scrunching her lips not knowing what else to say.
"Nayaa, I think you're confusing some things here."
"Like what?"
"You're friends. Friends don't flirt. You have to respect the friendship, and you can't cross those boundaries."
"Why?"
"Because it doesn't work. Flirting is sexual. Flirting is a friendly way of letting someone know that you are sexually attracted to them. If you're not, don't flirt with them. It's inappropriate."
"You sure?"
"Of course. Look. Either you're friends, or you're a couple, you can't have it both ways."
"I don't want to be a couple. I just want..." But again she can't finish her sentence.
"What you want doesn't exist."
"What do I want?" Nayaa asks looking at Adinaa suspicious.
"You want to be the center of attention. You want all the guys to flirt with you, even Andee, while at the same time you just want him as your friend."
"What's wrong with that?"
"It doesn't work like that. Either you're friends or you're a couple. Plus, this blond girl you mentioned. You looked very annoyed when you said it. Like you were mad because Andee flirted with another girl. Is that the real issue?"
"What's your point Ms. Star?" She asks with a big frown and almost angry tone.
"Ah, so that's the problem."
"No, it's not. It's what I said." Adinaa shakes her head but with a smile at Nayaa's naiveté and stubbornness.
"Listen, if you and Andee were a couple than you would have to be exclusive to one another, and I'm sure he would not flirt with other girls, but since you're friends, than both of you can flirt with whomever you want, just not each other."
"Why can't we be... 'a couple of friends'?" Nayaa asks emphasizing her last words with finger quotes. Adinaa gives her a long disapproving glare. "What? Why you looking at me like that?"
"Because that's not how it works."
"And, why not?"
"If it did, that would be the norm, but it isn't. Couples are normal because that's when things usually work out. It's not some kind of rule. It's just how things fall into place naturally."
"I see." Nayaa responds a bit deflated.
"You need to find a boyfriend and things will make more sense."
"I want a boyfriend, but... I haven't found one yet. How do I find one?"
"Easy, seat back and let them come to you."
"I don't think that's how it works Ms. Star."
"I'm pretty sure it is. You're beautiful and funny. You just have to let it happen."
"How come it hasn't happened yet?"
"Because you're not letting it happen."
"OK, that doesn't make any sense at all. Why wouldn't I?"
"You're so focused on Andee."
"What does Andee have to do with it?"
"Isn't he why this whole conversation started?" Nayaa pouts exaggeratedly again. "Look, you're so focused on Andee you don't notice anyone else. He's your friend, almost a brother, he'll always be there for you. Accept that, and then open up, notice other guys. I'm sure many flirt with you all the time. You're just not seeing it."
"Nope, none." Swinging her head and hair, side to side, to emphasize her point.
"Yes they do. You just don't know what flirting is. Older men trying to have sex with you is not flirting."
"Are you sure?"
"I've been around a bit longer than you. And-I-was your age once."
"Guys used to flirt with you?"
Adinaa looks up at her through her brows. "Believe it or not, it actually happened." She delivers her words laden with sarcasm.
"Sorry, I guess, maybe I don't understand."
"Trust me, when you'll have a boyfriend you'll understand. Andee's already had a girlfriend. So he's gone through that experience."
"Yeah, old lady love. I guess he learned it all from her."
"Old lady love?"
"That's what Andee calls her."
"Really?"
"Nah, not really. Whatever." Nayaa snaps dismissively. Adinaa shakes her head with a smirk.
"Don't worry, it will all work out."
"I guess. But he's probably gay anyway."
"Oh Nayaa." And then grabs her in a hug. "I almost feel sorry for your first boyfriend, who ever he'll be." Nayaa pulls away staring at her with an exaggerated pout. Adinaa laughs. "You're a handful, but you have a good heart. The guy that sticks with you through all your craziness, is the guy for you." Nayaa turns her pout into a smile and hugs Adinaa back.
At that same moment Andee and Mykee walk into the house. Mykee is fiddling with his white display. Andee goes into left bedroom. Nayaa walks up to Mykee.
"What's that?"
"My vidrom."
"That's not a vidrom."
"Sure it is, look." And turns it on.
"Whoa, cool. Where did you get it?"
"I made it."
"You didn't make crap."
"Nayaa! Language." Adinaa snaps at her from the counter.
"Sorry. Pardon me young man. But you did not make this machine." She restates making big goofy yes at Mykee. He seems impervious to her style of humor.
