of sleep med they could so there wasn’t anything they could do. I spent a week in a room as they monitored me. They tested everything, repeatedly. I did what I could. I read a lot more, worked a lot more and did whatever it took to get too tired to keep going. I eventually found the meditation technique and gave it a try. I did it two weeks before my mother did the exact same thing you did. Only I hadn’t learned to snap out of the trance, so when she shook me I didn’t wake up. When I did wake, I was in the med center. They thought my body just shut down finally from the lack of proper sleep. When I told them what it was I did, they compared results from the study when I crashed to sleep to the ones they got with the meditation. Although they agreed that it wasn’t great to go so deep in a meditation they concluded that it was better than crashing.”

“Well I don’t like it. I don’t see how it is you could sleep so well then all of a sudden it’s so difficult. It’s the same place it is the same bed it is the same everything. Nothing has changed in here in the last three days.”

“It could be anything. Maybe it was something I ate, drank, or even inhaled. If it is food or drink then maybe it will happen again. I really don’t eat much different day to day. If it was inhalation, well it may never happen again. Even I can’t remember all the smells in a day.”

“Then we need to get them to test you and see what they can find in your blood or something. Maybe a cure for whatever it is that makes you such an insomniac,” she got up and started for the bedroom. “We can go to the med center now and see someone.”

Daniel sat in his chair and drank some of his coffee. “It wouldn’t do any good. Whatever it is, it’s out of my system apparently since I didn’t sleep last night. They would be wasting time and I am not up for being a test subject for nothing. So eat your breakfast.”

“Has to be something we can do,” she said coming back. It was only then that Daniel realized that she was wearing one of his shirts and no pants.

“Well I uh um I could,” Daniel stammered as he was distracted looking at her bare legs. The shirt was a little to big but every time she moved her shoulders, it rose up just enough.

“What is wrong with you?”

An incoming message broke his fixation, it was followed by a second. “Wearing my shirt,” he managed to say.

“Yes I am. I woke up last night and had to change out of my clothes to something more comfortable to sleep in. I ran out of things to wear since we haven’t done laundry and most of my clothes are still at my parents. So I took one of your shirts. I’m not contaminating it or anything.” She looked at him and watched him staring at her. His eyes were wide and his head slightly bent with his mouth partly open.

She looked around to see if he was looking at something by her then she started looking over herself. She gasped and laughed as she came running over to the kitchen. “So Smart Boy you are male after all. You know, a girl can get a complex waiting for you to take notice like that. And all it took was for me to get half naked.” She wrapped her arms about his waist. “Good to know I have some effect on you as a woman and not just as your school partner. There is some hope for you yet.” She kissed him repeatedly. “Now if you ever want to see more than my legs, you better not scare me like that again because I might just kill you before giving you the chance.” She pulled away and started for the bedroom.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about I see your legs every day,” Daniel said getting the tablet from the table.

Cynthia laughed and lifted he leg into the air as the shirt hiked up just a little more. “Never like this.”

“If you say so,” he grinned, though he did try not to stare.

She looked at him and laughed, “I know so,” she said glaring.

“Whatever makes you sleep at night,” he said and laughed as she stuck her tongue out.

“So who is it?” she asked disappearing into the bedroom.

“The university housing office, they will have the apartment ready in a couple days. We are on for flight duty starting tomorrow. Today would be a good day to go and get anything that you want from your parents.”

“What’s the matter, don’t want me in your clothes anymore?” she giggled as she came back out fully dressed. She walked over and put her arms around him.

“Actually,” he started but Cynthia kissed him softly. “Um actually,” he tried again and she repeated the kiss. “mmm um yes I would act..” she laughed and kissed him a little longer slowly pulling in on his lips as she held her hands behind his head and moved her fingers along his neck.

“You were saying something?” she smiled and slipped away.

“That’s unfair.”

“Well live with it. A woman has to have some advantage over you big strong men.”

“They have to much advantage if you ask me,” Daniel mumbled.

“What’s that?”

“Just saying you are right as always,” he said quickly looking at the tablet. “Oh, it seems that Michael and Jenna spoke to the Dean. She’s assigned them to the cafeteria to help with the cooking. They might even do some catering for meetings or off campus events to bring in some extra funds for the university. They opted for a two bedroom and they will be moving into it tomorrow. Jenna wanted to know if you were interested in shopping. I told her no, that you are extremely busy and really didn’t have any interest in shopping.”

“What are you talking about, I’m not busy why would you do that?” she yelled as she came running over and grabbing the tablet.

Daniel sat down and poured another cup of coffee. “Well it wasn’t an invite for both of us, and you did say we would have to do the shopping. I just figured that you would want to stick to that. After all you were pretty upset about it when we talked about it.”

Cynthia looked at the tablet. “Yeah I know but I,” she looked at the message, “Wait there’s no response to this message!”

Daniel sipped his coffee, “really I could have sworn I sent it here let me try again.”

Cynthia pushed him and started laughing. “Okay I get it. Pay back.” She sat in his lap. She took his coffee cup from him and took a sip. “You could come with I’m sure she won’t mind.”

“She only said her, I’m guessing here but I think she wants you alone. Maybe she just wants some girl time.”

“Why you think that? She doesn’t say anything that would say that.”

“No, but what she doesn’t say does,” he took his coffee back. “She doesn’t say her and Michael.” He sat rubbing her back as she lay against him. “All joking aside you two got close over the session. What she and Michael are doing is a big step and she may just want to talk to another girl about it. You and her are about to take the same step, it’s daunting. It’s not something that a girl needs a guy around for,” he tried to drink more of his coffee but Cynthia took it and downed the rest. “Worst case I’m wrong and you will have Michael to torture all day. I can find things to do. Maybe see just how it is without you around for a while.”

“Just don’t get used to it. I’m coming back,” she kissed his cheek and got up taking the tablet with her.

“Dam and here I was already planning what to do with all that extra space I’ll have.”

Daniel went and got another tablet and accessed the comm system. He had been looking for an opportunity to get some time alone. He had promised Captain Sims that he would take care of the matter with Martin. He didn’t want Cynthia involved with it. If he or anyone had to utilize what he was learning, the ramifications could devastate the best of people. Worse, it could change them, forever. He hoped to keep Cynthia from that responsibility as long as possible. He hoped he never would need to utilize it himself as he sent the message to Martin. He would meet him in a few hours.

Cynthia gave him a kiss as she went out and went to meet Jenna. “Try not to spend everything. We still need to buy food,” he called out after her.

Jenna was waiting for her outside a shop on the emporium level. The two girls hugged and laughed as they started walking. Once again, Daniel was right. Michael was nowhere to be seen.

They talked through their whirlwind spree through each store. It wasn’t until they sat for lunch that Jenna got silent.

“So as much as I enjoy getting out and shopping without Daniel weighing me down, what is it you really wanted? What’s the matter?” Cynthia asked.

“Nothing I just thought it would be nice to get out without the men around, just us girls.”

“Uh Huh, I got that. You look like you’re ready to pull out your hair and scream. So what’s wrong?”

“I just wanted to talk to someone about me and Michael. After hanging out this morning I realized I like having someone to do this kind of stuff with and I don’t want to ruin it.”

“Yeah I had fun too. What about Michael? Doesn’t he take you out shopping? And just how would us talking ruin things, we are girls we don’t let that stuff affect us like the guys do.”

Jenna giggled a tiny bit at the rapid-fire questions. “He does he just doesn’t get into it as much as we do. He’s more of a get in and get what we want and get out. As for the rest, I just wanted to ask some personal questions maybe a little to personal.”

