Interstellar Academy

06: Over

So the remainder of their semester went on pretty solemnly. Jim and Nova never even spoke to each other, let alone hung around, at the pleasure of Nova's "boyfriend" Roger.

A week before the semester was officially over, and the holidays began, was parents' week. Jim's mother was excited to see her son after almost half a year without him. She wrote him furiously all semester long, and he felt awful for almost never responding. But he would get her up to speed when she was here.

Also during the last half of his semester, Jim and his friends devised a plan to finally take down Roger and get their friend back from his evil clutches. Nova wouldn't take part in it, not only because Roger would probably find out and bring harm to them, but she felt there were other ways to solve a problem other than with violence.

Because that was Jim's only solution: violence.

Roger had also taken up many technology and physically demanding classes, so unfortunately they saw much of each other.

But the final exam for their flintlock class was to build the ultimate pistol- and duel with it. They were allowed to pick their partners, and to everyone's utter surprise, Jim picked Roger. He had to use this chance to take advantage of him, over power him, humiliate him.

Nova was getting worse and worse day by day. She began looking sickly her teachers consistently checked on her whenever they saw her even walking by. Twice she'd passed out during class, and her grades were beginning to drop. She was a perfectionist; it wasn't like her to fail anything.

Parents flocked in, Jim scanning the crowd for his mother. She looked well rested, but then again restless, like she was antsy. He came up behind her and hugged her, surprising her at first before she attacked him with a strong hug of her own.

"Hey, mom," he said kissing her cheek before escorting her to the campus dining hall. Parents and students flocked inside, trying to find a place for at least their parents to sit; most students stood behind their chairs and stood at attention.

"Welcome, parents!" called the dean, holding all six of his arms excitedly and clapping all three pairs of hands. "I'm glad to see you all here today! I'm sure you want to get along with becoming once again acquainted with your children. Some ushers will be coming by and will be around the room with brochures of the events being held this week. Please take one to stay updated on what's going on! WELCOME!"

The students cheered, Jim bending down to hug his mother. They left shortly thereafter, grabbing a brochure and looking at the school-held events, deciding which ones to ditch, which ones they absolutely had to attend.

Jim talked about his school life- trying to keep out the love drama details and rivalries censored out- and his mother briefed him on some news going on at home. Doctor Delbert and Amelia were expecting yet another child, which they were very excited about. One of their daughters is trying to ride on a tricycle, which worried the Doc, but he knew it would happen eventually. B.E.N. was interested in some dishwashing bot they'd hired at the inn.

"About time that kid found love," Jim chuckled, rolling his eyes. "Maybe they could tolerate him crying all over their shoulders instead of using mine."

They walked along the beach for awhile, taking in the view, before his mother decided her "old" bones needed some rest. Taking her back to the living quarters especially accommodated for the parents, he hugged her goodnight and promised to come see her first thing class let out.

He was glad his mother did everything she could to avoid talking about Nova. In fact, it was like she'd forgotten all about her. Jim wished he had that ability.

Speaking of which…

Nova was next to the fountain, plucking aimlessly at a flower with so many petals, one would wonder if she'd ever finish tarnishing the poor thing. A couple birds flew beside her, but she didn't seem to notice them.

"Nova?" Jim looked around cautiously before sitting next to her. "Hey, where are your parents?"

"They didn't come… You know, war against other planets and all that…"

Jim furrowed his eyebrows, unsure of what to say.

"I'm so tired…" She wasn't saying this to him, but more like a simple thought aloud.

"Then go to bed…" He reached out to hold her hand- or to simply touch her as gently as possible; she looked as if she might break any moment- but she flinched away from him, like he was made of pure lightning. "Nova…"

She sighed, still hiding under hair. She brushed some of it behind her ears, though it still wasn't under control; so that was why she'd put it up so often. Her face was so thin, like she was being attacked from the inside-out by some disease. Her eyes looked wider, and she had bags sinking too keep into her face.

"Nova, I think we need to take you to a doctor." She opened her mouth to protest, but he didn't listen to it. Instead, he picked her up- too easily- and carried her to the infirmary. "We need to go to a hospital." He looked at the nurse pleadingly, and she happily obliged. She stared at Nova as if she'd wanted to dial those precious numbers for quite a while.

Jim lay her on the bench, and they waited patiently for someone to take her away. She said nothing of protest; in fact, she was trying to get herself strapped in, like she wanted to get out of that room and into a whiter, cleaner one.

And off she was.

Jim threw himself into the school activities for three days, trying to act as happy and cheerful as possible. Once he'd gotten the call from Nova's room that she wanted to see him, he broke off any plans he had- which was with their friends, and they completely understood- and rode (illegally) a solar surfer out to the hospital.

He ran up to her room and busted open the door. She was sitting peacefully in a chair by the window, her head resting on the large windowsill, her hands nestling her chin. Her hair was tied in its usual braid and when she turned around at the sound of him, she looked so much fuller and lively. She smiled at him, though it was weak, with the same hope and love as before.

"Hi, Jim."

He stood beside her at first, taking her in, finding all the old pieces in this little shell of a thing. Then he bent down and kissed her forehead, at which she didn't flinch, she didn't move away, but sighed into.

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," he said into her forehead. "Stop."

"I like it when you scold me," she said shyly, sounding like herself. She leaned back to smile at him brightly. "It shows you care."

"Idiot." He knelt beside her. "Does he know?"

"That I'm here?" She slouched a bit at the mention of Roger. "No. He keeps contacting and harassing you guys, I hear. Are you sure you're doing the right thing?" Her face grew a bit pale. What if… I just can't stand the idea of something happening to you. I'm not worth-"

"Shut. Up." He sighed hotly, rolling his eyes. "Look, because I-" He bit his lip, not sure if he should say it or wait until a more opportune moment. Then the words "Carpe Diem" went through his mind and decided to go with it. Looking dead in her eyes, he continued. "I love you, Nova. It's not some stupid puppy love, it's this serious, sickening, weird love that keeps me awake and torments me and makes me feel more alive than anything else possibly could. The most thrilling feeling in the world isn't some pirate adventure, isn't escaping exploding planets, or even flying with you, but being in love with you. Everything about you it just, I don't know." He cut off then, pressing a hand to his face, embarrassed.

"You… do?" Her eyes looked like they were sparkling at him when he finally looked at her. "You really feel that way? Because I love you too. More than I could express. And sometimes I lay awake at night wondering if the amount of love for you is enough, and I always tell myself no because quite frankly you deserve more than me."

They were face to face now, him holding onto the arm of her chair almost desperately, like a man holding onto a cliff for dear life. She clutched the hospital gown they'd provided her, wringing it nervously.

"There's nothing I deserve more than you. Because there's nothing else."

She crashed into him then, kissing him furiously and desperately. They clung to each other until one of them needed air, and even then, when one pulled away, the other pushed back, being more forceful.

"Save me, Jim. Because I can't anymore. I'm in too deep." Her eyes brimmed and sparkled with tears she wouldn't allow herself to cry. "I messed up, but please. Jim…"

"I'll get you out of this."

And he kept to that promise.

Last day of parents' day consisted of parents patiently waiting for their children to finish the last of their exams. The last exam to be taken was the flintlock test, which Jim was ready for. Nova was admitted from the hospital, and stood in the crowd cheering for Roger, for the sake of appearances.

"You think you can beat me, Hawkins?"

"I'm betting on it, Lander." They glared at each other before the referee sounded the bell.

Showtime.