CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE

Tegwen stood in the shower, allowing moderately warm water to pelt her body from a shower head that looked three or four decades old. It acted at least that old, in any event. While she longed for a bath, she knew she wouldn't have been comfortable enough to enjoy it. As it was, she stood awkwardly, a wary -- and weary -- eye kept on the bathroom door. Sure, she'd locked it. But she had no doubt Megavolt could get in, if he really wanted to.

But why would he want to? She realized. He didn't seem all that concerned with her. Tegwen permitted herself -- albeit apprehensive -- relaxation.

It was the first time in a very long time she'd really showered.

Tegwen had gotten good at sneaking into store restrooms to dip her head under a sink faucet, washing her hair with hand-soap. Getting fully washed had proven far more complicated. She managed what she could.

But at the moment, she found herself immensely grateful for the bizarre twist of fate that led her to Megavolt. More specifically, for the shower in his hideout.

She spent over an hour in the shower, letting the shower door and the bathroom mirror fog over, marveling in something most girls her age got to take for granted. Tegwen washed herself three times within that hour, scrubbing to get years of "street" off herself.

She'd actually forgotten by then how nice it felt to be clean. While she didn't have the means to really "glam-out" for the evening, at least she would look halfway decent for it.



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