VALENTINE ROSIE
"Happy valentine's day!" Harlan announced.
Radu turned in his bunk and pressed the muffs closer to his ears. It was already the second semester of the new school year and, even though it was nice having Harlan as a bunkmate, it was far too early to be shouting.
Radu felt a tap on his head. He cracked open an eyelid to see Harlan's grinning face upside down in his field of vision. With a smile, Radu sensed his defeat and opened both eyes. Harlan hung upside down from his top bunk.
"Happy valentine's day, buddy," Harlan greeted.
"Same to you," Radu said with a yawn. "What is valentine's day, anyway?"
"February 14th in the Earth year is valentine's day," Harlan explained. "It's the day when you celebrate love."
Radu felt a twinge of guilt that he could not spend this day with either of his loves, Elmira and Suzee. He knew Harlan had Cat, and Rosie had both Bova and Matt, and even Clito had a special someone back on Neptune. Radu sighed and rolled over in bed.
"Get up, sleepy head," Harlan laughed, poking Radu in the back. "I know you can hear me, with those big, spiral ears of yours. Time for breakfast."
Radu sat up and pushed Harlan back into his own bunk. The Earther flew back at the Andromedan's touch and laughed as he hit his own pillow. With a precision back flip, Harlan was off his bunk and onto the floor in front of Radu.
"Last one there has to eat next to Bova," Harlan challenged.
Radu finished dressing and raced after Harlan, down the hall and into the cafeteria.
**********
They entered the cafeteria in the middle of a fight between their friends. Rosie and Cat sat on one side of the table with Bova and Matt on the other. Clito was no where to be seen. Rosie was crying and Cat was shooting dirty looks at the boys. Both Bova and Matt wore expressions of distaste.
"What's going on?" Harlan asked.
"These two pig heads," Cat indicated to the two boys with her chin, "are forcing Rosie to choose between them."
Radu slid into the seat next to Rosie and put his arm around her. The Mercurian moved from crying in Cat's shoulder to crying in Radu's. Harlan slid in next to Matt.
"What's the hurry?" Harlan demanded. "You're all still young."
"The hurry," Bova answered, "is the valentine's day dance Friday night. No one without a date can attend, not that I'd want to go to a stupid ball anyway."
"A dance?" Harlan's eyes lit up. "Cool! We going, Cat?"
"Of course," Cat agreed.
"I want to go," Rosie sobbed, "but I can't choose one over the other! I like you both!"
"You can't bring two dates," Matt said gently. "You have to pick one!"
"I can't!" Rosie cried, burying her head back into Radu's chest.
He patted her back gently.
"She has all week," Radu said finally, "she can tell you then."
"What about you, Radu?" Cat said suddenly. "Don't you want to go to the dance?"
Radu felt himself blush. "I - well, I don't - "
"What he's trying to say," Harlan took over, "is that he can't very well brink Elmira to the dance, so who's he going to bring?"
Bova sneezed, saving Radu from having to agree or disagree. A small spark of electricity flew from his antennae and hit Radu in the shoulder. The Andromedan winced reflexively and rubbed the sore spot.
"Sorry," Bova apologized. "I think I'm catching a cold."
The bell rang and they scattered to their various classes.
**********
"Good morning, class," Ms Davenport said.
"Good morning, Ms Davenport," the class echoed back.
Ms Davenport smiled. "Well, then. Today's lesson on Earth history is about a special saint whom we celebrate today. Does anyone know the name of this saint?"
The class was quiet. Cat squirmed in her seat. To her right, Clito was playing a game of cards on her compupad. To her left, Bova was asleep and snoring loudly. A giggle passed through the class.
"Catalina?" Ms Davenport called. "Do you know the name of the saint?"
"Saint Valentine?" Catalina replied.
Ms Davenport smiled. "Very good, Catalina."