“Awe honey, there are only two sets of people that you can be personal with family and friends. So tell me what’s bothering you. I promise whatever it is we will still go shopping together,” she smiled as she looked around. “There’s a whole bunch of stores we still need to get to.”

“Okay here it is. I am scared. We are making this big decision and we met just a few months ago. It means more time together, no breaks. It was great when we had separate places we could just go and be apart. It’s not going to be that easy this way. Sometimes I think it is necessary have a time apart. If we spend to much time together I’m almost sure we can get on each other’s nerves. I am afraid that I will lose him. I’m not sure if I could endure that very well. How do you and Daniel do it? How do you make it work so well? I have seen how he looks at you and you at him and it doesn’t change no matter the circumstances. You always get through it. He seems to love you so much and when you mess with him, it seems to grow even more. One of you gets angry with the other it doesn’t last and it just seems to bring you closer. How do I do that with Michael?”

Cynthia was blushing just a little bit and shaking head grinning. “First we have to agree to not tell Daniel that this is why you wanted to go shopping. He will get so smug and I’ll want to slug him even if he was right.”

“Right about what?”

“That you wanted to talk girl to girl about moving in with Michael. Even though you didn’t say it he just knew it.”

“He does seem to know how to read a situation, and react to it. Maybe that is why you work so well together.”

Cynthia sighed. “Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t know. I can tell you we don’t have any relationship secret. We just let things happen, accept them and move on. Yeah we joke and mess around that’s part of a relationship as much as anything. In the end, we know that’s all it is, that we are just having some fun. When we get angry or upset, we take time and think. Then again, we really haven’t had any fights that were major. More misunderstandings than an actual fight. When we do have an actual fight, who knows what will happen. I hope we can deal with it the same way and keep moving onward. Time will tell. For now, I accept him and everything about him. He makes me feel like there is nothing we can’t do if we are together even if he is infuriating at times. Just getting him to do it is a headache. With that brain of his he has a chance to accomplish so much. He now worries about how it affects me or how I will react. It’s sweet and all but it’s a little mother henish sometimes.”

“I feel the same about Michael, but I also feel like we are rushing into things. I like the way he makes me feel. I don’t like the idea of him not being around but I also don’t like feeling I’m forcing him into anything. I feel his emotions every time he touches me, but he has only told me he loves me when we are alone. He never says it when anyone is around. I don’t doubt he does, but why hide it?”

Cynthia sat back in the chair and thought about it a moment. “At least he says it. Daniel has never once said the word love let alone the phrase I love you,” she said finally. “Men are sometimes stubborn when it comes to commitment. They don’t like wearing their emotions. Emotions make them just a little vulnerable in their mind. Nothing can come close to the emotions that come with caring for a woman. It makes it harder for us women. Eventually they will come around even if we have to tell them how to do it.”

Jenna was looking shocked at the revelation. “I would have thought he said it all the time. Anyone seeing the two of you together could see that he does love you without question. And if he doesn’t see it from you then maybe he’s not so smart after all.”

“To be fair I haven’t said it either. He was first to see things between us, even if he didn’t realize it himself. It took me a little longer. I hoped that he would be the first to do that as well. To be fair, I’m a little scared that if I do it, it will bring things to a crashing halt. It’s a relationship thing I guess. Neither of us are experts in relationships. This is our first actually,” she sighed and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. “We are off topic, this isn’t about Daniel and I, it’s about you and Michael. You want some advice, then here it is. The best thing I can say is just do what feels right. Do what you feel is right to make you both happy. Do what feels right to get over the angry times and back to feeling good with each other. Be honest and make sure that you talk to each other and see the whole picture instead of just the part concerning just you. Anyone can get into a relationship. Sadly, that’s the easy part. The thing is a good relationship takes two people working together to make it full of whatever pleases them. If you can keep that in mind then you will be fine. We will be fine. Besides where would they be without us?”

“Well here’s to them and us never finding out,” Jenna picked up her wine glass and held it in the air.

“I can drink to that,” Cynthia replied mimicking her gesture and touching the glasses together.

They spent the rest of the day going store to store. They didn’t buy anything for the apartments. They did manage to make plans to get together at least once every two weeks even if it was just to talk girl talk.

When she got back to the apartment Daniel was watching a series while reading two tablets. There was very little else there.

“Have a fun day?” he asked looking up as she entered.

“Yes I did thank you. Where is everything?” She asked looking around.

“I packed it up and stored it in the project room. It’s just the non-essential stuff really. Less we need to move when the new place is available. It’s easier this way since I only have a day to move out once it is available. We can move the rest in one trip and then concentrate on moving your stuff.”

“You moved everything alone?”

“Yes, easy enough. I did move it all in here. I really don’t have much and it gave me something to do. I had a strange feeling I was missing something all day long. I needed to do something to keep it from bothering me.”

“Why Daniel is that your way of saying you missed me?” she walked over with a sway in her walk.

“Oh I’m sorry did I say missed? I meant to say forgetting something.”

“You did and there’s no going back.” She crawled over toward s him and onto his lap, knocking over anything that he had there. “It’s the sweetest thing I heard all day.”

“Have to talk to Jenna and see if she can sweeten things up for you the next time you two go out,” Daniel absently put his arms around her and slide her in closer to him.
“She is sweet enough. You on the other hand need the work.” She kissed his cheek.

“Always will,” he grinned. “If hanging out with her makes you this happy all the time then maybe you and her should make a weekly thing of it. I hope you at least found something to get for the new apartment. I got a look and it’s big. I wouldn’t even say it was regular student housing. The work crew said they would be done in a day and it would be another day for everything to dry and air out. Then it will be ready for occupation.”

“We didn’t get anything. Nothing really stood out. I think we should wait until we are moved in anyway. We will have a better idea of what to look for then. Maybe if you and Michael are good we will bring you along.”

“Such punishment for being good, hate to see what happens if I’m not.” Daniel laughed and tried to reach for the fallen tablet.

“I’m sure I can find something to torture you with. Now up, help with dinner.”

“Hadn’t thought about dinner,” he grumbled. “We are low on things. I was figuring you and Jenna would eat before coming home so I didn’t pick anything up.”

He stooped down and grabbed the stuff from the floor as she pulled him towards the kitchen. “We still have plenty of left overs. If that’s not what we want, you and I are trained to cook now. Between us, we should be able to come up with something with what we have. We will go food shopping after work tomorrow.”

They did manage to find something in the collection of things they had left from the event at the university. They ate and Cynthia told him about the day. Afterwards Daniel wanted to continue reading. Cynthia got the idea to go onto the network and play some games. It was different from their usual nightly routine. They did stop a few hours later and opt for a movie. Daniel was pulling out the sofa when Cynthia came back from the bedroom caring the blanket and pillows he usually grabbed later in the night. It was always right after he carried her to the bed. She was also wearing the shirt from that morning.

“Are you cold?” he asked unsure of the reason.

“No but it might be needed later,” she walked over and dropped the blanket. She could see disappointment on his face when he saw she was wearing pajama bottoms.
Daniel shook himself and looked around finding the tablets he was reading earlier. Cynthia reached them first. “No, no books tonight. Let’s turn down the lights and just lie together and watch the movie.”

“But,” he didn’t get another word out as she pulled him to the sofa and down onto it.

“Daniel you think I’m pretty right?” she asked as she straddled his waist. She laid on top of him caressing his chest. He groaned but nodded. “You like feeling me? Touching me?”

