Lauren had settled back on her bunk after lunch. She was feeling full and sleepy. A nap sounded like a good idea. The chatter between Rahna, Kat, and Indira didn't stop, but became a low droning as Lauren's eyes began to flutter closed.
She could see him from a distance standing at the far end of the room, his dark curly hair falling casually over his brow. She wanted to talk to him to just say hello. His amber brown eyes turned towards her and she felt them lock with hers. They glided toward each other inexplicably. She was drawn to him and she didn't even know his name. Without even a hello, his hand caught her waist and drew her close. She felt his breath on her face. She would die for just a touch of his lips, and it seemed like she was going to, if she could just get a little closer…
A loud buzzer rang through the room. "Barracks 230 through 240, please report to the workout area for ability testing. You have 5 minutes," a voice ordered. Lauren sat up groggily and yawned.
"Do you guys know how to get to this room?" she asked.
"It looks like it just came up on our datapads," said Rahna. "We'd better go."
The girls hurried to the large, open room where a sizeable group of teens were standing. Lauren heard an audible squeal from Rahna as her eyes fell on the blonde boy and his dark haired companion.
"This must mean they bunk near us! Yay!" she whispered excitedly. "I'm going over to talk to him."
Lauren watched Rahna saunter over to the pair, watching both boys eye her obviously. Rahna paid direct attention to the blonde boy, but it seemed the dark haired one wanted to be noticed. Lauren wondered what she was saying to them as she smiled and touched the blonde boy's arm flirtatiously. She wanted to walk over there and be brave and talk to boys…
"Attention!" It was Vyrnnus. Lauren couldn't exactly determine turian facial expressions, but she thought he was pissed. "We are here to sort you out into groups based on your biotic abilities. We are here to determine strength right now, so do not hold back. Do what you can do. Impress me."
That last sentence from Vyrnnus sounded like a dare. Lauren didn't know why, but he made her burn with anger. Maybe it was because of history class and the First Contact War. Maybe he didn't look trustworthy.
A soft-featured woman held a datapad and called out the first name. "Alenko, Kaidan." Lauren looked and saw the dark haired boy walk forward. It looked like they were going to be watched by the entire group. Her stomach filled with butterflies and she knew she had to wait all the way until the S's.
Vyrnnus looked at Kaidan and tossed a medicine ball on the floor in front of him. "Throw this ball as far and as hard as you can." The boy flared blue and took one step back with his foot. Lauren watched with more than just a little interest as he threw his arm out in front him and the 20 lb. medicine ball flew from the floor where he was on one end of the room and slammed hard into the wall about 15 feet up on the other end.
Lauren saw the blonde boy whistle and exclaim, "Damn, Alenko!" His biotic flare fading, Kaidan smiled proudly and walked back to where he and Rahna were standing.
The woman started calling other names. Lauren saw that some of the teen apparently either didn't have the strength or didn't know what to with their biotics. Some barely moved the ball a meter and others just moved the ball up instead of throwing it.
"Danielson, Kathryn." Kat took her place by the ball. She looked nervous as she began to glow blue. She threw both arms out in front of her and the ball moved about halfway across the room. Her face began to flush red as she noticed that her nose was bleeding. Hiding her face, she quickly walked back toward where Lauren and Indira waited.
"I hate when I do that," she hissed. "It's so humiliating to do this and then bust a vessel. I don't like using my biotics at all, but my dad forced me here. I'd get rid of this biotic shit if I could." Wiping her nose with the tissue offered by one of the adults, she looked thoughtfully over to where Rahna was.
"Do you think he noticed me?" Kat asked.
"Who?" Lauren said dully. She didn't care about Kat getting her hands on…Kaidan, that was his name.
"I don't know," said Indira. "He was talking with Rahna when you were taking your turn."
Kat pouted a bit and wiped her nose again. "I'm going over there," she said resolutely. "Sometimes a woman's got to make the first move."
"Good luck!" Indira said encouragingly. Lauren just watched her go. Her mind had been in a strange place since that dream she had in her bunk. It was so quick, but so vivid. She felt like it was real and that she could really go over to him and just kiss him like they had been together forever. But she was also a realist, knowing her shyness wouldn't let her even say hello to him.
"Kuthari, Indira." Indira stood stock still, her eyes wide.
"It's ok, Indi, go on. Show them what you've got," Lauren said, squeezing the girl's hand.
"Thanks, Lauren."
The tall girl took her place and Vyrnnus crossed his arms skeptically, like he had with most of the other kids. Indira's body was soon covered in a blue corona and her normally friendly face was set like flint. She waved one arm around and raised the ball to shoulder height, then as she thrust her arm forward, the ball took off like a shot. It hit the wall, much like Kaidan's had. Maybe not quite as much force, Lauren thought.
Indira's face also flushed like Kat's had, but hers wasn't from embarrassment. She was giddy as she returned to Lauren. "I've never done anything like that before! My grandparents were always scared of me, saying I was some devil. I would let out a little power now and then when they weren't around, but nothing like that! It was wonderful!"
"You did great, Indi. I'm sure that turian was impressed." Indi and Lauren turned then to see how Kat and Rahna were faring with their male conquests. Rahna seemed to be doing just fine, if the way the blonde guy was leaning toward her was any indication. Kat seemed to not be gaining the interest of Kaidan. He kept looking over toward Rahna. She was beautiful; there was no denying that.
"Mathewson, Jason." The blonde boy smirked and took his place near the ball. After a bit of posturing, his face took on a firm look and his biotic power came to life. With a motion like a fast-pitch softball pitcher, Jason threw his arm. The medicine ball flew quickly and hit the wall. It wasn't a pounding noise like Kaidan's or even Indira's. It was more like a light bounce.
