“Hey, why don’ we go check out the preparations fer the celebration?” Tesla jerked a thumb toward the stairs. “They should be gettin’ started right ‘bout now.” Whatever nervousness she had been feeling no longer emanated from her as she smiled.

Ever gave their own smile as they pushed past Tesla and into the room. “Just let me change out of my work clothes.” 

Tesla nodded, scratching the back of her head. “I’ll wait downstairs.”

Ever entered the room, changing out of their work clothes and into a beige tunic with square wooden buttons and a pair of tan shorts. They paused, shirt hanging from their left-hand, eyes being drawn to one of the posters that hung over Tesla’s bed. ‘Report. Apprehend. Detain. Remember it’s the right thing to do.’ And Tesla’s words about them helping drifters suddenly rang hollow. 

Ever finished getting dressed and made their way downstairs, finding Tesla waiting just at the bottom, looking rather nervous as she fiddled with the gemstone her necklace. As they got closer they saw that it was a blue gemstone held in place by a gold attachment through which a thin leather strip was thread. Her lips were drawn into a tight line as she rolled the piece of jewelry between her fingers. 

Ever stepped onto the first floor, tapping Tesla on the shoulder, causing her to jump as she turned to look at the shorter border. “Kinda jumpy, aren’t we?” 

Tesla avoided eye contact as she sputtered, tucking the necklace under her shirt. “I-I do-don’ know what yer talkin’ about!” 

Ever reeled back slightly, raising a brow at the response. Something was definitely going on, but the whole picture had yet to make itself known. “Okay…” They watched as Tesla continued to toy with the strap of her necklace. “Hey, weren’t you going to show me the preparations?” 

“Oh yeah.” Tesla nodded. “I was, wasn’t I?” She scratched her cheek with her finger. 

“Well?” Ever prodded, placing a hand on their hip, cocking it to the side.

Tesla looked down at them, raising an eyebrow. “Well what?”

“Well, are you going to show me or not?” Ever was starting to get frustrated with Tesla, and a hint of that leaked into their voice. 

“Oh yeah. I’ll show you.” Tesla nodded as she began moving toward the front door, Ever in tow, although they stayed a half step behind the pilot. 

Ever followed Tesla into the town square, where they were setting up a wooden stage with a podium and a banner that read. “Florena Liberation Celebration” There were people around the square setting up booths for the celebration. Each booth was decorated similarly to the stage, with minor variations to each. The people looked like they had come from all over just to be here. They definitely didn’t look like they belonged in Angel Falls. “People are jus’ gettin’ set up now. It’ll be even better tomorrow.” 

Ever looked at Tesla, quirking an eyebrow up at her. “Is that so?”

She nodded, placing her hands on her hips. “By this time tomorrow, the entire square will be filled with people. Packed buildin’ to buildin’.” Ever tried to imagine the small square filled with people but found it hard to do so. They had never gone to many festivals or social gatherings in their old life, but this was a chance for them to try and be a different person. 

A better person.

“It sounds...Interesting. Should we go together?” Ever looked back at Tesla who scratched the back of her head looking a lot more relaxed than she had before they had left the house. 

“Yeah. Sure. Let’s do that.” Tesla said, somewhat absentmindedly as she ran a hand through her hair, “We should head back. Gotta get started with dinner and stuff.” She turned on her heel and began moving away from the square. Ever looked at the preparation for the celebrations one last time before turning to follow Tesla back to the boarding house. 

The walk back was spent in silence, and when they returned they both began on their chores without a word. Dinner, like most nights, was cooked by Jaxson and the meal, like most, was spent exchanging mindless chatter back and forth. As they finished eating, Tesla excused herself. “I think I'm gonna turn in for the night.”

    Ever watched as she cleaned her plate, asking. “Aren’t you gonna stay for dessert?” It was the first time dessert had been a part of their dinner routine, and Ever had to assume that it was because of the celebration. “Jaxson made pie, right?” They turned to Jaxson, who nodded his head. He could see the strangeness in how Tesla was acting as well.

Tesla placed her plate on the drying rack and moved toward the doorway, only stopping briefly to say. “No. I don’t think I’m up for it right now. Sorry.” Ever watched as she disappeared out of view before picking up their own plate and moving toward the sink. They were joined by Jaxson, and they fell into an easy rhythm, with Jaxson washing the dishes and Ever drying them. 

As Jaxson handed Ever a plate, he asked. “Tesla was acting kinda strange, right?” 

Ever took the plate and began drying it as they spoke, “Yeah.” She had been acting off ever since they had come home.

“She barely finished her dinner and refused dessert. I mean, this is Tesla we're talking about!” Jaxson scrubbed the dish in his hand a little too aggressively. “She's nothing if not a glutton!” He rinsed the dish before handing it to Ever.