“Where are you going with this?” he asked a little out of breath.

“Just answer the questions please.” She gave squeezed her legs just a little and rubbed against him.

“Fine, you already know the answer. Yes.”

“You also know that I like it too right?” she shifted and just laid her whole body on top of him for a moment then rolled over slightly so she was nestled tightly in at his side. He had wrapped his arm around her almost instantly the second she had laid on top of him. “I’ll take that as a yes,” she laid there a minute her hand on his chest as it went up and down. “Why do you always take me into the bedroom after I fall asleep out here? Is it because you don’t want to sleep with me?”

Daniel took a deep breath and rubbed her back as he thought. “Not even close, just the opposite. I like nothing more than to have you sleep every night with you right where you are. If you recall though, I don’t sleep much. You wouldn’t sleep much either having to deal with me tossing and turning all night. It was better that you were in the bedroom. You got your sleep and I did whatever I needed to do. Seemed like the right thing to do. If it was bothering you so much all you had to do was ask me not to do it.”
She was quiet. She could hear in his voice that he was keeping something back. “Jenna is worried that she and Michael are moving too fast. She’s comparing them to us. I think they are perfect the way they are. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that we are stuck in neutral that we haven’t advanced this relationship.” She hesitated then continued. “If we have done everything at this level, isn’t the logical thing to do is to take it to the next? I don’t mind going slowly it works for us. I can wait. It’s just sometimes it seems that you do things to make it go even slower. I need to know. Are you having second thoughts about us?”

His breathing slowed and he put both arms around her tightly. “Yes, but not in the way you are thinking,” he said after kissing her forehead. He felt her stiffen and he shifted one hand to the back of her head and held her as he kissed her again, on the lips with such affection that let her body relax. “I have had second thoughts, in fact I’m all the way to into the hundreds if you want to count. Started the first day I kissed you and you didn’t runaway screaming. It hasn’t ended. I have thoughts about how it is such a beautiful ,intelligent woman would ever want to settle for someone like me. After all, she could have her pick of men. They are all lining up just waiting for the moment to jump in. there are times that I think it’s all a big joke and I’m waiting for the punch line or a dream that I’ll wake from just when it is going so well. Part of my brain says that you would be better off if you did, in your better interest. It argues with the other part that says I’m just paranoid. Boiled down I like this to much and I’m afraid somehow I will screw it up.” He slowly let go his grip and his arms fell to his side. He wasn’t sure what he was expecting but he knew it wasn’t her rolling off him and laughing.

“I should have known. It’s that brain of yours getting in the way again. It’s so busy seeing the possibility things go wrong it doesn’t see all the things right. You’ve seen all the guys looking at me. I am flattered by it. What girl wouldn’t be. It’s nothing compared to the feeling I get when you’re looking at me. I have seen the girls looking at you the same way. To be honest, I love the fact that you don’t seem to notice it.”

“I don’t need to notice, they are not who I want. Did I not just say I was trying not to screw it up. I’m sure looking at other women is on the list for doing just that.”

“Ohh Daniel,” Cynthia cried, in tears she scrambled on top of him and started kissing his face everywhere.

“We are moving forward,” she said after several minutes. “From now on no more doubts. We let each other know as soon as possible if we have them. We can then work them out together.”

Daniel groaned. “I have a doubt,” he whispered. She looked at him with a worried stare. “I doubt we are watching a movie since its late and we have the early schedule tomorrow. You need to get some sleep.”

She kneed him playfully in the stomach. “We need sleep, and from now on we sleep in the same bed. No more carrying me off in the middle of the night.”

“To bad, I kind of enjoyed doing that. Don’t blame me if you’re awake all night though. I did warn you.”

“The only way your carrying me in there is if you get in next to me. Anything else and I will come out here and dump a bucket of water on your head. Speaking of water it’s your turn to shower first. I’ll find us something to watch. Now go”

“Okay bossy, I’m going.”

Cynthia got up and watched him go into the bathroom. She quickly went to the station net and called up a search screen. She knew what she was looking for. They were gaining popularity in every station. She had seen a lot of students with them and heard where they got them. She placed the order and asked for confirmation. It was late but she got one telling her they were in stock and they would be on hold no more than twenty-four hours. She coded a memory chip with the receipt and stuck it in her pocket. She then queued up a movie that they had wanted to watch. She had just finished when Daniel came wearing a tee shirt and some baggy shorts that went down to his knees.
“What in the world are those?” she asked holding her hand over her mouth to hide the smile.

“Yeah laugh it up. I don’t have any actual sleeping clothes. This is the best I can do. Of course I could always wear regular clothes like I sometimes do.”

“No this will do, for now” she laughed and headed in the bedroom. “What do you wear the other times? You can’t wear regular clothes to bed” she called out.

“Usually just a tee shirt and my underwear,” he said shocking himself, that he even mentioned it.

She laughed and vanished into the bathroom. Daniel was reading and drinking a glass of brandy when she came out. “You pour one of them for me?”

Without looking up, Daniel reached over to the side table, picked up the other glass. He held it up in the air as he finished whatever it was that he was reading. He looked up from the reader when she hadn’t taken the glass. She was standing only a few feet away. She was again in one of his shirts. It was up high enough he could see she had on dark blue panties. He could take his eyes off her. She ran over grabbing the glass as he nearly dropped it.

“As much as I like that reaction, I hope you get used to seeing me like this. I don’t want to have to clean up a mess every time. Usually I don’t use a shirt, but we can do this in moderation. I like how your shirt feels on me. I can only imagine your reaction if I didn’t wear it. Maybe one day, if you’re good we will find out.”

“Forgive me but being good isn’t on my mind right now.”

“I hope not. I would be extremely disappointed if it was. Still that’s a good reaction too, but that too will come in time. We are just moving into the next level. We can still take our time and do things right,” she said getting in beside him. “What’s the occasion, we don’t usually have brandy unless we are at your parent’s for dinner.”

“Moving forward is occasion enough,” he whispered and gave her a kiss. “That and I thought it might help me relax enough to sleep.”

“Good thinking. Just one glass though. Anymore and you won’t be able to fly in the morning.

They turned out the lights and watched the movie. Cynthia set the alarm and rolled to her side. “Good night.”

“Sleep well,” Daniel said softly. He laid there thinking of the flights the next day the directions they had to go and the new stops at the mining stations. Half hour later he was twitching. He tried to get comfortable with the least movement. He managed to get on his side facing Cynthia. He heard her giggle and then she slid back against him as she reached around and pulled his arm around her.

“Much better,” she whispered. She had her head right against his chest and she could smell the shampoo she loved to use. She held his hand against her stomach giggled even more when he gasped at the feel of her skin. She didn’t even let go when she went to sleep.

The alarm rang and Daniel felt himself being dragged out of sleep for the first time in a very long time. He stretched his arm out to shut off the alarm, forgetting he was still locked hand in hand with Cynthia.

“Try to leave it in the socket okay,” she mumbled as she let go and shook her arm.

“Sorry, not use to that. Besides, it’s your fault. Felt like my fingers where in a vice.”

“MMM just making sure that you didn’t get up in the middle of the night. You can’t say you didn’t like it. I must say for someone that doesn’t sleep, you were sound asleep. Good thing I felt you breathing.”

“Must have been the brandy,” he said softly trying to figure out what else could have happened. “I’ll have to try again a few times to see if it works again. I can’t remember a time when I slept so well, other than when I was sick.”