Jason seemed pleased with himself despite what Lauren thought was a disappointing display. He promptly walked back to Rahna and she obligingly cooed over him. "Wow, Jason, you definitely have some power," she said, adding emphasis on the last word. The innuendo was not lost on the young man. "Indeed, I do. I'll have to show you a little more of it some time." He leaned in close and touched her cheek. Rahna blushed and giggled. Kaidan, who had been standing there silently, sighed in annoyance.
He gazed around the room at the other teenagers, hoping to find another friendly face. He didn't want to pick up girls here. Not since Rahna wouldn't even give him the time of day. Kat had become silent and he was glad she had finally quit talking. Right now all he wanted was a friend…one that didn't have a one-track mind. Kaidan slowly edged himself away from the oblivious pair and a slightly dejected looking Kat. Arms folded in front of him, he started to walk around the perimeter of the crowd.
"Shepard, Lauren!" Lauren startled at the sound of her name. She walked to the line, keeping a close eye on the turian. She hoped that one day she could read turian facial expressions. His still pissed her off. He made a gesture toward her to start. She closed her eyes and loosed all the internal blocks she kept to hold her biotics in. Her mind lit up with its electric tingle. Taking a deep breath, she focused on the medicine ball and launched it at the wall. The ball hit with a slam so hard, it remained lodged in the hole it created. The turian's mandibles moved slightly and Lauren looked him straight on, only letting a slight smile creep onto her face for a second. Take that, you turian bastard.
The crowd hushed when they heard the loud thump from the ball. As she walked back to her place by Indira, the dark-haired boy…Kaidan, approached her. "Wow, that was really impressive. Do you think they can get the ball back out of the wall?" His smile was gentle. Lauren felt immediately flushed.
"I-I don't know. I didn't think about that."
"Do you have an amp? Or did you just do that naturally?" Kaidan tapped the back of his neck and turned showing Lauren a thin scar.
"My parents kept my biotics under wraps. I'm supposed to get one here for free, they said."
"That's amazing. With an amp, you could probably throw twice as hard. Bust this station to hell. When you do, let me know first, so I can escape," he chuckled. Lauren liked his laugh.
"I have an amp," the quiet Indira suddenly said. "I have an L2."
Kaidan smiled at her with the same smile he had given Lauren. "So am I. How are you doing with it? I get headaches like you wouldn't believe."
"Ok, so far, I guess. I think I was lucky. Haven't had any side effects." Indira blushed and seemed surprised that she was even talking to this guy. Lauren felt the same way, but she wouldn't let her face show it. This guy was about as perfect of a specimen of man that she had ever seen. She wanted to run away, but she didn't want him to leave. She tried to think of something else to talk about.
"Do you like our friend Kat?" she blurted out quickly. "She likes you."
His eyes turned back to her and she felt like a spotlight was burning on her. "Uh, y-yeah, she seems…nice," he stuttered. Kaidan didn't want to tell this girl that her friend was annoying as hell. "W-well, I don't know you two. What are your names? You are both friends with Kat and Rahna, right?"
Lauren hated the way he said Rahna's name. It sounded like rainbows and sunshine and probably unicorns shitting jellybeans. He was attracted to her. Her mind burned with jealousy and she quickly looked toward where Rahna was now whispering into the blonde boy's ear while holding his one hand with both of hers. "Yeah, I guess you could say we are friends," Lauren said. "We all share a bunk room. I'm Lauren Shepard."
"I'm Indira Kuthari. It's nice to meet you." Indira stuck her hand out. Kaidan took it in a firm shake. Lauren noticed that Indira didn't seem all too quick to release his hand either.
"It's nice to meet you both as well. What barrack are you in? Jason and I are in 230."
Indira was gleeful. "We're in 235. So we must be just around the corner from you!"
"How do you think they'll do lights out? Will they lock us in our rooms?" Lauren wondered aloud.
"I hope not. We could come visit you!" Indira's eyes never left Kaidan.
He shifted his weight uncomfortably under her gaze. "I-uh, haven't read all the rules yet. Don't want that turian getting pissed and airlocking us!" Kaidan smiled as he tried to dodge the subject.
"Zorlu, Rahna!" Kaidan's eyes quickly looked to where the beautiful girl was making her way to the line. Vyrnnus tossed the ball toward her wordlessly. Rahna gave a mighty shout as she threw a burst of energy toward the ball. It flew through the air, hitting the wall near Lauren's hole. Blood gushed from her nose and she started to shake. Lauren saw her go pale and fall to the ground.
A few of the human adults ran to her aid. Vyrnnus remained where he was looking skeptical as ever. Kaidan quickly moved past the girls without so much as a goodbye. He rushed up and kneeled at Rahna's side. One of the adults gave her a quick injection and Rahna's eyes popped open. She sat up quickly and looked right at Kaidan.
"What happened?" she asked.
"You passed out after you threw the ball," Kaidan said softly, his hand on her arm, giving her support.
"Oh, wow. How embarrassing…" She rubbed her face and smeared the blood that had started to dry under her nose. Lauren snickered at how it made her look, but she was still intolerably jealous of her. He was touching her! He was concerned about her!
Lauren turned and started to leave the room with the rest of the teens. Vyrnnus called out after them. "You will be put into classes based on your skills. Your class assignments will be on your datapads tomorrow morning after breakfast. You have free time until dinner."
She turned back to see Kaidan walking away with Rahna, his arm around her waist. Jason was at her side as well. That's it, Lauren thought. You are not my friend.
A/N: Sorry about the long wait for a new chapter. I haven't abandoned this! Ideas are simmering!