Chapter 9 – A Three-Week Record

"You whimpered in your sleep again," Tara murmured.

Zia swallowed a mouthful of spaghetti on toast. They sat indoors while eating breakfast, away from the light sprinkle of rain that fell on the cadets unlucky enough to sit close to the window. A group of Tara's friends sat at the table too, talking about the party that was happening after exams finished. They were too immersed in their conversation to pay attention to Tara and the Vulcan.

"How long?" she asked.

"Two minutes. That's a new record for you."

"It is." She cast around for a different topic. "Looking forward to exam timetables today?"

"No." Tara groaned. "I really don't want to do exams. They squish nine weeks of hard work into two hours. I'm honestly most worried about my self-defence class."

"You shouldn't be worried, I'm sure you'll do great."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"You're welcome."

Tara stared at her and Zia realised that it was meant to be sarcasm. She didn't actually mean 'thanks'. Sometimes Zia really hated social interactions.

"Hey Tara," one of the cadets said, leaning over, "you coming to the party next Friday?" Zia searched for a name and remembered that it was Lenika.

"Yes, I am," Tara grinned. "My roommate is coming too."

"Wait, what-"

"You can't use the excuse that you're studying any longer. Exams finish on Friday, so you have no more study. Ergo, you come to the party with us. Where is it?"

"Ripley's Bar," Lenika replied.

"Dress code?"

"Dress to impress! I've got that new dress from Diamonds and Evening Dress…"

Zia quickly finished her toast, bolted to her room and brushed her teeth before heading off to class. She didn't want to sit and listen to chatter on fashion and cosmetics when she had more important things to worry about. As she waited outside her classroom, Cadet Uhura passed by. Since their meeting seven weeks ago, Uhura had taken to greeting Zia when they passed in corridors. It was unusual. First-years were only allowed a certain amount of familiarity with higher years. They might party together and hang out outside the Academy, but during class-hours there was a considerable rift between the newbies and everyone else.

"Hey!" Uhura said, coming over. "What class do you have?"

"Physics," Zia replied. "Let me guess, xenolinguistics?"

"Yep, and I have linguistics class afterwards. We get our exam timetables today. Are you nervous?"

"A bit," Zia shrugged. "I've been studying real hard though, so I should be fine."

Uhura glanced around the corridor and leant in close. "Your exam results only count for seventy-five percent of your grades," she whispered. "The other twenty-five percent is your behaviour in class and attitude to learning."

"Oh." She blinked. "Um, thank you? I suppose you weren't meant to tell me that…"

"No, I wasn't, but Professor Spock let it slip during my first year here and I think it's time to pass the knowledge to someone else. I think you've proven yourself to be trustworthy."

"Um, thank you."

"How are your lessons with him going? I know it's none of my business, but I'd just like to know if you're okay."

Zia smiled warmly. "I'm okay. Thank you for asking though."

The bell sounded, and a fleeting look of panic crossed Uhura's face. "I gotta get to class. You have a good day."

"You have a good day too and good luck with your timetable!"

Uhura raced off and Zia glided into her classroom, feeling slightly better. There really were nice people at the Academy. Maybe she should get out there and become familiar with some of them. Suddenly, the party at the end of exams didn't seem like such a bad idea.

o.O.o

After class, Zia stayed back to talk to Spock. She liked talking to him more than anyone else. There was something… nice about it. She wouldn't say it was like talking to a father figure but talking to a friend who truly understood her.

"Your focus today was exemplary," he said, a note of pride entering his voice.

"Well, I haven't had an episode in ages, so there's a lot less weight on my shoulders," she said happily. They passed a group of cadets heading the other way and Spock nodded at them. "Where's your next class?"

"Down that corridor you can see up there," he pointed. His PADD slipped as he moved, and he grabbed it before he lost his hold on it. The panicked look on his face earned a bout of laughter from her, which warmed his face.

"Your face was perfect," she sighed, the smile still there. "I should have had my tricorder out."

"You will do no such thing," he said in mock-horror, earning another laugh. How she wished he would smile. Maybe he would sense her yearning, but their psychic bond wasn't strong enough for her to transmit emotions at will. He was right. She would probably never be a telepath.