As Ms Davenport droned on about Saint Valentine, Cat let her thoughts wander to Friday night and the dance they were having. She knew all the boys would be wearing their dress uniforms and thought about how dashing Harlan looked in his. Another snore from Bova made her think sharply about Rosie's current problem. Who would she pick?
The bell rang, indicating another session of Ms Davenport's boring lectures was done. Cat jumped out of her seat, hit Bova hard on the arm to wake him, and sped out of class.
"I don't know how you did it," Clito said as they walked to their next class. "How did you manage to stand her for longer than an hour while you were on the Christa?"
"Tuning her out, mostly," Cat replied. "While I was on Yensid, it was easier because while Suzee listened to Ms Davenport, I went to the Science Hall with her little sister."
Cat turned away from Clito for a moment. "I miss her too," she said to Suzee.
"Miss who?" Clito asked.
"Suzee's little sister," Cat clarified. "She just told Suzee to tell me that she misses me."
The bell rang again and the crowd in the halls seemed to diminish.
"Grozit! I'm late!" Cat cried, running away from Clito.
The Neptunian shrugged and stepped into her next class.
**********
"All right, you lousy excuses for cadets," Coach Fairhall yelled. "It's time for you to exercise your muscles instead of your mouths! It's my job to whip you all into StarDogs, so move out!"
Radu rolled his eyes and started to run around the exercise hall with the other members of his physical education class. Harlan jogged up next to him and eyed the coach evily.
"Why is old Coach Hairball out to kill us?" Harlan asked.
Coach Fairhall was a semi-retired StarDog who taught boys Phys. ed. instead of going back to Earth to relax. Despite his old age, he was still tough and mean and most cadets hated him. He was tall and muscular, with a thick, white beard and short, white hair. He had a prejudice for Andromedans, much like Harlan had during the first little while on the Christa. Unlike Harlan, Coach Fairhall had fought Andromedans - a fact he used quite often to alienate Radu.
"I know why he's out to get me," Radu said easily. "I have no idea what you did to him."
"If you can talk, you're not running fast enough!" Fairhall yelled.
Radu smiled at Harlan. Harlan smiled back. The two space cases picked up the past and were soon outrunning all the other cadets by far.
"You two!" Coach called to Harlan and Radu. "You're both going to stay and run until you can't run anymore!"
"How long can you run until you can't run anymore?" Harlan asked conversationally.
Radu shrugged. "Days, probably. I've never really tried."
"I hope Coach brought a lunch," Harlan laughed.
The other cadets tired quickly and sat down to watch the continuing race between the two space cases. The bell rang, signaling the end of Phys. ed. class. As Radu passed the coach, he slowed down but kept jogging on the spot.
"Do you want me to keep going, coach?" Radu asked. "I have lunch next, so I won't miss any classes."
Coach Fairhall turned red and motioned for them all to go get changed.
**********
"So then," Harlan laughed, "Radu keeps jogging, but asks the coach if he want him to keep going, since he has lunch next and won't miss any classes. You should have seen the look on Hairball's face! He was furious! I didn't think Radu had it in him."
Catalina shared Harlan's laughter as they all ate their lunch. Luckily, all five space cases, and their two new friends all had lunch on the same free period. As they ate today, however, Rosie was in the study hall trying to finish an assignment and Matt and Bova were nowhere to be found. Everyone assumed they too, had work to do.
"Way to go, Radu," Cat congratulated him.
Radu smiled shyly and kept his eyes on his lunch tray. He poked at his food and was about to eat it when a sound made him look up sharply. The look of amusement on his friend's faces faded quickly to concern as the noticed Radu's serious expression.
"Radu," Clito began.
"Shhh," Radu silenced her. "I hear something."
He cocked his head and listened closely. He heard shouting and the faintest sound of a struggle. The groans and cries were slightly muffled, but the arguing was present.
"What is it?" Clito asked.
"A fight," Radu replied, standing quickly. "And I think I know between which two cadets."
