"I can't do the test yet. The doctor said I need to... um... have a fuller bladder." Vera Wave looked at the man's face and smiled sweetly at him. "Kris Cooper, the doctor said drinking some juice would help. Could you get me a bottle?"
Kris Cooper stared into her eyes. "And then you'll run off again, is that it?"
"Wha—How could that be?" His guess hit too close to home, and she lowered her face, flustered. "I... I just want some juice. Or, you could come with me, and we can go buy it together?"
He stared at her intently for a moment, then took her hand and guided her to an empty chair. "Sit down."
"Wait here. I'll be right back."
He placed her bag on the chair beside her and turned towards the stairwell.
Watching his figure disappear at the top of the stairs, Vera Wave's fingers tightened around the lab report.
Finally, she did stand up, slung her bag over her shoulder, and slipped away towards a different staircase, hurrying down.
