Maybe Kobal would do my funeral, too. Knowing my luck, he'd cancel at the last gaw-ro minute. Andrea sat in the familiar corner she sometimes shared with Gulliver, nibbling on a cookie. Head against the wall, she muttered, "I'm so gaw-ro dead."

It was her sixth pack of cookies, and knowing that made her feel worse. Gulliver tried to take it from her, but Andrea cradled it close and held on.

"No. If I'm gonna die, I might as well enjoy something before I go."

Gulliver flicked Andrea's ear to draw her attention, and although Andrea refused to acknowledge him at first, she eventually looked at the mute out of the corner of her eye.

"You think I'm overreacting, but you don't get it. Lying to London was a stupid thing to do. I lied two nights ago when that wife of his was in the rec room, and I lied yesterday. And I can't hide from London forever. When he finds me...." Andrea ate the cookie in one go and pulled out another. "I know a beating in wait when I see one."

Andrea's deep self-loathing made the sweet snacks that muffled her voice taste bitter.

"Let's weigh the facts: a small woman, no taller than five-foot-four, was high out of her skull and put into a room with a man, who was built like a solid brick shithouse, easily six-foot-two, with biceps the size of the pillars that hold this place up."

Gulliver leaned forward, and their eyes met. The man gestured to his own mouth and then his ear.

"What'd I tell him?" At the nod, Andrea grumbled, "I said Gara was with the new recruits, and that we had woken up late and that's why she hadn't been home. Now she's helping a few troubled students after class, and I'll send her right home after dinner."

The cook's eyebrows rose, and Andrea wanted to weep.

"I know, I know. And I've been on the move ever since. I'm lucky it's the damn weekend, but what about tomorrow? She's got class. And I've lied for her, so now I'm invested in Gara's body not turning up gutted and mutilated."

When Gulliver mimed knocking, Andrea shook her head.

"Knock? Hell no. The last thing I want is my fingerprints on that door. I was just praying that the tramp would show up today. And she hasn't. At this point, with my luck, I'll knock and she'll just spill out onto the floor in front of me with a knife in her back. Then Mother'd be rid of me for sure."

For a short moment she felt sorry for herself.

"It's not fair. She doesn't even need Tanner; she's already got an E. Now she's got two. She couldn't just leave me with the one?" Andrea looked to Gulliver for guidance, and the look of sympathy made her feel small. "What's wrong with me? What is it that I'm missing? Everybody's got someone. Rene's got someone. Hell, Gara's got, like, three someones, maybe even more."

The hand rubbing her back calmed her, and she stared into space while thinking.

"I don't get it. If I do any of the stuff she does, I'm getting a fist to my face. You know, and...and nobody even cares about the drugs. And I've tried the drug angle, too. I've tried everything. I tried using. And sure, I was 'one of the crowd' for like a week before that party." Her voice softened to a whisper. "That was the last time I remember crying. That party sure as hell put an end to my interest in drugs." She let out a weak snort. "Hell, it put an end to my interest in graduating."

The hand was there again, gentle and firm, but she felt she was rotting from within.

"Mother blames Grandfather, but he was only trying to help. He even stopped one of his private lessons with a student to listen to me. And I did ask to be tutored from home. Grandfather just gave me that warm smile of his and said, 'But won't you miss all your friends, Andrea?' and I just burst into tears and bawled so badly that Grandfather just said yes to everything. He...he understood. He was just so worried for me that he didn't even ask me if I still wanted to be tutored. And now I'm stuck. I'm hopeless."

Andrea had managed to forgive her own stupidity and vowed to never be that vulnerable around anyone again. Now she was risking her neck for someone who didn't matter to her.

Footsteps approached fast, so Andrea sat up and watched the door, praying it was Gara. It wasn't Gara, however; it was London. The dark-haired man looked less than pleased with the impshit excuses.

London entered the kitchen with a scowl. "You lying sack of impshit! Where is she?"

Andrea didn't shake; she knew not to shake. She only formed the best blank look she could. "I'm sorry. I haven't seen my mother in a while. I'm sure—"

"Cut the shit, you fat imp-sow! Where the hell is she?"

Andrea shrank away. Like always, whenever she was yelled at in this place, she was quite certain that her very life was on the line. And, as usual, she got creative; she didn't want to end up being the next missing Johann Andreas.

