Interstellar Academy

09: Talking

Nova decided to discuss the matter with Jim. It would hurt him if he found out about anything from another source. This way, she could talk about this full-on, no secrets, and the information would come directly from the initial source.

Jim was playing basketball, making three throws perfectly. She waited until he'd taken a swig of his water before clearing her throat to interrupt him. He turned around and gave that mischievous smile she hadn't seen in so long. Her heart leapt into her throat, and for a moment she felt dizzy. Shaking her head, she said, "I have to talk to you about something."

Jim seemed confused, since they hadn't said much to each other for a few months now. However, he obliged, sitting at a nearby bench and patting the seat next to him. She sat beside him, wanting to be close but keeping her distance.

"So… Stav asked me out…" She said this slowly, giving it a moment to sink in. Then she hurriedly said, "But I'm probably gonna say no."

Jim's posture relaxed at those words. "Oh. Then what are you wanting to talk about."

"Well…" She sighed, throwing her head back. "I HATE BEING A TEENAGER!" She looked at him almost accusingly. "What with classes and homework and extra curricular activities and friend drama and love drama it's utterly- UGH."

"Yeah, welcome to my life." He was smiling at her outburst. "But you know what makes it worth it?" She simply narrowed her eyes at his question. He nudged her shoulder, which made a laugh escape from her lips. "Moments like this, where being a teenager doesn't matter. Knowing that you have a few buds, or just one, you can pal around with and just be a dude. Or a girl. It's whatever."

She breathed hotly for a second, but his good humor was contagious. "I was just… confused for a minute. I was wondering to myself, 'What about Stav do I like so much?' But then it went into, 'What about Stav reminds me of Jim?' Then, 'What about Jim do I like?' And that list was never ending…" She blushed at her words. She'd forgotten they weren't dating, so saying things like that probably made the situation awkward.

Looking at Jim, he wasn't uncomfortable with her words. Moreso, he seemed comforted by them. "Ah. I didn't know you thought about me that much. Or thought about Stav like that."

"I-I don't. With me and Stav, we're intellectually connected. Everything we talk about is based around the brain: maths, science, history, ancient literature. There's no other attraction than that. However, with YOU…"

"It's everything in between?" he finished, locking eyes with her.

"Yeah, exactly like that." She tore her gaze away, focusing on a random pebble on the gravel. "I just wish… it was easier. For us. Or I wouldn't be thinking about stupid things like…" She sighed, not sure how to word it nicely.

"Like possibly moving on," Jim said darkly, his expression matching his tone. He turned his head away from her, as if disgusted by her.

"I'm sorry…"

Nothing was said for awhile, then finally, "Look, Nova. You mean more to me than I could even fathom to comprehend. But if Roger is going to continue to pester us, I want you to find a way to move on. From me. I'll even do the same."

This last sentence hurt her, though afterward she felt selfish. How dare he try to move on when she was thinking of doing the same thing? Someone had to stay attached!

"Oh. Well, see. That might have solved my problem…" She stood up then, brushing the back of her skirt.

He was on his feet in a second. "Don't think I'll give up. I'm not one to give up so easily. Especially when it comes to someone I care for."

She looked him dead in the eye then, searching his face for something false, anything. Nope. Everything he was saying was the truth, absolutely. "I know, Jim. I just don't want you to run out of options before you realize that you have them."

His hands were clenching. One would believe he was being frustrated and stubborn. Nova knew him, though, and understood he only wanted to reach out and touch her. She'd be lying if she said she didn't want the same darn thing.

They went their separate ways then, their lunch break over. She focused with all her might on her classes, which seemed to drag. He almost cut his fingers off losing focus during a shop class, and almost shot himself in the gut during Flintlock II class. After a long, agonizing day of classes, everyone almost flooded home.

The next couple days passed by slowly, everyone seeming focused in their work. It was the end of the semester, and they wanted whatever work they were doing to really count.

And it was Friday.

Nova decided to meet Stav behind the school's courtyard; there was a maze that would be perfectly private. She didn't want to break his heart, but knew it necessary. If she continued on with this relationship, and tried to be more than friends, it would only spell disaster for them.

Stav made her feel worse when he showed up with a bouquet of flowers. She pushed them back at him slowly, looking him dead in the eye, and he knew her answer right from there.

"But why? I thought…"

"We WERE… but…" She sighed, pressing a hand to her head.

"Jim."

She nodded.

He huffed at her response. "The guy's nothing but trouble, Nova. I would provide stability, comfort. You'd always be safe."

"But that's just it." She looked up at him, torn. "That's what it is about Jim that draws me. He's daring, challenging, frustrating, stubborn, annoying, but he's also loyal, fun, hilarious, and just… He's everything that I want to be in a person. He's everything, Stav. I can't replace that. I can't attempt to. I can't move on from him."