“Well you’re not sick, even though you are a little flush,” Cynthia giggled and rolled off the sofa bed. “Come on, it time to go back to work.”

Their whole day went smoothly. On their last stop at station two, Cynthia’s parents had packed some of her stuff and brought it down. The crates were loaded with the other baggage. Cynthia wanted to pick up her order so she reminded Daniel that they had to get some groceries.

“Yeah and I thought we would bring more stuff down to the project room,” he said as they did the check out. Daniel glanced around the port. “We have to be out of the single by the end of the day tomorrow and I rather not rush to do it. We’ll be spending half the night trying to get things organized as it is. Why don’t you take a float and bring the boxes that your parents packed for you to the project room. It will give you a chance to go through them and see if there is anything you want right away. I’ll go pick up the few things that are left and that we won’t need tonight. Bring the float up to the apartment and we can return it later when we bring a load down.” They started walking to where the floats could be rented.

That put a crimp in her plan. She wanted it to be a surprise, so she didn’t want to tell him she had to pick something up. Nothing she thought of worked. She didn’t want to leave the float outside the store, it would be gone before she got back.

“I really don’t think there’s anything that I need for a day. I’m sure it’s mostly clothing. I’m not planning on needing much later. I’m sure you still have a few shirts I can use,” she said as they paid for the float. It did get a few looks and nods of approval from men passing by. “I’ll do the shopping. I want to look over some things anyway. You can take the stuff and store it. It will give you time to go pack up how you want and what you want. We can make dinner when I get back to the apartment so don’t pack the kitchen right away.”

Daniel looked up from looking over the float and setting the controls. Something didn’t feel right. He tried to figure out what it was as he brought his focus back to Cynthia. She was laughing, “I promise not to break the bank. I just want to see what’s new and maybe get something other than fish and chicken.”

“Okay, whatever. Just no duck or goose. No matter how many times I try it I don’t care for it. And remember whatever you pick up we have to move tomorrow,” he reminded her as he closed his eyes slightly for a moment.

“I know. I’ll just get something for tonight and if I find anything good I’ll have them hold it until tomorrow.”

Daniel opened his eyes fully to look around again then back at Cynthia with a smile and a nod. He only looked away a moment to activate the float. “Okay do what you need to,” he said looking back where she was. He frowned, looking at an empty space. She was gone.

“I got this, don’t worry,” she yelled from halfway down the hall. She blew him a kiss and turned to hurry around the corner.

“She’s in a hurry,” someone breathing a little too hard said behind him.

“Yeah, anything to get out of moving her stuff I guess. Makes me wary of just how heavy those crates are. What can I do for you Captain?”

“Come, I’ll help you load up while we talk,” Captain Sims said as he turned towards the cargo area. “You need to work on knowing your surroundings Daniel. We have talked about this. I was behind you a whole minute, you wouldn’t have noticed I was there if I hadn’t said something. You need to be able to anticipate things before they happen. The two of you are good at that, I saw that during your flight test. You are a little better than Cynthia is. You need to be even better.” They walked into the cargo area and Daniel scanned in to get the crates. There were six all together. “I know your feeling for each other and I am not saying that is a bad thing. You just need learn to keep those feelings from distracting you,” Captain Sims continued as they lifted each crate. “Again I’m not saying don’t have them but you have to balance them somehow. Martin said you came by and tested the new equipment and selected the newest model. He said you are a natural, since once again you managed to score high. You’re not at the top yet. Even if you were, it won’t do you any good if you miss the moment that you need to use it. I know it’s not easy and far from pleasant idea. We have to accept the possibilities that anything can happen and be able to see it before it does. That is the only way we will be able to react to it.” They came out into the main area and stopped just inside the exit. “Daniel you need to tell Cynthia soon. I know you want to protect her. She will need to know. Wait too long and she may not be happy about it.”

“I’ll consider it, thanks for the help.” Daniel started walking out.

“Just don’t take too long, the sooner she knows the sooner the two of you can work together on this. Daniel, if you don’t mind an observation, you and she push each other to do the best. When she is involved, you do anything to make it work. I don’t think this will be any exception.” The captain turned and started toward the counter.

Daniel groaned as he closed his eyes. “Captain, don’t forget your jacket, hat, and tablet,” he said.

“That’s right thanks for the reminder. Wait how did you know?”

“I saw you at the counter when we came in. You had on blue jacket with the collar up , a blue hat, both with an embroidered logo. You were talking to Dawn who was smiling and bobbing her head in agreement way to much. She wasn’t scared or panicked but calm. You had a single data pad that you held up to hide behind as if to conceal your conversation with Dawn. You were actually trying to conceal your face. You were leaning on the counter on your other arm. She didn’t speak the entire time we were logging out. That is unusual for Dawn, as she likes to talk. You walked against the counter when we went to the float rental. You passed six people, two adult males, two adult females one of which had two children both female. One of which hit you in the leg as you went past. You hesitated just slightly and looked down at her to be sure everything was okay. Now I’m guessing you put the hat, jacket and tablet in an office somewhere down the hall, came back and watched as Cynthia left. You had to be out of sight or she would have seen you and come back. You ran up behind me. You were quiet but the smell of aftershave is familiar. You are also a little out of shape, your wheezing just a little. You might want to get that checked out.” By the time he was done, there was a little anger in Daniel’s tone. “I learned a long time ago to observe things, Captain. I didn’t socialize very well in high school. I needed to learn to see what was going on because I wasn’t linked to the gossip network. I found out that my way was better. I learned a lot more observing, and it was more accurate. I may not be as socially inadequate now, but the skills I developed are still there.”

Daniel started walking then stopped and looked back. “Next time try using Diane as your help. She would have you in the corner making out if you let her. I’m not saying that you actually would of course. I’m just saying that she would be willing. It would hide you better than the tablet. You also wouldn’t need to get rid of it. Also, you might want to work on looking more threatening if you’re running this kind of test or find some menacing looking help. Thanks again for the help.” He walked away laughing, leaving Captain Sims looking dumbfounded.

By the time he reached the project room Daniel was regretting what he had done. He liked Captain Sims. He was just doing his job, in a way. The captain tended to go a little over the top when it came to Daniel and Cynthia. Daniel had to remind himself that Captain Sims always had a reason for doing things the way he did them. Like most people, he did it the best he could. Daniel had to admit that he couldn’t always tolerate the way people did things. He would apologize the next time he saw Captain Sims and try to keep himself in check even more.

Cynthia hurried to the store that she had made the purchase. She wanted to be sure that she got it before anything else. She knew it was possible Daniel would be upset or maybe even offended. It was a fad of the time but she wanted it to show him how serious she was. It might just be enough to break through that barrier he had.
She found the owner and gave him the voucher she had saved. He smiled at her. He must have been over eighty years old. His hair was just turning white and he walked slowly.

“These things have been so popular I have to keep them locked up. People steal the craziest things,” he said and walked toward a cabinet behind the counter. “Funny thing is they are no good without the programming unit. Unfortunately,” he came back with a small package, “that is almost the limit of my knowledge of them. The missus and I have gone through all of that a long time ago, the old fashion way.”

Cynthia giggled. “I don’t intend to forgo that opportunity if it comes but this will hopefully set us on the right path to it.”

“Ah, your young man on the fence about it? Or woman, I don’t judge.”

Cynthia frowned at the phrase. “I’m sorry I don’t understand, why would he be on a fence?” She knew what a fence was. She read about them in history class. The teacher spoke of times where men and women dreamed of owning homes surrounded by white picket fences. It was supposed to be the ideal home lay out nearly two centuries ago.
“My apologies, showing my age a little I guess. If memory serves, it means he’s in the middle of making a choice and can still go either direction. You are hoping that this will help him decide.”

