Chapter 7 Lyra And I

Elsa rushed to Lyra's side and helped her sit up. "Lyra, I'm so glad you're awake," she said, brushing the hair away from Lyra's face.

Lyra looked from Elsa to Orion in confusion. "I don't understand. What's really going on here? Elsa, why are you there? And who's that man?"

It was Elsa's turn to be confused. "You don't know him?"

"No, I don't."

"Then why were you together?"

Lyra opened her mouth to explain, but nothing came out. She was just as confused as Elsa.

Orion shook his head. "She probably doesn't remember, due to the amount of alcohol she consumed."

Lyra squinted her eyes at him, trying to remember even the faintest thing about him, but her memory failed her.

"I can't believe you forgot. It was barely four hours ago we met at the bar, and you were acting hysterical all of a sudden," Orion added.

Lyra sighed and shook her head. She really couldn't remember a thing. She felt a splitting headache zing through her head and she winced, holding her head.

"You're hungover," Orion said, getting up and disappearing from the ward. He soon returned with a bottle of water.

"Here, drink this. You'll feel better after sometime," he said, handing it to her.

Lyra took a swig from the bottle and wiped her mouth, still looking at him. "How did I get here?"

"You suddenly fell and started writhing on the floor, at the bar. By the way, why would you be drinking on an empty stomach?"

"It's not my fault I know nothing about drinking," Lyra shot back.

"Then you shouldn't have drunk in the first place," Orion retorted.

Lyra stared at him blankly, clearly offended, then turned to look at Elsa. "Remind me again, who is this guy?" she queried.

Elsa cleared her throat, trying to suppress a chuckle at the drama that was unfolding before her. "Let's not mind him. You should rest up some more."

"No I-"

"We still haven't finished our discussion. I'm ready whenever you are," Orion interrupted and Lyra glanced at him, flabbergasted.

"What's he even talking about?" she asked again, touching her forehead and closing her eyes.

"Just... relax. I'll take care of him," Elsa said, and then she stood and stormed to where Orion sat, grabbing his arm and dragging him out of the room.

"What's your deal, Elsa?" Orion asked once they were outside the ward.

"I should ask you, Orion. You show up out of the blue, tending to my best friend, in the hospital. And she seems not to even know you!"

"Wait, she's your best friend?"

"Yes, Orion. She is, and she's married, so don't even think of doing anything fun. I still don't understand how you both met at a bar, but she's married."

Orion scoffed and shook his head. "What do you take me for, huh?"

"I don't know, Orion. Let's do this some other time, I have to go back to Lyra."

"But we have some things left to talk about. Lyra and I."

"I really don't understand what that means, but you can do that another time. Maybe when she remembers who you are. For now, I will go back home. I'll be in touch."

She turned to go, and Orion grabbed her wrist. "You know, I missed you too, El. Have you been good?"

Elsa snatched her wrist away from his hand. "I didn't think you cared," she said and walked away.

.

.

Orion walked out of the hospital, feeling worse than he had when he'd walked in. He hadn't gotten around to telling Lyra what he had to tell her, and he'd bumped into Elsa, the last person he'd wanted to bump into.

He knew she was mad at him. He didn't need a seer to tell him.

He wondered when next he would have the chance to have a discussion with Lyra. He had to. It was necessary to have a conversation. But he wasn't sure Lyra would be willing to meet him again. He'd come to realize she'd been drunk when he called, and she'd agreed to meet up with him under the influence of alcohol. He had the feeling the sane Lyra wouldn't even glance his way twice.

Sighing, he walked to the sidewalk. He was going to give her time. Watch her for some time. His phone rang, and he took it out of his pocket, checking the caller ID. He groaned and closed his eyes. He really didn't have the energy to deal with his father at that moment.

The phone rang persistently, and he had to pick up the call.

"Hey dad."

"Where are you?"

"Just around. I stepped out for some fresh air."

"This is not the time for that, Orion. Get back home this instant. There's someone I'd like you to meet."

Orion sighed as the call ended. He wondered who it was this time.

He flagged down a cab and within a few minutes, he was back at the family house.

He met the chief of the household staff, Samantha, at the front door. "Orion, you're back home," she said, taking his coat from him.

Orion leaned in and pecked her lightly on the cheek. "Yes, Sam, I'm back. Miss me?"

Samantha chuckled lightheartedly and shook her head. "Always a charmer. Go on, your father's waiting in his library."

"Alright, Mon Cherie," Orion said, smiling, and bowed out.

Samantha smiled as she watched him go, wondering when he'd grown into such a man.

Orion rapped lightly on the office door, twice, as his father always instructed, and waited for his father to ask him in. He'd always run into his father's study occasionally, without invitation, as a boy, but he'd stopped after bumping into his father and his mistress, who were almost naked, one day. That had happened shortly after his mother had left.

"Come in," Drew called out from inside the study, drawing him out of his thoughts.

Orion took deep breaths and after a while, he opened the door and stepped into the study, his eyes immediately going to work, searching for the person his father would so much like him to meet.

"Evening, father."

He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the man sitting adjacent to his father on the couch.