They reached his classroom and he faced her, his eyes locking onto hers. She blinked and smiled shyly as she glanced away, her cheeks green. It was awkward for a second, until Spock marched into his classroom. Zia stared after him and wondered what that feeling in her stomach was. The one that churned when she saw those expressive chocolate eyes.

o.O.o

Her exam timetable was pretty good.

Assessment Timetable: Abbott, Zia

PHYS 101 – Monday, 0800 Block-A, Rm 12

BIOL 111 – Monday, 1200 Block-B, Rm 13

ANTH 101 – Tuesday, 1600 Block-A, Rm 11

PE 232 – Wednesday, 0800 Block-D, Athletics Compound

MATH 120 – Thursday, 1000 Block-A, Rm 19

HIST 105 – Thursday, 1600 Block-A, Rm 18

If a cadet does not attend an assessment they are viable for suspension unless medical evidence is produced.

She'd since learned of the true nature of her assessments. Her physics, anthropology, math and history classes were all written, therefore being held in Block-A. In contract, her biology exam had practical elements, hence Block-B. Her athletics class required her to fulfil the minimum fitness requirements to pass.

After showering from her swim, Zia returned to her room to continue her revision. Tara was in the library looking at books about computer programming and discussing dress plans for the party on Friday with some of the other cadets. Zia paced across the room as she studied her biology papers but was interrupted when the door hissed open.

"Hey!"

Zia looked up as Tara tossed her satchel on her bed.

"Hey Tara," the Vulcan grinned. "Did you get the books you wanted?"

"Yeah. I'm going to have a quick shower." Tara grabbed her towel and went into the bathroom. Zia continued her biology revision and found herself lying on her bed, feet propped up on the wall, while she recounted the facts in her mind.

After Tara finished her shower, she studied her papers while wrapped in her towel. Zia was always uncomfortable when her roommate wasn't wearing clothes, but she had no right to say anything. If Tara was confident enough with her body to parade around with just a towel, who was she to judge?

"So," Tara said casually, "you coming to the party on Friday?"

"Yeah."

"Huh. I'm sorry, what?"

"Yeah, I'm going. There are some nice people at the Academy and I haven't given them a chance." Zia smiled shyly at Tara's dumbfounded expression. "You don't need to look so shocked."

"I am though… so you're actually going to the party? You're not joking?"

"No, I'm perfectly serious. But first we gotta get through exams. I don't see you studying."

"Oh yeah, right," Tara muttered, turning back to her papers. Still smiling, Zia packed up her things and curled up in bed, hoping for a peaceful night.

o.O.o

So, Zia was going to the party? Like, actually? That was unbelievable! Tara and Blair had tried to get her out for weeks! She stared at her sleeping roommate in disbelief. That was just so completely unexpected, and so unlike Zia.

Study, right! Tara shook her head and flipped her page over.

"Go away."

She glanced at her roommate. "What?"

"No. No. Go away. I mean it!" She thrashed, and her hand flew to her stomach. "Stop it! Leave me alone! No! Stop it!" As she thrashed, her hand gripped her leg and she whimpered in pain. "Stop." she sobbed. "Just leave me alone!" She grabbed her shoulder and screamed.

That was enough. Tara leapt from her bed and onto Zia, wrestling her down. The Vulcan thrashed and wailed, but her struggles eased. Whatever was happening inside her head was coming to its end. When it stopped completely, Tara curled up beside Zia, stroked her hair, and made soothing noises.

"Tara?" Zia woke with a start. "What happened? Why are you in my bed?"

"You had a nightmare," she explained.

Zia sighed and fell onto her pillow. "I dreamt that they dislocated my shoulder."

"Did that ever actually happen?"

"Yeah. I had to put it back into place myself." She sniffed and wiped her eyes.

"Why don't you do some meditation? It always makes you feel better." Tara released her hold and went back to her own bed.

"Okay," Zia nodded. Tara watched as her roommate grabbed her pillow and sat cross-legged on the floor. She bit her lip. Whatever the Vulcan had been through must have been bad to screw her up like this. But the break had lasted three weeks. That was a record.