Cynthia thought about it. Her eyes rolled from side to side as she considered it. “Yes and no. He decided he wants to move forward, he is just a little afraid of committing,” she said finally and got the “I don’t understand” look from the old gentleman. “He thinks I’m too good for him and is waiting for me to leave. He has done things to show his commitment to me. He gives just to make me happy and usually it don’t matter what it takes. He just gives it without much or even any expectations. I am hoping this will show him mine and that I don’t intend to go anywhere.”

“Well Miss it sounds as if you are very happy. I hope he comes around. Now make sure you read the instructions first. Once they are on, they don’t come off so easy. They can be returned only if there is something wrong with the manufacturing.” He handed her the package and a data pad with a pick up form on it.
“Thank you for holding them for me,” she said a she signed the form stating she got her package.

“Good luck to you,” he said as she turned to head out.

“Have a good evening,” she smiled and left. She was slightly disappointed and didn’t want to show it. She had hoped there was someone there that could tell her how to make them work. She wanted it all to be a big secret, right up to the point where she put it on him. Worse case he cuts it off while screaming at her. What would he scream more about the credits it cost or the fact she did it behind his back. The idea almost gave her second thoughts. As she shopped, she got back into the mindset that she had to do it no matter what. She picked up some fresh meat and even a loaf of fresh bread, knowing how much Daniel loved fresh bread it could keep his attention long enough to slap it on. She made one other stop and ordered something to be sent to the new apartment the next day.

“Sorry it took so long, I didn’t like the butcher telling me that I didn’t need to get the cut I wanted. He really expected me to get the more expensive one,” she said as she walked in. She stopped in the living room and looked around. The entire place was stripped bare. “I see it didn’t take as long as you thought it would.” She said taking the bags directly to the kitchen.

Daniel was seated watching some old comedy with puppets. “No it didn’t. I tossed a bunch of stuff in the recycler. Mostly some girl’s clothes, I would have held onto them but I can barely see her face. It’s been so long since…” Cynthia laughed as she came in and jumped onto his lap. Their lips met as his arms came around her. She just held her lips to his then slowly started moving them brushing them against each other.

“Does that make her face clear?“ she asked barely pulling away.

“Mmm almost as if she was right in front of me. It is to bad you didn’t get here sooner you could have saved your clothing.”

“It’s okay, you’ll just have to go shopping with me to buy some more,” she smiled and kissed a little more affectionately this time. “I didn’t see much of anything worth the credits so I got stuff to make lasagna. I got beef and turkey. We should still have some of the sausage you made. We got enough to make a salad. Oh and I got a nice loaf of bread from that baker you like. He gave it to me half price because he was closing. Business hasn’t been good he said.”

“Huh huh, what do I need to do, for how long and when does it start.”

“I am hurt that you would think that I need to bribe you with bread for something.”

“Fresh bread, even half off you don’t like buying it. Special occasion stuff if I recall right.”

“Well that’s what I get for being nice.” She grinned. “You cook then. I have to go make sure you didn’t break anything and then check the recycler to be sure you aren’t serious about my clothing. Finish watching your show first. I am not starving and can wait a little to eat.” She gave him a peck on the nose and slid off his lap. She heard him groan. “I’ll take that as a disappointment that I got up groan instead of dam I got to cook groan. Don’t worry, I’ll make up for it later.” She grabbed the package and vanished into the bedroom.

Daniel got up. It would take two hours to get it made so he figured it was better to start. Most of it was time in the oven anyway. He finished up and went into sit on the sofa. Several times, he could hear Cynthia in the bedroom mumbling something or shouting out her frustration with whatever it was she was doing. Dinner was almost done when she started being more vocal.

“You know you didn’t have that much stuff here and it’s all right where you left it,” he shouted out to her. “I promise I didn’t really throw anything out,” he added a little worried as she yelled a profanity.

“I know sweetie, it’s not that. It’s just something I picked up. I should have researched it more but I rushed to get it and now I can’t get it to work the way I thought it would. It’s frustrating and I really want it to work.”

“It’s probably damaged. You know how crappy the manufacturing has been lately. Just take it back tomorrow get another or a refund.”

“I really wanted it to work tonight,” she said sadly. That had Daniel worried.

“If it’s that important, bring it out here and let’s take a look. Did you read the manual or instructions?”

“Some, a few pages. I just need it to work,” she said frustrated and clearly upset.

“Okay if you can’t come out I’ll come in there and see if I can help,” he said getting up.

He could hear her scrambling and running to the door. She had a tablet in her hand and was clearly upset.

“Okay what’s going on? What could be so important that it’s getting you this upset? And why does it have to work tonight? Did I forget something about tomorrow?”

“Like you could forget something,” she said as she threw her arms around him. “I wanted it to be a surprise. If you see it you might not like it and think I’m crazy or something.”
“I already think you’re crazy, but that is beside the point. It’s obviously upsetting you, I can’t help if you don’t let me. I promise to give it full consideration. At the least, you can let me read the instructions. Given your distaste for dry boring reading, you may have missed something.”

“It won’t be a surprise then. I didn’t think it would be so complicated,” she said as she leaned against him and put her head on his shoulder.

Daniel slowly ran his hands up and down her back. After a minute or so he slid them up and laced his hands behind her head. He put his thumbs just behind her ears and started moving them around pressing softly as he pulled her head back and kissed her slowly softly on the lips. “Let,” he said pulling away then leaning in kissing her again a little harder more intense. He kept moving his thumbs around just behind her ear. “Me,” he said, again stopping to kiss her. “Read the instructions,” he continued pausing between each word to kiss her a little more passionately.

“Owner’s manual, seventy five pages long,” she whispered.

“Okay owner’s manual. Come eat and I will read it.”

“Promise you won’t get mad and you will think about it before saying anything.”

He nodded and slipped his arm around her waist and led her to the kitchen. “I don’t think I have seen you like this, this must be something to have you so worked up.”
“Let’s just say it’s something to help us with this new level of a relationship. I thought it would be simple, cute and symbolic and all that but it’s not so simple. It takes both of us to make it work.”

“Okay, that’s a good thing. Wish I had thought of something we could do.” He gave her a light squeeze before letting go. This time she was hearing the dejected tone in his voice. He turned and pulled the only two plates left unpacked from the cabinet.

“Hey there is only room for one of us to be upset, and I was first so cut it out. This is for both of us.” She cut and served the lasagna and Daniel added the salad and bread. He had cut the loaf in half and made half into garlic bread.

Cynthia picked up the reader and her plate. She carried both into the living room and waited as Daniel came in and took his usual seat. She couldn’t get into hers until he did. She slipped right into place balancing the plate and reader. She placed the plate half on her leg and half on Daniel’s thigh.

“Just remember that lasagna stains, we don’t have a lot of time to clean up,” she said in jest but also with a little hope that it would keep him seated.

Daniel sat his plate on the stand and reached for the reader. She held it tight a moment. “Promise you won’t be mad.”

He put his arm around her and kissed her head as she leaned against him. “I highly doubt that it’s something to get mad about. I might get mad if you don’t let me see it in the first place.”

“Kiss me first please,” she whispered in his ear.

“Ah I see now this is a trick for more kissing. Bit elaborate considering ,” he said turning his head and instantly touching her lips to his. He let them sit just pressing together slowly moving brushing them. He then started slowly pressing, parting his lips and pulling in on her upper lip. He pulled it gently and squeezed it between his. Cynthia let go of the reader.

