Edification: Chapter 5
Nothing here is mine, just daydreaming for a bit.
"Gaila, maybe you've never experienced this, but what do you do when you're attracted to someone but you both know that it could never work? I mean, I have a career and that's always been enough for me. And he's technically engaged, though I know they don't love each other. And what are the chances that we'd even be posted to the same ship?"
"Uhura, you think about things too much. When I like a guy, and he almost always returns the sentiment, I take him out for a drink, discreetly put a hand down his pants, and . . . problem solved. It's amazing how quickly all those what-if's turn into your-place-or-mine.'
"And somehow it's always "mine" - which, I repeat for the zillionth time, I don't usually appreciate."
Gaila stuck her tongue out at Uhura before asking, "Just what would it take to melt the "ice queen?" Obviously it's not a hot body, because I've given you more than enough chances. Any time I try to fix you up these days, the date's over before the second drink, and not because the guys aren't interested."
"Of course, they're nice to look at, but I can't stand the way they put their dirty thoughts out there for everyone to see! If I want to be groped in public, I can easily join the ancient wrestling club. There's no mystery, nothing to discover. I tell you what, Gaila, intelligence is a lot hotter than you give it credit for."
"So what about Kirk? That's long since over between us, and he's had his eye on you from the moment he saw you. Come on, you know he's brilliant."
"So was Tarrat Kalit, and he exterminated a couple of planets, Gaila! Not that Kirk seems like the mass-murdering type, but he's so obvious! And he pisses me off, to be quite honest. I can't stand a man who can't see past my exterior, or posterior for that matter."
"You do have a very nice posterior, I have to agree." She giggled as Nyota threw a pillow at her head. She turned more serious. "You're a knock out, Uhura, and I can't understand why you don't take advantage of it! I'd be jealous if I had it in me. You know, we've gotten off topic. Who's the mystery man in this whole woe-is-me scenerio? After like six months of you moping around, you'd think you'd tell at least your rooommate! Come on. If I were going to share your secrets with the world, the whole Academy would know that you. . . wait, I can't even think of any of your dirty little secrets. I don't think you trust me!"
"Gaila, you know it's not that. I'm just not that interesting, apparently. If you're into secrets, though, and can swear on Orion that you won't breathe a word of it to anybody. . . "
"Cross my heart." She traced a neat X over her sternum and fixed a saintly expression on her green face.
"He's not a cadet, Gaila. If you even squeak about it outside this room, you could ruin both our careers."
"Hey, wait! Could it be that you're with the one guy in this entire city who I don't have a chance at seducing? Oh this is absolutely perfect. The ice queen and the Vulcan. You know what? You've been spending too many hours in his office. Minus the pointy ears, I could almost imagine that you were one of those cold bastards."
"How do you know that's who I'm talking about?"
"Your scent changed the moment I said the word Vulcan, Uhura. Be careful around those Deltans - they'll know what's up with you two from fifty meters away."
"I'm not one for breaking the rules, Gaila, but I can't stay away from him."
"Here's the real question, and I don't mean to be blunt, but are you sure it's not all in your head? Those Vulcans are like stone, they don't feel! And I bet they'd be about as exciting as a warm cucumber between the sheets. Or do they do it standing up? I've never seen a Vulcan with so much as a wrinkle in his uniform."
"Gaila!" Nyota gasped. The Orion had absolutely no shame.
"I'm just saying. But maybe if you have no basis for comparison, then you won't know what you're missing."
"Gaila, just cut the crap and tell me what you think I should do. Truthfully."
She twisted one copper curl thoughtfully around her finger and bit her lip, clearly trying to be diplomatic with what she would say next. "My first inclination would be to tell you to give him the "let's just be friends" speech. Then I'd fix you up with one of those adorable engineering geeks and you could forget all about your stone man." At the look on Uhura's face, Gaila continued, "But that's clearly not going to happen. How deep in are you with him?"
"We're like two magnets. We get can get just so close, before he switches poles and the force pushes us away from each other."
"Nice simile, my dear. Maybe you just need a good degaussing, if you know what I mean," Gaila said with a wink. "But seriously, if you like that image, maybe you should think about turning your back on him for a bit. You might just draw him to you until he's stuck for good."
"You think so?"
"Give it a try. Worst that happens is you have to apologize for being distant to your very unusual friend, to which he will probably reply that it is illogical to apologize. Am I right?"
"Sounds logical to me."
"Good. We start tonight. Let's go get a drink at the Fleet Bar."
For once, Uhura took her up on the offer gladly.