Page 20 of The Fall

“I wouldn’t do that.”

Lusa turned. Cat looked up at her from behind a potato plant.

“We need to go and she’s not answering the door.”

Cat’s shoulders moved a fraction of a centimetre. “I’m not going to stop you. I just said I wouldn’t go in there.” She pulled a potato stem and shook the dirt off. “Not that I could stop you from doing anything. You’re very much like your mother.”

The corner of Lusa’s lip hinted upward. “Which one?” As if it wasn’t obvious.

Leaning against the greenhouse doorframe, Cat waited for the spectacle to begin.

Forehead tightening, Lusa concentrated on the lock. A soft click and the door sprang open, hitting her with a warm gust of sex and morning sweat. Lusa regretted her decision immediately.

Two figures lying dead still in the bed soured her mood even further. “Pinga, get the fuck up.”

Grunting, Pinga slipped gracelessly out from under the covers, her orange hair a lopsided mess. She squinted at the sunlight streaming through the window. A body in the mass of blankets rolled over, revealing a tangle of auburn curls.

“Danica?” Lusa looked to Pinga. “Does Emma know?”

Emma padded barefoot out of the lav, wearing nothing but the toothbrush hanging from her mouth. “Know what?”

“So judgy.” Pinga muttered.

Lusa made a face and tried to breathe through her mouth, making sure her sister could see. “Just hurry up. We’re leaving at ten.”

“We’re leaving when I get there.” Pinga’s arm snaked around Emma’s waist on her way to the sink. Emma blushed with the same intensity as Lusa’s frown lines. Danica rolled over and went back to sleep.

Lusa waited until the door closed before she blew out her cheeks, eyebrows threatening to angle permanently downward.

“I did warn you.” Cat sat on the step of the MobilePod. Lusa hadn’t even noticed her there.

“Why is she like this?” Lusa hoped she sounded exasperated, but the threat of tears pricked behind her eyes.

“You mean popular?” Cat left the girls in the greenhouse and sat on the steps, leaving enough room for Lusa to join her.

Lusa didn’t really have time, but Pinga was right. They weren’t going anywhere without her. She sat and let Cat braid her hair. “I mean irresponsible.”

“You’ll find your person.” Cat pulled a strand taut and crossed the hair under. Cat always seemed to know the real reason.

“I’ve found plenty.” Not that it was a secret, but Lusa didn’t want to elaborate on her sex life in front of her grandmother.

“Hmm.” Cat hummed, working around her ear. “Your person will be someone you can be yourself around. Not just a quick fuck.”

“Grandma!” Lusa objected.

“Pinga is more palatable to a lot of different people. Her person is probably the same as a million others.”

“Irresponsibility is popular.” Lusa admitted.

“Your person will be rare. They have to be able to handle you.” Cat pulled the braid for emphasis before tying it off.

Lusa doubted her grandmother had been told the exact nature of her transgressions, but Cat continued.

“You’re going to ruin worlds for them. You’ll be their own personal Ozymandias. Not many people can accept that kind of love.”

Pinga burst through the door before Lusa could respond, her mohawk freshly styled and bomber jacket hanging stylishly off of her titanium shoulder. “Let’s go,” she called, as if it wasn’t her who was making them late.

Lusa fumed.