“Now eat silly girl. You didn’t eat much all day. Last thing I need is for your mother to find out you didn’t eat. She would probably think I am starving you.” He said as he resituated himself. His arm around her loosed but remained wrapped around her.

“Considering what?” she said suddenly holding her hand over the reader to stop him from reading.

“You know I can’t read through your hand, it might be worth looking into though. We might make a lot of credits if we can figure out how to turn a hand into a reader screen. Then again maybe not. Seems reading isn’t what people like to do these days.”

Cynthia took her fork and jabbed him in the leg.

“Hey watch it with that thing, that does hurt you know.”

“I’m going to make it hurt more if you don’t stop evading the question. It’s frustrating when you do that. Now considering what?”

“You should already know the answer to that,” he laughed and shifted his leg as she lifted the fork to strike again. He nearly spilled her plate. “Fine. Considering that of all the things I like to do, kissing you is in the top three or is it two. Anyway, you wouldn’t need a scam to get what I’m more than willing to do any time as much as I can. I have been since the first time. Now let me read this. We still have things to do and we have to be up to fly tomorrow. Ask your other question later and eat.”

She conceded, taking a bite as he activated the reader. He thumbed through the acknowledgements page and stopped on the title page. She thought she felt him tense. She quickly realized that it wasn’t that, but it was his arm tightening around her.

“I have been hearing about these. They don’t seem to be particular to any one group or people. Kids, adults, males with males, females with females all seem to be using them. You do realize what they symbolize right?” he kept reading as he spoke. His one arm got tighter around her a she nodded.

He read more as she ate and he shivered as he read one section. “What’s wrong?”

“Just read a listing of other products similar to this and it just bothered me a little. This company sells a larger version. It goes around the neck. Slave owners on station six are using them as collars to mark their slaves. They are more elaborate and thicker to make room for added features. I don’t see how they can have slaves let alone treat them like they do.”

“I agree,” Cynthia looked up at him with approval. “I went to station six once with my father. We had the misfortune of getting there as a slaver was bringing in a group of young girls. He was whipping them. They couldn’t have been more than fourteen years old and he was selling them for labor workers. If I could have, I would have taken that whip and beat him to death with it.”

“Fortunately we never have to go there, not even for the university.” He paused and rubbed her side. “We have things to do and if you want to really use these, we should start now.”

“Start?” she asked as she sat up.

“Yeah, they are bonding bracelets, some call them couple tags or promise bands. Either way you need to activate them together. Then you need to set up the way you want it to look. You can set it up to have words or pictures. You can also make them smaller in width. If you want, it can form cut out shapes but it’s not recommended as it prevents full connectivity. Last thing is you have to program the lock. The lock makes it so that only the one with the key can take it off. Each partner has the key for the other. Once that is done then it will weave the ends together.”

“I never heard of all that. Everyone said all they did was just put them on.”

“I suppose you could do that. Skip over most of the steps and use them plain. Just remember that once they are locked they are only removable by the person with the key or by cutting them off. We will need to keep the programing box just in case you want to make any changes. It will still take five minutes to get the first stage done. We still need to get the float back before we are charged another rental. We need to pack up what’s left here that we won’t need for the night. We can drop the few things we keep off before work. I will then be officially moved out.” He opened the reader and found a section before handing it to her. “Just some samples of what could be done.”
They ate as Cynthia looked at the features. She hadn’t got to that point in her own reading. He waited a short time after they finished to get up, taking her plate with him. He cleaned them up and dried them before putting them in a storage box. He started wiping down everything he used and double checked the cabinets. There was nothing left.
Cynthia went in and got the programming box. She came out and sat down at the table, setting it down. Attached to it were two long grey blue bands. “As long as we have this we can still change the design. We would just need to take them off and program them.”

Daniel nodded.” True, but that implies that once it’s on you I will ever unlock it.”

She smiled sheepishly, her face flushing. “I am sure eventually I will be able to guess the key.”

“You might. It might take you a few years, at best. Your key can be anything from numbers, letters or a combination of them up to sixteen digits. It can also be a touch pattern on the bracelet itself or a combination of several things. I don’t know how they expected people to remember the elaborate possibilities. Then again, they will make a fortune on those that forget and have to cut them off.” He chuckled as she sat there shaking her head. He walked over and stood behind her putting his hands on her shoulders and gently squeezing. He leaned over and gave her cheek a kiss. “This is your idea. I appreciate the thought and I am happy to do this with you. You decide. We can start the process and then go drop all this stuff off and return the float. You can think about the design and decide what to do when we get back.”

She moaned as he continued rubbing her shoulders. “Keep that up and we might not make it on time.” She moaned, as she slowly felt relaxed. “Okay let’s start it.”

“Have to get in the right position. The box has to touch the arm that you want the band to be on. Being right handed, left is best.” Daniel let go of her let shoulder. He reached down and took her hand. “We can do it like this.”

Cynthia stood up and grabbed the box, as she turned she let go of his hand and took the other leading him to the sofa. She grinned and pushed him down where he normally sat and then got in her usual spot. The programing box wasn’t huge but it was nearly the length of their forearms. She slid the box between her left and his right arms. She “I like this way more. It feels right somehow.”

“Okay if you sure, press the start and then analyze button,” Daniel sat still with his arm at the bottom. It wasn’t a comfortable angle but he could deal with it for the duration. “It will give some instructions as it does the first phase.”

It took several minutes. They were instructed to move their fingers and ball up a fist three times for each. The band wrapped around each time they did. Then it asked them to roll their arms side to side. It announced when it was done and then said it would take thirty minutes to program the bands settings.

“We go now and take care of everything we will be back just a little after it finishes. You can then make you choice if you’re going to add to it or go for the simple,” Daniel lifted the machine and put it on the coffee table. “I suggest that you should take it into consideration that you will be wearing it a long time.”

“Or until I drive you nuts enough to take it off.” She laughed and pulled him to her kissing his cheek then pulling him to the door.

They made their way to the project room. They put everything away and took a few minutes to look over the equipment that had started coming in from the agriculture committee. They would start to reestablish the project in a couple days. They would be back in school by the time they get it all running fully again. Then they would start the task of finding ways to make it better. Daniel was sure they were in for a disappointment. Even with the added delay, they made it back with the float with several minutes to spare. As they walked, they were noticing more people that had on the bracelets. These same people they might have seen every day and this one thing starts to stand out. It was almost as if they magically appeared now that they would soon be among them.

Daniel laid down on the sofa as soon as he got inside. “Last night here. It is going to be strange in a new place.”

Cynthia picked up the bands. “We have a lot of changes coming Daniel. Change is for the better. That’s why I had to do this today. To show you that I am here and will be through all of them and any that come after. Some may think we are moving fast, but I think that we will make it work, that we will get through it all together.” She paused and looked at the device in her hand. “I want people to know that. I want them to see that we are together in the things we do. I don’t want to be another one of those that jump in on a fad because everyone is doing it. I wanted this to show everyone. Now I’m not sure is more than a fad that people easily dismiss.”

Daniel looked up at the ceiling, he held out his hand to her but she didn’t take it. “It will have meaning to you and me,” he said putting his arm down. “It will have a meaning to any that we know and share our lives with every day. Fad or not it will be what we make of it.” He lunged out and grabbed her around the legs. She yelped in surprise then screamed. “You don’t need to do this ever. The recycler is right over there. I assure you that it will not change my thinking in any way. If it’s about the fad, then make it about you and what you want it to be. I will support your choice one hundred percent.”