Like a flash, Radu was out of the cafeteria. The others followed as quickly as they could.
**********
Harlan, Clito, and Catalina rushed into the exercise hall and gasped in disbelief. Radu stood in the centre of the hall, holding a struggling Bova in one outstretched arm and a struggling Mattar in the other. They were both suspended about a foot off the ground and they each showed signs of a fight. Bova had burn marks on his hands and face while Matt had the beginnings of a black eye.
"What . . .?" Catalina sputtered. "How . . . ?"
"Matt! What were you thinking?" Clito cried. "Bova, you too! You should both be ashamed of yourselves!"
Matt and Bova tried their best to look ashamed.
"Will you two promise not to kill each other if I put you down?" Radu asked.
They both nodded and Radu dumped them roughly on the floor. Clito left the gym to get Rosie while Harlan and Radu each guarded one of the fighters.
"What were you fighting about?" Cat demanded.
Matt and Bova stared at the ground.
"It was Rosie, wasn't it?" Cat asked. "Of course it was! How can you let a little something like a dance come between friends? What if Rosie doesn't pick either of you? What if she likes someone else? Then what will you guys do?"
The rivals continued to look sheepishly at the floor. Matt fiddled with his fingers and Bova drew imaginary pictures on the floor.
"You're both lucky the coach didn't catch you duking it out in here," Harlan observed. "He would have had both your hides!"
A gasp at the doorway signaled the return of Clito with Rosie. The Mercurian rushed to Catalina, eyes imploring the Saturnian to tell her what happened.
"Let them tell you," Cat said.
Rosie turned to the boys sitting on the floor. For the first time since Radu broke up the fight, they looked at each other.
"Rosie, we're sorry!" Bova blurted out. "It's just that . . . "
"That we can't stand being in suspense!" Matt continued. "You know how much we love you, we can't help but see each other as rivals!"
Rosie's eyes filled with tears as she looked from Bova, to Mattar, to Radu. Radu shrugged and looked at her with an expression that indicated he didn't know how to react either. Rosie turned and ran from the exercise hall. Radu glared at Bova and Matt and rushed after her.
"Men!" Cat said, rolling her eyes.
"Hey!" Harlan objected. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," Cat said in a sweet voice.
**********
"I - I just - don't - know - what - to do!" Rosie sobbed in a broken voice.
Radu sat next to her on her bed and put an arm comfortingly around her shoulder. She shrank into his embrace and he winced slightly as the first of the scalding hot tears landed on his leg.
"Do you like them?" Radu asked gently.
"I - I like them both!" Rosie stammered. "I don't know which one I like more. I've known Bova longer, and he's fun when you crack through that gloomy exterior, but he's so depressing sometimes. I've only known Matt since the war, but he's sweet and kind and fun, but he's still a stranger to me!"
Radu gently lifted Rosie away from him and turned her so she looked at him in the face. He smiled at her and stared into her eyes.
"Rosie, you're my best friend. You've never done anything you've regretted, and even if you have, you always know how to make it right again. Do what's in your heart," Radu said. "That's the best advice I can give."
Rosie fell against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. She hugged him back, thankful for his closeness and comfort.
**********
Bova wasn't in class the next morning, or the morning after that. Harlan went to check on him, but the nurse said that he couldn't have any visitors.
"He's sick," Harlan explained to his friends at lunch. "He caught a cold and can't have visitors because he might accidentally electrocute someone."
"That's great!" Matt said.
The others looked at him in shock and surprise. Matt cleared his throat and explained himself. "Today's Wednesday and there's no way Bova will be able to go to the dance Friday night if he's a sick as you say, so that means Rosie has to pick me!"
Rosie shook her head. "No, it doesn't."
Matt looked at her in alarm. "What do you mean?"
"There are plenty of guys in the Academy. Who says I have to go with you now that Bova's sick?"
"But . . . the agreement . . . "
"Was between you and Bova," Rosie finished. "I had nothing to do with it."