"Well, no, but I did fix it. And I figured out how it works. Look, see here. When I open this window, I get all the images that appear on the giant videodrome in West Market, right now just old races."
"So?"
"It means that the video signal sent to the videodrome is also sent here, so tomorrow's lightship races, we can watch from right here, in our house."
"That's lame. It's more fun to climb up to the outcrop."
"Whatever. You and Andee." Mykee shakes his head and walks away. Nayaa turns to Adinaa and shrugs her shoulders. Andee walks out of the left bedroom while Mykee walks in.
"Are you ready to go?" Andee addresses Nayaa.
"Yeah lets go, finally."
"Finally what?"
"You've been ignoring me."
"No I haven't."
"Yes you have. When was the last time we even talked?"
"Earlier today."
"Dork, you know what I mean. You still haven't told me what happened at the Bitani Friendship Center."
"Nothing happened."
"What do you mean nothing?"
"When did you go to the Friendship Center?" Adinaa cuts in turning away from her jars. Andee gives Nayaa an annoyed look. Nayaa shrugs her shoulders meekly; 'Oops'.
"After the last race."
"Three weeks ago? And when were you going to tell me?"
"It's not important." Andee responds to his mom dismissively and quickly turns to Nayaa. "We got to go."
"Hold on. Of course it's important. They won't let you in without an appointment. So what point would you have to go there?"
"He's famous up in the city." Nayaa cuts in squinting hard at Andee.
"Nayaa, what the hell?" Andee snaps at her infuriated.
"What? What's she talking about?" Adinaa asks surprised but both look away. "You two better tell me everything now, or else I'll lock you both in that bedroom until you're ready to talk."
"Thanks a lot." Andee snaps at Nayaa.
"What? She's your mom. You need to tell her things like this."
"For once she's right." Adinaa responds still focused on Andee.
"For once?" Nayaa jerks her head back offended.
"Andee, I'm serious. You're not leaving this house until you tell me."
"Fine. It's no big deal. Gono got a job interview."
"17 year old Gono?"
"Yes."
"They don't hire anyone under 40."
"Well, he had an interview."
"Did they hire him?"
"Not yet."
"And why did you go?"
"They asked him to bring me?"
"Excuse me?" Adinaa is stunned. "What do you mean they asked him to bring you?"
"Like Nayaa said. I'm famous up there because I rescued that Bitani pilot."
"What? What Bitani pilot?" Adinaa is
more dumbfounded than ever.
"You didn't tell her?" Nayaa intercedes shocked. "Dude, how can you not tell your mom that?"
"OK, both of you, sit, now. And you better tell me everything. All of it."
"There's not much to say." Andee starts out but eventually describes everything. Adinaa listens patiently to the whole rescue story, the invitation to the job interview, and their adventure at the prave. Towards the end, she looks calmer. More accepting of Andee and Nayaa's story.
"So why didn't you tell me this before?"
"Honestly, you worry too much. I was afraid you'd be worried."
"I worry when I don't know what's going on. If you tell me what's going on than I have nothing to worry about." Adinaa snaps at Andee with a hard glare. "But I am concerned that they know you in the city. Is that really true?"
"I don't know. But that Bitani girl knew me, and so did the screeners that gave Gono his interview. But then the lady at the entrance didn't know me, so she wouldn't let me in."
"I thought you said they gave you an invitation when Gono got his."
"Yeah, but it was in the wrong name."
"I don't understand."
"The invitation was for Andee Starfighter, not Andee..."
"What did you say?" Adinaa cuts him off, suddenly becoming extremely agitated. Her face turns rock solid, staring through Andee.
"Ok, what the hell is going on?" Andee snaps at his mom jumping out of the chair from the table. "Old Tom gave the same punking look! What's going on? What's with that name?" But instead of answering, or scolding Andee for bad language, Adinaa simply gets up from the bench and walks away from the table lost in thought.
"Mom! What's wrong? Why are you acting like this?"
"Andee, you and Nayaa were going to go practice, go. Please. Go. We'll talk about this later." And she steps into the right bedroom shutting the wooden door behind her.
"Wow, dude. I'm sorry. I didn't know this was going to happen."
"Shut up. Lets go." He snaps. Nayaa doesn't say a word. They walk out the door.
Andee closes the metal gate in the east side stone wall of their upper terrace behind him. They head up the last few steps of the stone stairpath, up to the road that runs over the roof