Cynthia thought as she lay against him. “I think we should use the images to design them. They shouldn’t be plain. Maybe we can put something on them that shows our commitment to the relationship. We don’t look at the others design until it’s all over tomorrow when they are locked on.”
“I think I can manage something. I’ll get a tablet and download the software.” He patted her on the thigh as he sat up to get up he pushed her a little. She groaned as she unwillingly got up.

“It can take a few hours to over twelve to get all the programing with pictures done. Take your time and do it the way you want. Remember that it’s able to do it in color as well.” He sat at the kitchen table and started the tablet. It only took a few minutes to get off the station network.

“I can’t find what I’m looking for in the pictures. They are nice and all but it’s not what I want,” Cynthia said despondently as she sat at the other side of the table a few minutes later.

“Find what you want on the station network and download it. The larger the detail the better but any picture should be compatible.”

Minus a short break when Jena and Michael called, they were done in less than an hour. They even managed to program the locks.

“That was harder than expected,” Daniel said setting the tablet down near the program box. The two systems connected and Daniel made sure it was to the right band. Cynthia followed and they started the design program at the same time.

Nothing to do but wait they went in and played some cards and a few other games before turning on a movie. Cynthia got up half way through and started getting ready for bed.

Daniel took his turn and came out to find that he couldn’t find the shorts he normally wore. He could have sworn he had set them aside but figured he must have packed them without realizing it somehow. He just put on his pants for the next day.

“Going somewhere?” Cynthia asked when he walked out.

“Huh?”

“Looks like your dressing to go out instead of to bed.”

“Oh that. Can’t find my shorts thought I left them here but must have packed them. I’ll just wear this and find them tomorrow.”

“Daniel you don’t wear work clothing to bed. You won’t be comfortable. Take them off and come to bed.”

Daniel had to kick himself but he just could bring himself to do it. His body was more than willing to comply but his brain sent up a red flag. “In a little bit. I just want to make some notes on the project layout and do some ordering. I want to order the seeds for our side project. We can pick them up after work tomorrow.”

Cynthia got up and walked into the kitchen. He had already opened and poured a drink. “Thanks,” she said as she took the glass. “First of all I already ordered the seeds we need as well as the equipment. Second, if you did come up with something it can wait. Its late and we are going to bed.” Daniel grabbed another glass and poured even more into it as he looked in her eyes and saw a glint of amusement.

“I am so glad my discomfort amuses you,” he said polishing off the drink in one big gulp. Then he poured another.

“You have to admit it’s is funny. You have to be the only man around that is afraid to go to bed half-naked with a woman who is half-naked as well. What is the problem?” she held her hand on the glass. He slid it out from under and walked around her.

“I don’t know. Conflicts, trust take your pick.”

“Trust? Me?”

Daniel rolled his eyes at her a she came in behind him. He sat on the edge of the sofa bed. “You I trust, it’s me I don’t trust. My brain and body are always in conflict. One’s willing the other is not. Sometime part of my brain is willing but the part that isn’t seems always to win. Top it all off this is all new to me.”

“Do you think I have extensive knowledge?” she asked as she took the glass from him? “Daniel I may have kissed a few more boys than you have girls but that is about it. We have gone past the point of anything I have done.” She set both glasses down and then grabbed his hands. She pulled him up then moved to unfasten the pants and slid down the zipper. “We have been sleeping together in the same bed for over a week. Half that time I have been half naked. You haven’t done anything ungentlemanly in all that time.” She pushed the pants down and let them fall. “To be honest I am a little disappointed in that. I would have thought by now you would have gone to second base, some may have even said third base.” She pushed against his chest. He barely moved until she gave him the look. He chuckled and fell backwards. “I don’t think this is something you can learn in books. This is life. Whatever mistakes we make we will learn from and move on even if they are embarrassing.” She finished pulling the pants off and tossed them to the side. “Now stop the nonsense,” she said straddling his stomach and laying on top of him. “I told you before to be normal. Next time I won’t be so nice.”

She slid against him as moved over the top and onto the bed. As she did Daniel felt coolness on his stomach. Reflexively he reached over and rubbed the spot. It was slightly wet. His brain went into overdrive as he moved on the bed and Cynthia pulled up the blanket.

“Now that was a little fun. We’ll have to try that again in the future.”

Daniel grabbed his glass and took a drink. Cynthia cleared her throat and looking past him at her glass. He absently reached over and picked it up giving it to her. They watched one last program before she took both glasses and put them on the stand while turning out the lights. Daniel waited until he thought she was asleep before he slid down and got comfortable.

“Daniel, you said earlier that kissing me was one of the top things you liked to do, what else was there?”

Daniel took a deep breath then rolled over draping his arm around her as he had been doing every night. “Holding you like this or any other way I can. Now sleep.”

They got up early and cleared out the entire place. Nothing was left and they headed out to work they stopped at the project room. They could have gone into the apartment but they both feared that they would take to long. The entire day dragged along as they went from station to station. They didn’t have any runs that took them to the mining asteroids. When the day finally ended, they bought dinner on their way home. Daniel stood back holding it as Cynthia tried opening the door. It by the fourth try she was getting mad. She was about to give up when it finally accepted.

They both gasped when they walked in. The place was huge. The kitchen was all the way to the back behind a dining room that was up three steps from the living room. The bedrooms were on either side of the living room. They only guessed that the bathrooms were in the bedrooms. There was one complete comm station and entertainment system combined. The screen was at least twice the size of what was in the other place. Daniel went into one of the bedrooms as Cynthia went into the kitchen. Everything was bigger, roomier. There was even a comm and entertainment set up in each bedroom. At first, Daniel thought it was redundant. Then he remembered that two bedrooms apartments were usually filled by individuals not couples. They would want privacy. There may come a time when either of them would want some privacy.
“Can’t say there isn’t enough room. Even with the extra furniture this place feels three times the size of what I had in the beginning of the year.” Daniel waved at the sofa and lounge chairs in the living room. They were nicely situated around a small clear coffee table.

“We’ll just have to make use of it and have a dinner party or something. We can have Michael and Jenna come over to help,” Cynthia said come back from the kitchen.
“We haven’t even moved in and you want to show the place off,” Daniel groaned.

“It’s a new place, we should invite our friends over. We’ll have to do it again when we leave school and get our own apartment. This will be a good learning opportunity. Figure out what not to do. This way it goes better when it actually is socially required for us to have one.”

“Almost everyone we would to invite is a student and they are all home with their parents or whoever it is that they live with. I don’t think they will want to come all the way back here for a simple house warming party. Not to mention the pressure you will put on Michael and Jenna, or any of the others for that matter, to do the same.”
She looked at him and pouted. “Fine, party pooper.”

“I didn’t say we couldn’t do it, but I do think that we should at least be moved in before planning a party. I would say a small dinner would be okay. We need to get organized and moved in. We have a lot of work to do to get the project room back up and running. Not to mention that the only food we have here is the food we just brought in. I would say at least a week before we plan a dinner.”

With a sigh, Cynthia conceded. “We do have one thing to do first,” she took his hand and they headed back to dining area. She had put her flight bag down there and started fishing around in it pulling out the promise bands.

“I think it would be appropriate to do this for our first thing in our new place. That is if you are still willing.”

Daniel looked at the device. She had carried it all day. The bands face was against the box so they couldn’t see the designs. He did see the one visible change. “I said I would, I haven’t done anything to say otherwise now have I?”