Matt looked confused and Harlan gave him a sympathetic shrug. Catalina wore a smug smile and patted Rosie's shoulder in support. Radu seemed shocked and he wondered to himself if it was his advice that had caused Rosie's change of heart.
**********
Clito clipped a few branches off her miniature tree and took a step back to admire her pruning. She hummed softly to herself as she began to water the plants in the botanical garden she had helped create. Professor Oakly had given her a lot of support when she first proposed a botanical garden and now, as she lived her dream, she felt at peace.
She heard the door slid open, but paid it no mind. She knew that whoever came in probably wanted to see the plants, or speak to Oakly. Either way, it was no concern of hers.
"Clito!" a voice called. "I've been looking everywhere for you!"
Radu came into the garden, careful not to knock anything over. He came up next to her and she smiled.
"Radu!" she said happily. "Great. As long as you're here, would you mind moving some trees for me?"
Radu agreed and Clito set him to work. As he moved the plants around, he talked about his problem.
"Rosie doesn't want to go to the dance with Matt, now that Bova's sick and I think it was because of the advice I gave her," he said.
"Right there," Clito directed. "What makes you think that? She knows what she's doing."
"But it's almost Friday and I don't want her to miss the dance. She's been looking forward to it," Radu continued.
"So why don't you take her?" Clito asked.
Radu nearly dropped the tree he was holding. "Me?"
"Yes, you," Clito said. "You don't have a date either, and you know how badly she wants to go."
Radu blushed. "But . . . I - I can't! She's my friend!"
Clito arched an eyebrow at him and put down the watering can she had been using. The door opened again and another cadet walked in. He had short, brown hair that was piled in a messy heap on the top of his head. Brown eyes peered from narrowed sockets and his freckled face smiled into a cruel grin.
"Oakly told me to come to this jungle and help you with . . . " the intruder began.
Radu turned away quickly so he wouldn't be caught staring. The cadet who had just entered was Peter Corwell - the one who was constantly making fun of Radu and the other space cases. He was the one who tried so hard to aggravate everyone for his own enjoyment. He was the one who had such a deep prejudice for any race except human. He was one of the only people Radu could honestly say he hated.
"I didn't know you already had a slave," Peter said pointing to Radu with his thumb. "When you're ready to send it back to its Spung master, call me. I can finish cleaning or something."
Peter turned on his toes and left the botanical garden. Radu felt his blood boil and almost squeezed the tree he held into dust. He felt a calming hand on his shoulder and turned to look at Clito.
"Take it easy," she said. "He's just a bitter, lonely, nut case."
"What was he doing here?" Radu asked.
"He got in trouble for doing some stupid prank and Oakly sent him here for punishment. I'll make him do something disgusting, don't worry."
Radu put down the last tree and said good bye to Clito. He left, feeling less comforted from the meeting.
**********
It was Friday afternoon and classes were just finishing up. As the final bell rang, the cadets fled to the library, study hall, exercise hall, biosphere, or their own dorms to prepare for the dance. The space cases headed to the tree where they always met before going off to get ready for the dance.
"Where is everyone?" Harlan asked.
Clito took a break from filing her nails to look around the biosphere. Harlan was right - the park was unusually deserted.
"They're probably all getting ready for the dance," Cat said. "Everyone's going to be there."
"Not me," Matt moped from where he sat next to Clito. "Rosie didn't pick me."
Clito rolled her eyes and hit her friend on the shoulder. Matt snapped out of his depression and turned to the source of the sudden pain in his arm.
"Do you want to go with me to the dance?" Clito asked.
"I thought you had a date," Matt said.
"Only if you say yes and stop whining," Clito answered.
Matt nodded. "I would be honoured."
Clito turned her attention back to her nails. "One down, two to go," she muttered.
Catalina stifled a giggle. The clock in the centre of the sphere chimed four o'clock. Cat gasped at the sound and jumped to her feet.
