Prompt 103 -- Cherish

Title: Realmspeaker
Genre: Urban fantasy
Characters: Shellee, Russell
Prompt: 103 ~ Cherish
Word Count: Approx. 367
Rating: PG (just in case)
Type: Series
Summary: Shellee has a visitor.

*

August 14, 2059
Hawkfield Landing #2, Buffalo, New York

"Came down for breakfast today, I see?"

Shellee cringed--even though she'd been bedridden for days and everyone who'd visited had already gotten an eyeful of her morning face. Still, it was embarrassing--her bare, horse-like face exposed, more often than not in the company of effortless beauties like Libby or Lucia. God, that really kicked a girl while she was down. "Oh, go away!"

If only for the sake of her comfort, Russell grimaced. He was a nice enough guy--a little weird if he had nothing better to do than drop in on her when she could barely even remember how to pretty herself up, but nice. Too bad he was tied up in all of Brett's stupid Walker business. "Heh. Feeling better?"

"I guess--even if I look totally gross."

"You don't look that bad." He pulled up the other chair and took a seat. Shellee didn't believe him, but she'd take what she could get. "Anyway, I just thought I should let you know that Brett went to visit your dad a few days ago."

What? She'd thought she was okay but she was starting to feel dizzy. Of all the times for anyone to mention her father... "He did?"

Russell nodded. "He misses you. Brett barely managed to get away without telling him where you were."

She guessed she was supposed to reply, but she didn't know what to say. But he was just so damn nice; she had to give him something. "Uh, well... that's a shock."

Russell laughed, like he thought she was being sarcastic. She wasn't, but whatever. She sometimes found sarcasm confusing too. "Fathers do cherish their daughters pretty fiercely, don't they? I know my dad always worried about Emma a lot more than he did about Kevin and me."

"Mmm." In that case, lucky Emma. "My dad worries more about money than anything else."

"Oh." He didn't say anything after that. Good--she didn't want to talk about it.

"Yeah... so I'm thinking I'll maybe stay here a little longer." Not that this place was great--but hey, at least no one was telling her to get a job. "Be a sweetheart and tell Farrel for me?"