Stav looked hurt, but a sad smile formed on his face and he nodded, understanding. "Well, whenever you need someone to discuss books with, know I'm your guy."

She nodded back, hurting herself, but glad to get that out of the way.

That was when it happened.

The entire planet shook.

Nova and Stav fell to their knees, holding onto each other until the shaking ceased. The sirens went off then.

"EVACUATE TO THE NEAREST SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT A DRILL."

"Come on," said Stav, grabbing hold of Nova's wrist and tugging her toward the closest emergency shelter, students already flooding into the entrance that led to a small room under the ground.

"Wait, Jim!" Nova pulled back, trying to pry away.

"Nova, he's fine! Come on, now!" It was no use, however; her will to find her friend was more powerful than his grip. He looked torn, like he didn't want to leave her alone yet didn't want to be out in the middle of this random planet-quake.

"Stay here, Stav! If I'm not back in ten minutes, close that door!" And she ran off toward the one place she knew her friend would be.

The basketball court was absolute rubble. It must have been built over a fault line.

"JIM!" she called frantically. "JIM! Please, if you're here-" She stopped at the sound of groaning. She pinpointed the origin of the noise and began tossing rubble aside. Desperate, not caring who saw, she called upon the stars to help her, making her hands move faster and lift more weight. Finally, she saw him; most of the debris missed his upper torso and one of his leg, it was his other leg that seemed stuck. "Oh, Jim!"

He looked up then, seeing a silhouette hovering over an opening above him. "N…Nova?"

She stepped back so she could easily make the opening bigger. Slowly, she climbed down and to his side. "Jim, my goodness." She looked at the disaster around his leg. "I… I can't move it! If I do, it'll crash around us."

"I'm fine. Once the quakes pass they can help you out." His voice was raspy; how much blood had he lost?

Nova panicked, bending over him, caressing his face slowly, holding back tears. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

He chuckled, then coughed at the movement. "It's OK, Nova. It's not your fault."

"I just… I'm so useless. As a friend, a girlfriend, and now a hero. I can't save you, no matter how hard I try."

He clutched her upper arm and pulled her closer to him. She was shocked by the movement, but didn't complain. Their noises were touching and their eyes couldn't move from the other.

"I love you. You came out in the middle of some planet-quake disaster to find me. That's proof you love me too."

She nodded, biting her lip to hold back tears.

"Then that's my strength to get through this. You're my strength, Nova. You push me to great things, and to do great things. Believe that."

A few more tremors came upon the planet. Rubble tried to fall on them, but Nova would build a temporary barrier to protect them. It was best she could do. Finally, when the quakes officially ceased and people were heard outside, she began yelling out to them.

"Someone! Anyone, please! Help, we're in here!"

Jim was removed from the rubble and onto a stretcher. Nova was given permission to ride alongside him to the nearest hospital. Her friends met her awhile later, fresh clothes and a blanket in hand, their arms ready for hugging. Nova quickly changed into the sweat clothes and wrapped herself in the blanket, resting her head on Stav's shoulder. They waited silently for two hours, then finally a six-armed doctor came sauntering from Jim's area. Nova flew to her feet, her friends right behind her.

"You may see him, BUT no more than two at a time."

Nova looked back at them, then said, "You guys go first, please. I want to be alone with him when you're done."

They nodded, understanding, and took turns (Ruse and Charlotte, Stav and Helena) talking with him. Helena and Stav came out after only fifteen minutes and gestured her the OK. She didn't wait but a second to rush back there to see him.

He was laying on an all-white bed set, his injured leg elevated, his head patched up from some cutting done during the quakes. He was looking out the window, peacefully and beautifully. He glanced in her direction when he heard her shuffle in, and his eyes shone at the very sight of her.

That was all she could take.

She ran to him and wrapped her arms desperately around his neck, holding him tightly. His strong arms held her firmly, as if he wasn't ever going to let her go.

She wouldn't have protested.

Finally, she leaned back, their eyes locking, their expressions a mix of love, hurt, sadness and happiness.

"I… Uh, I'm sorry. Did I hurt you." She lay a hand on his shoulder, the other in his palm.

"No. Never." He tilted his head to one side, leaning in so slowly, as if waiting for her to back away or shove him off.

When she made no such movement, he touched her mouth gently with his, his heart and stomach swelling with emotion. He deepened the kiss, cradling a hand behind her head to keep her close. It didn't last long, her always needing air, but that one kiss confirmed everything for him.

"I'll wait. Until everything's blown over. Until however long, if it means I can someday do that all the time."

Jim smiled mischievously, driving her heart crazy. "And who says we can't?"

The boy had a plan. And as he leaned in for another passionate kiss, it unraveled quickly in his mind his next course of action.