“No you haven’t. Just the opposite actually,” she reached and caressed his face. “You have been very willing and supportive. I…” she hesitated slightly “Thank you.” She lifted the box and set it with the bands touching their arms. She pressed a button and it came to life. The bands moved slowly curling up and around their forearms. There was a slight tingle as the ends came together and merged into one another. When it completed they were tight against the skin.

“Good thing it’s a breathable material,” Daniel laughed as he twisted his wrist side to side looking over the design. So far it had done just what he wanted.

“Let me see,” Cynthia said as she reached for his arm. Daniel reached up and started getting food as she looked. “I thought we were going to add something that showed our commitment,” she said as she twisted the band back and for the looking at all the pictures.

“We did and I did. You just need to use that pretty head of yours to figure out what,” he grinned. He took her hand in his and pulled it up so he could see what she had done. “Wow, that is I awesome,” he said looking at each image and layout. “I thought you would do flowers, you did a great job tweaking the pictures you found. You got a lot of detail to come out. I like the linked hearts too. It would not have occurred to me to use them like that. You should claim the design before someone steals it.”

Daniel took his food and drink into the living room to sit on the sofa. It felt a little weird as he used a remote to activate the entertainment channels. Cynthia followed slowly. She had put a lot of thought into what she had done. From what she saw, he didn’t. She sat her food down on the coffee table and stared at the band on his wrist. Was she missing something? It didn’t even look completed.

“Daniel you need to explain it please. I don’t see it, I don’t understand what you did. It’s doesn’t even look done.”

“Sure it is,” he said frowning and taking a bite of food. He looked down and choked. “Oh crap I forgot that part. Dam it. Would think it be the foremost in my head since it took most of the time to set up. It looked fine a moment ago. It must not have connected long enough.” He took another bite of food then a drink before sitting back and holding out his hand to her. He held it in the air a minute or so before cocking his head and frowning. “My arm is getting tired and this won’t work if you don’t hold my hand. I’d like to eat and then get things unpacked so kind of need to do it now. After all this is my dominant hand and I need it to eat.”

She finally moved and put his hand in hers holding them both in midair, the bands came together and new images began to form on Daniel’s band. She pulled away but Daniel held her fast and smiled. “I’m glad that worked. Wasn’t sure it could, bit of a risk but its cool.”

She sat watching as the pictures became more detailed blending the new images together with the ones already on it. The last one to come in focus. The white blotch that had been there slowly was merged with a black. What made her worry fade was seeing her name next to a heart. The two shapes formed a circle of black and white. Her name was on the black side written in white. Daniel’s name appeared in the white side in black writing. She didn’t recognize the image next to it. It looked like a bunch of squiggles geometrically placed.

“That was amazing, how did you do that?” she asked sliding over and then up on his lap putting her arms around his neck. “I’m sorry. I should have known that you would have done something elaborate.”

“I just used all the features available. I do like the way it turned out though.”

“Yes the animal pictures are very nice. They look like the ones in the photo frame at your parents.”

“Oh that turned out nice too. It definitely looks better finished than on the tablet. I wasn’t talking about the band though. I was referring to you sitting here like this. That is a great way to end an issue.”

“I like this too,” she said as she got in close. “You had me for a moment. I saw all those images it looked so incomplete. I thought you had lost your mind or something when I didn’t see anything and you just thought nothing of it. Then I saw that black and white symbol come together. I don’t know what made you come up with it. Seeing our names come out on those pieces like that made my heart jump.”

“Well it’s not permanent,” he said leaning forward to get their food. “They will stay visible for up to four hours or less.” She looked at him like she was about ready to stab him with her fork. “Not gone forever, they can be brought back. The images are tied to your bracelet. When we walk together we normally hold hands,” he slid his fingers over her hand and pressed his wrist to hers. “It will take five minutes of contact to get a full four hours.

“Sneaky way to make me hold hands,” she said pretending to be offended. “So now we have to hold hands every four hours so you don’t look ridiculous with an incomplete band. Just out of curiosity, what happens if we hold hands before the four hours is up?”

“Well on the off chance that happens,” Daniel played along pretending to be disheartened by the idea, “it will change the timing. They could be visible all day long with enough contact.”

Cynthia started eating before she responded. “I suppose. It’s a sacrifice on my part but I can’t have you seen like that. What would people think?”

“Not sure. We might have to test it and find out,” Daniel smiled as she gasped in mock shock.

“Never. It may be a grueling experience but I will not give in to them.

The laughed and continued to eat. Daniel sat back and as awkward of a position as it was managed to finish with Cynthia still in his lap. After cleaning up they spent two more hours unpacking. Cynthia made a point of finding a way to make sure the bands came into contact at least three times.

“I didn’t really notice until now that you really don’t have much clothing,” Cynthia said as she hung things in the closet. “What you do have is old and out of style. I think we need to take you shopping for new clothes.”

“I think you should call Jenna before it gets to late and talk to her about your dinner party. The two of you think alike so I would venture a guess that she and Michael will be having one as well. You wouldn’t want to have yours on the same day. And there is nothing wrong with the clothing I have. I don’t need to buy anything else.”
“You may be right, about Jenna that is not your clothing. On that you are wrong so wrong.”

He was right. Jenna had been planning it from the moment they walked into their new place. They decided they would do them the week before the session started, three days apart.

Cynthia yawned and stretched. She was curled up in one of the recliners nearly half asleep. “Time for bed,” Daniel said as he came around and pulled her out of the chair. “I have the bed made, take a quick shower and lay down to sleep.”

“You need to sleep to,” she said yawning again. “You need a shower to, you don’t smell so good.”

“I will when you are done. Now go please.”

She turned around and got behind him pushing him towards the bedroom. “We have two showers now. No one needs to wait. Just a quick one I want to get to bed. You can shower better in the morning. I already have my clean clothes in the other one.

“Speaking of which I still haven’t found my sleeping shorts,” Daniel said putting the brakes on and she slipped causing her to crash into his back.

“To bad so sad you’ll have to continue to make due. Now shower please. I want more than five hours of sleep tonight.”

It was late and Daniel decided not to mess around. It was midnight when Cynthia came from the other bedroom a towel around her wet hair. Daniel was in the kitchen getting a drink of water. She saw the sofa bed already pulled out.

“Oh no that’s not happening,” she came up into the kitchen, grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to the bedroom door. “There is a perfectly good bed in here. There is no reason we can’t use it. I thought we talked about this.”

Daniel frowned and cocked his head as he usually did when he was trying to remember something. Cynthia groaned and pulled him into the bedroom. She stopped just inside seeing the blankets were already pulled down the pillows were propped up and the lights were low.

“I don’t recall saying anything about this. I suppose we can try it. It’s smaller than what we have been using.” He whined playfully.
“Daniel it’s the same size , it just doesn’t fold up. This one should be more comfortable.”

“Just try staying on your side for a change,” he said whispering in her ear as he pulled her into an embrace he kissed her neck. “Now go break it in and I’ll get the lights out there.” He gave her a tiny push and laughed as he went back out to the kitchen. He was putting on a show but he was nervous. Sleeping on the sofa together was one thing but sleeping in an actual bed, it felt different. It felt more real.

“I thought we could do this together,” Cynthia said as he came back in. She was standing next to the bed. She put up her arm. She smiled as he came over and put his arm next to hers. When they locked hands then fell backwards onto the bed.

“Okay no more hesitating time to sleep.”

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