"We gotta go and get dressed!" she exclaimed.
Clito rose to her feet in a smooth, fluid motion and nodded. She smiled to the boys and left with Catalina. Harlan lay on his back and stared at the synthetic clouds that rolled by.
"So, you going to go yet?" he asked.
Matt looked at the clock. "We have an hour and a half before it starts. That's plenty of time to get ready."
Harlan nodded. "Yeah. I wonder why girls always have to leave hours earlier?"
**********
"That's why they leave early," Matt whispered to Harlan.
The boys stood at the entrance to the dance, staring at their dates who had completely transformed in a short time. Catalina wore her hair in an upswept fashion similar to how Suzee had occasionally worn hers. She wore a dress of purple and blue, with the colours so evenly mixed that it was difficult to tell where one ended and the other began. She wore purple eye shadow to delicately accent her blue eyes and a touch of lipstick to show off her smile. Harlan gulped and whistled at her.
Clito was dressed in a short, seaweed green dress that accented her aquamarine skin and long legs. Her hair was kept down and fell casually over one eye. She didn't wear very much make up at all because of her colouring and had a diamond necklace to show off her low cut dress.
"Wow!" Mattar gasped.
The boys were dressed in their formal Starcademy uniforms, as were all the other boys at the dance. Cat held out her hand for Harlan to take and Clito did the same to Matt. The foursome entered the dance.
**********
Catalina and Harlan danced together, yet the Saturnian kept one eye on the door all night. Finally, she turned to Harlan.
"Where are Rosie and Radu?" she asked.
Harlan gestured to the refreshment table with his chin. "Over there. They were here before we were."
"I wonder why they didn't come over," Cat said.
"I thought you needed a date to get in," Harlan said.
"Duh," Cat told him, "they came together!"
Rosie and Radu stood in a corner, talking and laughing. Clito and Matt noticed them as well, but the Neptunian kept her date from dancing over and starting a scene. The song ended and the couples all clapped.
"Thanks for coming out," Peter Corwell announced. "I'd like to take this opportunity to send out a special hello to Radu for talking the Spung into letting him out just this once before he goes back to licking their feet."
The crowd laughed. Rosie put a comforting hand on Radu's arm as the Andromedan glared at the Earther.
"Everyone's favourite downer is also missing," Peter continued. "I guess this was just too much good cheer for poor, old Bova to handle."
Again, laughter exploded in the dance hall. It was now Radu's turn to comfort Rosie as tears welled up in her eyes. The other space cases came over to where they sat as Peter kept up his teasing.
"And look who's over at the punchbowl," Peter said. "It's Clito, the world's only mermaid. Careful, she might spike the punch - with herself!"
"Excuse me a moment," Clito said, liquefying herself.
The space cases watched as the small puddle came up on stage as Peter ridiculed them all. In his amusement, he stepped in the puddle as Clito was passing by the electrical outlet. A loud zap echoed through the dance hall, followed quickly by a yell from the host. The crowd stared at Peter, his hair standing straight up and his hand burned from the shock, then erupted into a fit of laughter. Clito rematerialized next to Mattar.
"The most useful thing I learned in chemistry," Clito said, "was that water conducts electricity."
"Let me try," Matt said.
As Peter went to sit on a metal chair on stage, Matt sent out a massive amount of heat. The chair rose in temperature until Peter sat. He jumped out of the chair with a yell and the crowd roared with amusement. The dance was a success.
**********
Rosie and Radu walked through the empty halls of the Starcademy. Rosie had a large smile on her face as she kept up the endless chatter she had been engaged in all night. They arrived at the doorway to Rosie's dorm.
"Thanks for going with me, Radu," Rosie said. "I had a great time."
"So did I," Radu agreed. He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. "Good night."
He turned and headed down the hall. Rosie watched him disappear into the turbolift that would take him to his dorm.
"Good night, Radu," she whispered. "I love you."