"I cannot understand you if you don't start by telling me what you mean," Andrea countered.

The man ground his teeth; he wasn't buying it.

"Let me go get Gara and see if she can't clear things up," Andrea said, getting to her feet. "I'm not sure what's going on. Excuse me."

She exited the kitchen, but her feet landed heavier and heavier until she was half running. She was aware that she was being followed as she broke into a full run. Living in constant paranoia had made Andrea over-think things, but the crowd forming behind her wasn't her imagination. She hadn't meant to give Tanner up by leading the search party right to the E's room, but that was where she ended up. By the time she realized it, London shoved her aside, and banged on the door.

Nothing happened.

London banged again and waited, but it was to no avail.

Andrea took a step back as London turned to her with fists clenched, brows furrowed, and a glint in his eyes that suggested he had but one intent: to do as much bodily harm as possible.

The door slid back to reveal Gara, who rubbed her eyes, looking rather refreshed. She was sober, at least, but the artificial lights were harsh for her.

"Yes, darling. What is it?"

London grabbed her by the arm. "Where the hell do you get off leaving for two whole gaw-ro days?"

"Leaving?" Gara twisted free. "I've been right here. I just got a little sidetracked—"

A sharp backhand cut off Gara's words, and Andrea stumbled back, startled. Someone caught her, and she turned to see Tanner's surprised eyes. She remembered herself and became aware of the hands helping to steady her lest she fall. Andrea thought about moving away since the shirt she was wearing was short-sleeved and Tanner's bare hands touched her skin. Tanner didn't seem to mind it; he just stayed focused on the scene unfolding. Andrea guiltily leaned back into him and was relieved when Tanner held her close.

Andrea was careful to note the fact that the dud E held on to her far longer than he'd even hugged Gara.

Gara kept her head hung. When she tossed her hair back, revealing the bright red bruise forming on the right side of her face, she said, "Maybe we shouldn't do this here."

London leaned in close and breathed out, "You have one hour to get yourself to our room and be presentable. And you'd better be gaw-ro convincing." He was still fuming as he walked away.

Gara waited for him to be out of sight before hurrying back into the room. Voice cracking, she called, "Midge?"

There was silence for quite a while and then a weary voice. "I'm here."

Andrea didn't know where the man had come from. The room had seemed empty just a moment ago, but suddenly there he was, and Gara hurried to run into his arms. The way the blue-haired E ran his hand against the wall was reminiscent of how Tanner had mended his hiding spot. This E, however, was more skilled at it. Midge returned the embrace, careful not to use too much of his strength on the woman's slight frame. That gesture reminded Andrea of the way she'd been caught by Tanner.

As the couple took comfort in each other, Andrea looked back to Tanner to see that the dud E was watching with interest. She decided to do the same.

"Did 'e hit ya?" the blue-haired E asked.

Gara rubbed her face against Midge's broad chest and tightened her hold. "No. I'm all right. So long as you're here, I'm all right."

Gara gave off a soft moan, and by the time Andrea thought to give them some privacy, Midge sat down on the small cot and Gara scampered onto his lap.

"Can I see you tonight?" the petite woman asked, straddling him.

Midge caught Andrea's gaze and then focused on Tanner. In that moment he looked woeful. He said nothing.

"Please. Please, please," Gara begged.

"No. I'm not gonna start with dat again. You seem ah'right, so I'll leave it—"

"I'm not staying with him," Gara whispered. "I'm not. It's just for a little while."

"Dat's what ya said before."

"Just a little while longer, I swear. Just a little while longer. Then I'll leave him. It'll be like before; we can just rest and—"

"No." Midge attempted to stand but was anchored down by the small body. At Gara's thick sobs, Midge closed his eyes with a sigh. "No. Please don' cry."

"Just stay."

"I can't stay. I got work."

"Then come back later at least to heal me. Just...."

When her voice trailed off, Midge wore a wooden frown. "You promised to stop wid alla dat."

Andrea watched them; they were a mixture of a bad stage drama and terrible accident.

Finally, the blue-haired E said, "Midnight. Here. How's dat?"

