The Gemini

6. Deja Vu

Lena Matthews

I stumbled around Central Park, lost. A couple of New Yorkers turned to look at me and my odd gray jumpsuit, but I probably wasn't the weirdest thing they had seen today. The phone that Finn gave me buzzed with an unknown number, and I picked up.

"Hello?" I asked, my voice hoarse from crying.

"Turn around," said a familiar voice. "I found you."

I pocketed the phone immediately and spun around. I recognized Taylor immediately, her usually serious expression replaced with a small smile. She did cross her arms though, making sure that she didn't look too happy to see me.

I ran in Taylor's direction, my pace painfully slow with my cramped legs. When I was finally close enough to Taylor, I enveloped her in a tight hug.

"Um... okay." said Taylor, trying to break out. As soon as my grip loosened, she brushed me off and backed away.

"Sorry." I muttered.

"No... it's not..." Taylor looked at me again and fell awkwardly silent. Then, she cleared her throat and turned her attention to a cloud above my head.

"I should have told you." I admitted, trying to get it out of the way.

"You should have." said Taylor flatly. She took a deep breath, and tucked her black hair behind her ear. It had gotten a bit longer these past few months. Everything about her appearance looked carefully put together, from her nude lipstick to her winged eyeliner and black pantsuit. She was carrying a black purse with her, and I realized that it was a designer brand.

Basically, Taylor looked like a criminal attorney who had been called to defend me in the middle of Central Park.

Taylor handed her purse over to me, her face refusing to reveal any emotion.

"I'm glad you're alive."

Progress.

Taylor had brought a couple sandwiches and some water in her purse, which I devoured in a matter of seconds. After that, I spent some time trying not to throw up. Taylor waited for me to pull myself back together patiently, inspecting her French manicure to avoid looking concerned for my well being.

"Are you done?" Taylor finally asked me.

"I think so." I said. I had been lying in the grass for the past hour, and the sun was just starting to set. Pretty soon, the entire world would be coated with darkness.

Taylor extended her arm, and I took it gratefully. As soon as she pulled me up, Taylor wiped her hand on her white blouse. I pretended not to notice.

"How did Finn find you?" I asked.

"He found Nurse Kawaguchi first, and she gave me away." Taylor answered shortly.

"Where were you?" I asked.

"With Nurse Kawaguchi. I didn't know where else to go. We were staying in Alaska, and she was trying to get back to Japan. She couldn't take me with her since I didn't technically have any documentation. But I'm out of her way now, and I think she's in Okinawa."

"What about your dad?" I asked.

"Jessica has a penthouse close by." Taylor continued, skipping my question. "We should have the whole place to ourselves until she and Carter get there."

"When?" I asked, not trusting myself to say anything else.

"Tonight," said Taylor. She looked at the expression on my face. "I don't think he'll try to kill you or anything, I just think he doesn't like you."