“Yeah.” Ever absentmindedly dried the dish, setting it on the drying rack and looking over their shoulder at the door. “I honestly didn’t think you cared about her that much.” 

“I don’t!” Jaxson handed them one of the cups as he said. “I just wonder what happened? Something must have.” 

Ever dried the cup, placing it on the drying rack as they muttered. “Yeah. Something's definitely off.” As they continued to work in silence, Ever couldn’t help but think of the conversation they had overheard and how uneasy she had been after finding Ever outside the door. 

Ever had nearly forgotten about the strange conversation and Tesla’s odd behavior, having pushed it to the back of their mind, classifying the information as unimportant. Or they had tried to push it there, but it wouldn’t stay put no matter how hard they tried. 

Ever shook their head of the conversation and the nagging suspicion about it that was ebbing back into the forefront of their mind. Drying the last dish, Ever placed it on the drying rack before turning to Jaxson. “I think I’m gonna skip out on the pie too. Save me a piece?”

Jaxson looked down at his hands before looking back up at them with a forced smile. “Of course.” Ever could tell he was disappointed, but they really didn’t feel like having dessert and to be honest, they were worried about Tesla. She was acting strange, and it worried Ever more than they cared to admit. 

Ever wanted to check on her before heading to bed, so Ever made their way out of the kitchen before sticking their head back into the kitchen. “Can you save a piece for Tesla too? I’m sure she’ll want one once she feels more herself.” 

Jaxson nodded. “Sure. No problem.” 

Ever smiled at him. “Thanks, Jax.” Before ducking back out of the kitchen door and making their way toward the staircase. 

As they made their way upstairs, Ever’s mind found itself trying to figure out what was wrong with Tesla, even while knowing what it was. They wondered how a single conversation could cause her to act so strange, and wondered if they had heard the beginning of the conversation, it would have made more sense. 

Ever came to a stop in front of their bedroom door and listened for the sound of voices, but when they heard none, they entered the room. They found Tesla laying on the bed with a blanket covering her body, Ever quickly changed into their sleeping clothes and sat down on the cot, removing their prosthetics. They laid down, pulling a blanket over their body, they turned toward Tesla mumbling. “Good night, Tesla.” Ever waited for a response but never got one and eventually turned their back to her. 

As they lay there, Tesla spoke quietly. “Good-night, Ever.” 

And with that, Ever buried their face into their pillow, eyes slowly drifting closed as sleep claimed them.

Ever woke up the next morning to find Tesla’s bed empty and, after getting dressed in a pair of trousers and an off-white tunic, made their way downstairs in an attempt to find her. They entered the kitchen to find Tesla and Jaxson both sitting at the table eating breakfast and after making their plate, Ever joined them, looking at Tesla as they asked. “So, are we gonna check out the festival together?” 

Tesla finished chewing at a snail's pace, eventually swallowing. “Actually, some of my friends from work asked me to go around with them today.” 

“Oh.” Ever focused, their eyes on their food, feeling more disappointed than they had expected to feel. 

 “We can always go together tomorrow. Alright?” Tesla said, putting a comforting hand on their shoulder, and Ever looked up at her with a forced smile.

“Yeah. Tomorrow for sure.” Ever watched as Tesla stood up, taking her plate over to the sink. 

She washed it and moved to the door. “I should probably get going.” Ever watched Tesla disappear out of sight, and they let out a sigh, finishing their food. 

They washed their dishes and looked at Jaxson. “I’m gonna head out too.” Jaxson waved them off as they headed toward the door, slipping on their boot before exiting the boarding house. 

Ever was amazed at the overnight progress that had occurred, every house had banners in blues and reds declaring the same thing as the one on the stage and some even had balloons and streamers. People were sitting on their porches drinking and eating while talking loudly amongst themselves. 

As Ever entered the business district the number of people changed greatly, and it was the most people they had seen in Angel Falls, well, ever. They could tell they were from out of town from the way they looked around in awe at the banners that hung from storefronts and over the streets. There were fair games on the side of the road and streamers which had been strung up between the streetlamps. 

As Ever wandered slowly they noticed a familiar head of lilac hair causing them to quickened their pace toward it, calling out and waving. “Hey, are those your friends?” Tesla’s body stiffened and Ever watched as the men behind her pulled the guns from holsters on their waists. “Tesla, what’s going on?” Fear crept into Ever’s bones as they came to a stop a few feet away from the group. 

Tesla turned to look at Ever. “Run!” The desperation filling both her eyes and words urged Ever to heed the command. They turned on their prosthetic foot, pushing themselves forward as they started running as fast as they could.