we done??
?We?re done. You can put your street clothes back on after you
wash up,? he said briskly as if to banish the heavy mood he had
fallen into. He took her face in his hands one last time and examined
her former cuts. After a few moments he released her. ?You
certainly do heal fast. But you?ll still have some impressive bruises,
so if I were you I?d avoid your father for the rest of the night.?
?I?ll just tell him you abuse me,? Helen said with a shrug. She
jumped off the examining table.
?And I?ll tell him you like it,? he teased back, his voice rich and
slow. Helen looked
up at him, feeling drowsy again. For a moment
he was just a breath away from her, but then he backed away.
As he walked out of the locker room he stripped off his bloody
shirt and threw it in the garbage. Helen?s vision stabilized again,
and she watched his bare back moving away from her. The last
cobwebs clearing from her eyes, she decided that if Lucas was gay
then she was going to have to get a sex change operation. He would
be so worth it.
While she cleaned up she got a chance to examine her mouth.
Her left front tooth was still in the process of growing back in, and
Helen had to laugh at how ridiculous she looked. How Lucas had
managed to keep a straight face while he looked at her when she
was as gap-toothed as a six-year-old was beyond comprehension.
Then she realized he must have seen it so many times that he
barely noticed it. Helen thought about what Ariadne had said?that
they had grown up ?at each other?s throats.? As if summoned by
Helen?s thoughts, Ariadne poked her head into the locker room to
check in.
?Do you need a hand healing?? she asked timidly.