***

Andrea wasn't sure when or how she'd become Gara's bosom buddy, going as far as to cover for her later that night as well. She had to help Gara walk back to the room just before midnight. She was unsure of what the woman's ailment was. Andrea didn't want to know. At this point it just seemed like the less she knew, the better. Because although Gara wasn't faking her agony, the fat grin the short woman wore as she was guided through the hall in considerable pain was just creepy.

When Midge opened the door to Tanner's room, the blue-haired E caught his breath and picked Gara up.

"Dat lowlife—"

"It's okay. It's all right," Gara soothed. As soon as Tanner left the room, the door began to close, but Andrea could hear Gara's voice as she promised, "I wore him out, so we have the entire night. Just don't let me go. Please. Let's talk; let's just talk."

The door slid shut, leaving her and Tanner alone in the hall. Tanner started to walk, so Andrea, uncertain of the next course of action, followed.

She didn't want to come off as pathetic and lonely, but she was well aware that the loneliness was starting to take its toll now. Whenever she did pause in her stride, trying to fall far behind, Tanner would stop and wait for her to catch up.

Tanner led the way back to Andrea's room. Having never had anyone take her to her room before, Andrea warmed at the gesture. She worried that if her heart pounded any faster, she might just slip into shock and pass out.

Andrea did a mental check of her own appearance. Everything about her was neat. She was all right; she'd even run through the morning routine of cleaning her room. Everything was great. The night could go off without a hitch. She put her hand on the door and muttered for it to slide open.

Gentle fingertips pressed on her back, guiding her in, and she realized that she had frozen and forgotten to move forward. As soon as the door closed, Tanner leaned back against it and exhaled in relief.

He muttered something, but Andrea confessed, "I don't understand you. I'm sorry."

Tanner looked her in the eye and tapped his own head, indicating telepathy, but Andrea was hesitant.

I guess you've gotten tired of waiting for me to offer, huh? She didn't have much time to dwell and think about it. This opportunity might not come again. She showed ten fingers, hoping that her meaning that she would allow it for ten minutes was understood.

With a weak smile, Tanner exhaled. Hi.

Hearing that voice pounding in her own skull made Andrea's heart soar. "Hey yourself."

Sorry I'm not much company. Tanner looked up and around. But I am glad to get away from those two. All the lovey-dovey stuff, you know?

Andrea frowned.

Why did you think that? Tanner asked, raising his right eyebrow, and cocking his head.

"Huh?" Andrea stared at him, dumbfounded.

Tanner smiled. You thought I was a romantic or something. Why would you think that?

Eyes wide in shock, Andrea froze, and Tanner offered, Sorry. Your thoughts are a bit unfocused, so I guess I'm picking up some things you don't want to share. You shouldn't worry though.

But Andrea did worry. She hadn't meant to let Tanner know how she felt. In an instant she brought her hand under her chin, gesturing that she wanted to cut the connection.

Although Tanner seemed disappointed, the E nodded one final time. I understand. It was nice to have finally been able to talk to you.

And then the voice—that perfect voice—was gone, followed by an emptiness.

Tanner's face turned beet red as he headed for the door. He froze dead in his tracks at the life-size poster of a large woman that hung on the wall in lieu of a mirror. Andrea was startled by the sight of it as well; it hadn't been there when she'd left the room that morning.

The poster took up quite a bit of space. Andrea was horrified, but Tanner's gentle laugh calmed her. "Opera. I like opera." Tanner turned to give Andrea a look of admiration. "Good taste."

Though her eyes were still fixed on the poster, Andrea managed to give what she hoped looked like a smile. "Thanks."

A short bout of silence lulled between them until Tanner turned to leave.

Andrea opened her mouth to ask where he was going, but those weren't the words that came tumbling out.

"I am very good at coaxing men to completion." Andrea wanted to kick herself. What the hell? Offering a rub? Is that the only thing you can think of, Andrea, you stupid imp-cow?

Tanner paused at the door. Andrea froze as well, her anticipation mounting with each second. The dud E stared at the gray steel and nodded. He muttered something as he opened the door and walked out.

As soon as the E left, Andrea repeated the words to herself, hoping they meant "'follow me'" or "'I'll be right back'" or something like that. She rushed to the interface by the poster of the opera singer and typed. The translation came into view, and Andrea took a step back as if the words had physically burned her body.

"I've heard...."