LANCE'S POV
"I call dibs on the couch!" I said, plopping unceremoniously on the sofa. I sunk into the cushions quite nicely and let out a long sigh. Why couldn't this mini vacation last longer?
Pidge hoisted herself onto the tall bed. "So, what's the plan?"
I blinked in confusion. "Plan?"
Pidge rolled her eyes. "Yes, your plan to get us out of here before they marry us off? Or have you forgotten?"
"Oh," I said, glancing at my feet sheepishly. "I didn't think it mattered. Yes, I... I have a plan."
"Let's hear it." The short girl tapped her fingers impatiently on her legs.
"Actually, I... I was thinking that while they get you all pampered, I find some tools and try to fix the lions myself so that we can get out of here. Or at least figure out how to communicate with the castle," Lance said.
Pidge seemed impressed. "Well, you do have a plan!"
"Thing is, how will I communicate with the castle?"
"I think I can find something that we can rig up to our own methods." Pidge's eyes glimmered with that joy and determination I knew came from having a plan. "Let's do it tonight!"
We waited until the night grew dark and the planet's two suns sank and its five moons rose. "Pidgey, look, five moons!"
Pidge glanced out of the window. Her eyes widened, and a small gasp escaped her lips. "They're... beautiful." Her voice trailed off into a whisper as we both leaned on the window sill. I turned my head to look at her. The moonlight glistened off of her honey blond hair, which appeared satiny in the dark. I imagined what it felt like... what would her hair feel like running between my fingers? And her eyes, shining like molten caramel laced with diamonds. Could I stare at her eyes and melt under their warmth? And her lips, turned up into a smile, looked soft and full and so close-
I realized she was looking back at me, and I realized what I was thinking- oh, what was I thinking?!- and flushed a deep red. "S-sorry, I... I was staring off into space."
Had I really thought about what it would be like to kiss her?
"Let's go, Lance," she muttered. "Follow me, and be quiet."
I nodded, still stunned by my own thoughts. Pidge cracked open the door, peering out of it, and seeing that the coast was clear, walked into it. I followed and glanced at every shadow to be sure that one of those nine foot tall creeps weren't hiding behind it.
We crept through rooms until we found one with what looked like a computer. "It should be easy cracking this code because it's Galran," Pidge whispered. She tapped some numbers and letters into the computer, her eyes sparkling when she got through a firewall. Within moments, she had cracked every code and opened up a blank screen.
"What should we say?" she asked, turning to face me.
"I, uh..." Her amber eyes knocked me out of focus for a moment. "Just tell them, 'Pidge and Lance are safe on Shiza and their lions need to be fixed.'"
Pidge nodded, satisfied with that answer. Click, click, click. The message was sent. Immediately the phrase Altean Castle ship has received your message appeared underneath.
Oh, jolly! We thought we lost you two! We'll be there in about a varga to pick you and your lions up. -Coran
"We have about a day, then." Pidge closed down the program.
"Let's hope they don't wed us before then," I whispered, chuckling.
"Yeah," Pidge replied, a little half-heartedly.
"Should we return to the room and get some sleep?"
A nod.
We tiptoed to the bedroom, Pidge letting the door click softly behind her. She slid under the covers of the bed, and I collapsed noisily on the couch.
"Buenas noches, mi amiga," I whispered before closing my eyes.
"Igualmente," Pidge muttered. I smiled. Same to you, she said. In the time we had been a team, I had taught her a bit of Spanish.
