Page 25 of Nova Academy

‘You sure?’

I nodded.

He hesitated a beat, eyeing me up in a way that suggested I was being weird. I knew I was, but I couldn’t control the panic when it rose. When he spoke again I knew I wasn’t off the hook. ‘I know we haven’t known each other for very long, but you can trust me. If you want to talk, about anything, my ear is available.’

My inhale was sharp; shocked. ‘I… uh… thank you,’ I stuttered. ‘But isn’t that what I’m supposed to be saying to you?’

His grin was bittersweet, and he changed the subject. ‘You could get some more sleep too, you know,’ he suggested, jerking his head towards our two snoring roommates. ‘I know you’ve been staying up longer than the rest of us and waking up long before us too. I can stay awake while we wait for food. Or freedom. Whichever comes first,’ he joked, and a quiet huff of laughter escaped me.

‘I appreciate the offer, but I don’t need any more sleep.’

‘Well, then you’re a super-Terran, because even in my half-breed state I need a shit tonne more sleep than that,’ he laughed, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb Bromm and Foryk.

‘Well, if you’re not going to sleep and I’m not going to sleep, why don’t we figure out a way to entertain ourselves?’ I asked.

When he blushed, a deep red shade that was at odds with hissilvery features, I knew I had just made a social blunder. I had no clue which part of what I said was wrong.

‘Arty, I’m glad you’re finally acknowledging your sexuality, but I’m not into men. I mean, if I were then I would totally be into you because you’re attractive and all, from an objective standpoint, but I don’t think I could get over the extra appendage...’

My mind blanked, confused, until I realised what he was saying. And then I was laughing way too loud to be considerate of the sleeping beauties. ‘No, I meant like we could play a game or something,’ I corrected him.

I didn’t know it was possible, but the colour under his skin burst into an even deeper crimson. I could see it travelling down the visible skin beneath his shirt collar, and the tips of his pointed ears twitched as they changed from pink to red.

‘Oh, um, right.’

Once the giggles started, I couldn’t seem to stop them. ‘N-No, it’s f-fine. I-I’m f-flattered, I think?’

He visibly calmed, the red fading into a lighter pink as he finally let the humour of the situation win and laughed along with me.

‘What, so you don’t think I’m attractive?’ he joked.

‘You’re attractive enough just fine,’ I assured him with a pat on shoulder that may or may not have been a tad patronising. I didn’t want to tell him just how attractive I actually thought he was, because it might have scared him off. Just because I couldn’t act on it for a multitude of reasons didn’t mean I hadn’t noticed his rippling muscles and that toned ass. A virgin I may be but that did not mean I was blind. Plus, I wasn’t here for romantic entanglements, so what did it matter if I liked to look at him?

He scoffed. ‘Tell me something I don’t know.’

That set me off again, which got us both yelled at by Bromm as he struggled to sleep through our racket. Foryk, though, still vibrated the entire ship with his monstrous snores. How Bromm could sleep through that but not our laughter I didn’t think I’d everunderstand.

It turned into a moot point, however, when a knock sounded at the door. It swished opened without our permission, and of course it was Brin that strutted in as if she owned the place. Though she was pushing a cart with our food on it, so I couldn’t be too mad. I would never say no to food.

‘Good morning, sunshines,’ she gave me a bright grin. ‘And sunshine-ettes,’ she addressed the other two, wrinkling her nose at Foryk’s unconscious snort.

The mood was strangely uplifting this morning, so I sent a toothy grin her way. She covered her eyes with her hands and staggered back dramatically. ‘Stop! You’ll blind me!’

Reece snickered at her display, and the grin on my face remained as if permanently etched on. I couldn’t remember the last time I had smiled or laughed this much. Actually, I didn’t think I ever had.

I liked it.

Brin removed the lids on our plates to reveal the most incredible breakfast spread I had ever seen, especially on a ship this size. There was toast and eggs, bacon and sausages from varying animals, fried cakes with a variety of fruits, syrups and creams. Not to mention the stack of honey cakes and muffins and other sweet treats. There was a something for everyone.

And thecitrus juice.

I was salivating. Drool was definitely dripping down my chin.

‘What’s all this?’ asked Reece from his perch beside me.

‘This,’ Brin gestured to the food with a flourish, ‘is a gift from our good captain. Said he wanted to spoil you as an apology for yesterday, so I said I would deliver it for full credit,’ she beamed.

I laughed a full belly laugh at that, shocking not only myself but everyone else in the room, especially Foryk who finally jolted awake and almost fell off his bunk. I think that might have been the very first time I had laughed so uproariously before, but I wasn’t aboutto tell them that for fear of bringing down the mood.

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