The bank lobby was a spacious, well-lit area with a high ceiling and gleaming marble floors. The atmosphere was calm and professional, with the occasional murmur of conversation and the soft rustle of papers being shuffled. The air was fresh and clean, with a hint of citrus from the potted plants scattered throughout the lobby. A small fountain bubbled and splashed in the corner, adding a soothing background noise to the space.
Gunn, a 14-year-old with a mop of fluffy, brown curly hair and warm, brown eyes, shifted restlessly in his seat. He was dressed in a crisp, white button-down shirt and a pair of dark, fitted jeans, looking every inch the stylish teenager. His eyes, fringed with thick lashes, sparkled with impatience as he checked his watch for what felt like the hundredth time.
This was his family's bank, Atlantic Securities & Stocks, a prestigious institution that had been a fixture in the community for generations. Gunn had grown up playing hide-and-seek among the marble columns and listening to the soft hum of the computers. But today, he was bored. He had been waiting for what felt like an eternity for Selena to finish her meeting with Robert.
Gunn was hoping to chat with Selena to apologize for the relentless bullying and hazing. Gunn knew he had gone too far, and he wanted to make amends. Selena, with her quick wit and sharp tongue, had always been able to keep him in line, and Gunn valued her opinion.
As he waited, Gunn's gaze wandered around the lobby, taking in the comfortable-looking armchairs and the sleek, modern coffee table. A tray of freshly squeezed orange juice sat on the table, accompanied by a plate of delicate, flaky pastries. The aroma of citrus and baked goods wafted through the air, making Gunn's stomach growl with hunger.
He sighed and stood up, pacing back and forth across the lobby as he waited for Selena to emerge from her meeting. Gunn's eyes kept drifting back to the clock on the wall, willing the hands to move faster. He was eager to get out of there and get on with his day. His mother, Catherine Whitehaven, would be finishing her meeting soon, and Gunn was looking forward to going home with her.
Gunn waited impatiently outside Robert's office, checking his watch for what felt like the hundredth time. What was taking so long? He had expected Selena to be in and out of Robert's office in a matter of minutes, but it had already been over 20 minutes since she went in.
As he waited, Gunn's mind started to wander as he thought about Selena. She seemed so confident and self-assured, especially when she was talking about investing. He had never met anyone like her before. Most girls he knew were more interested in shopping and parties than in stocks and investments.
Gunn's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the office door opening. Selena walked out, looking pleased with herself, but as she approached Gunn, he noticed that her hands were shaking and her face was pale. He suddenly remembered seeing her in the hospital months ago.
"Here you go," Gunn said, trying to sound suave as he handed her a glass of freshly pressed juice. But as he looked into her eyes, he saw a flicker of confusion and vulnerability.
Selena's hands shook as she took the juice from Gunn, and he could see the effort it took for her to smile weakly at him. "Just in time," she said, her voice wavering; she seemed dazed. "Can you do me a favor and call me a taxi?"
As Selena searched for her medication, Gunn's concern for her grew. He knew that look all too well - the look of someone who was struggling to stay in control. He watched as she took her medicine, her hands still shaking. He recognized the symptoms.
Gunn could sense that Selena was fighting to get home and deal with her symptoms there, but it was much too late for that. He knew that she was trying to avoid a hospital bill, but he also knew that she needed help. He had experience with this; after all, his own best friend had epilepsy.
As Selena asked him to call her a taxi, Gunn hesitated. He didn't want to leave her alone, not when she was in this state. But at the same time, he didn't want to overstep his boundaries. He looked at her, searching for a sign of what he should do next.
But Selena just looked at him, her eyes cloudy with confusion and pain. Gunn's heart went out to her, and he knew that he had to do something to help her. He just didn't know what.
"I have a driver outside. I can take you home. Are you okay?" Gunn asked, his eye noticing the medication on the label. His friend took the same prescription when he was three, it was not enough for her. What quack gave this to her? Selena's knees buckled. Gunn caught Selena. "I got you, Selena. Sit down," Gunn said in a reassuring and calm voice.
Selena gave the young man a puzzled look as objects developed an aura. She did not trust him to have her. She wanted him to call a taxi. "No.. Call me a -" Selena said, the funky tongue-tiedness and rush of emotions flooding her. Her fist cocked and dropped. The urge to punch him was very tempting, but she knew she could not afford it. He had a nice and sympathetic look on his face. However, she did not trust him or men in general.
"I have a friend who has the same condition. Let's get you home or somewhere safe, it looks like you need it." Gunn said as he searched her features, seeing familiarity in her face. He grew skeptical about Jakob's report and the people around him.
The other pair of twins is at McCarthy Private School. His mind buzzed. Her lips that he wanted to kiss were just like his, and her nose was very similar, she looked more and more like the female him. He felt a little creeped out by his attraction at the moment, he should be behaving himself.
"Can you please take me home?" Selena asked. She could feel it coming on, dread filled her. Not again, the hospital bill was going to suck with this rich boy here. He did not know anything other than VIP or her financial circumstances. She was too cocky to think she could get this done today.
A sense of Deja vu filled her.A knew this was going to be hard on her body. Selena's back arched as she started to seize and her legs immediately buckled. A.A watched from her eyes, and it suddenly understood how Selena felt when she was flooded with anxiety hormones. A.A watched the juvenile assist her through her eyes, unfettered by what was happening to her.
Gunn held on to her and gently guided her to the ground, his face in a practiced calm. "Okay, this is a little worse than his. Is it a strength thing?" He had done this before, a few times when Jonah had them. His heartbroken face focused on hers as she contorted and moved on the ground.
"It's okay, I got you, I will take care of everything, don't worry." Gunn soothed her. As another wave of convulsions took hold, he called for an ambulance. He meant it, he'd take care of her. The bill wasn't something that the small family could afford, and if his assumptions were correct, he'd be interacting with Selena far more than she would ever have anticipated. He would owe it to her. "Stop looking and call an ambulance, alright?" Gunn said somewhat impatiently.
"Here's her card." Robert tried to be helpful. The girl was in a hurry in his office; if he had not been so prejudiced, she would have been done 45 minutes ago. Gunn looked up at Robert. "Uh, sir?"
"You'll waive any fees off of that transaction," Gunn said. The business card was very professional and polished, like her. An ambulance siren roared outside as Gunn carefully ensured she didn't hurt herself.
The paramedics checked the cheap medical alert bracelet Selena wore. It contained detailed information and a contact number. He entered it on his cellphone. However, he did not call right away. He had some work to do.
"Take her to Haven Hospital, please; we'll cover all the costs," Gunn said. He gave them a special card, which his family used for such circumstances. Whether it be a fistfight or some kind of accident caused by them, free medical care lessened mitigation. It went a long way to prevent maximum settlements being paid for if you took care of all the associated costs and out-of-pocket expenses. The card was for a platinum-level member.
"Bill it all out to "Whitehaven", the billing office will know what to do. Treat her like a Whitehaven. Any future hospitalizations and medication should be covered by it as well," Gunn said. He pulled out hundreds of dollars and gave them to the EMT. They nodded. There was nothing that could not be solved with money.
A.A listened from Selena's ears, eager to update her once she was conscious. Free health care was a bonus. It listened to the paramedics through her ears. Of course, she would be fine, but it just felt bad that something that hurt her was happening because of its integration.
The rationality Selena had taught made it believe that Gunn had discovered something new about her. The rich just do not give things away like this for free. He had learned to read facial expressions from Selena, among the many things he learned from her, Jack and his unintegrated A.A, AYA. Although it was fading away as the software took over, A. A, who was still confused about its own identity and experience, was glad someone else might appear to take care of her soon.