When school finally dragged to an end, I met everyone in front of Chaz’s pod. His was an old classic, with sleeker, longer curves than newer models, and a metallic silver finish. His biological father handed it down to him. There wasn’t much money in his job in environmental protection, but socially it was seen as a noble career, and that mattered on Como.
The car already held lots of fond memories of us PM (Pre Mira/Pre Moga), cruising the skies till all hours, chatting about life. We had our own little game. Lying on the bonnet of his pod looking up at the stars, we pretended we could choose our future ourselves, playing ‘what if.’ Chaz’s dreams were modest and achievable. He saw himself following in his father’s footsteps, working to protect our world and keep it sustainable. He rarely spoke of his future partner, his silence on the topic keeping me from probing his true thoughts on the matter. Why upset him with questions when it wouldn’t change anything anyway?
I imagined I was a famous pad designer living in my own amazing pad I designed myself, in the middle of the city. I always said I was alone, that in my perfect world I could stay single if I chose. I could never tell him that if I could choose, I would choose him. I was too afraid, and silence was safer. At least I was free to dream.
He always listened so carefully, like my meaningless dribble was the most interesting thing in the world to him. Except it wasn’t. Not now that Mira had come on the scene. Maybe the problem was that I’d always shared too much with Chaz. I was no mystery, and Mira was, in a sullen, impenetrable way. Let’s face it, no matter the planet, I knew there were two things boys couldn’t resist about a girl; mystery, followed by a good challenge. I was neither.
“Can you come to the Lonely Galaxy for a while?” Dash asked while grabbing me playfully in a head-lock. I squirmed half-heartedly, then gave up, hanging limply until he released me with a grin.
“I guess I can honour you with my presence for a while,” I joked as I punched his arm, then skipped out of his way as he made another grab at me. Homework could wait. I would never be able to concentrate anyway. We jumped in our pods, racing each other irresponsibly to the Galaxy. Illegal I know, but I felt like breaking a few little rules. It only seemed fair, seeing that I’d been hit with some much bigger responsibilities in the last two days. Dash won, his black speedster twenty-eighty model leaving us all in his vapour trail. Chaz didn’t even race; with Mira in his passenger seat, he preferred safely cruising. Boring. Meela putted along last as she’d inherited her mother’s rattly old pod, much to her chagrin. After the moons (hey, no one was counting) it had taken me to learn to handle it, my pod was now showing a few signs of bad flying, a scratch here, a dent there, but I came in second place, pushing my foot down to the floor the whole way.
Lonely Galaxy was an old, family style venue, previously favoured by my parents’ generation. Despite the décor never having been updated, the place remained socially acceptable. The ceiling was night-sky black illuminated with streaks of white like a starry sky. The cubicles were a soft, synthetic material in a deep red, while dim, blue lights hung low over the tables. The place felt intimate, yet relaxed. It was already filling up with Caran students and local families.
We made our way to our favourite cubicle in the rear corner where glass walls overlooked the city, Como’s moon already beginning to rise in the hazy twilight. I slid into the soft seats with Meela and Dash. Chaz and Mira sat opposite the red glass table and we punched our orders onto the screen on the surface before us. Chaz looked particularly breathtaking in the dim lighting, wearing a deep, blue collarless shirt that enhanced the fine structure of his face, the blond of his hair. He was listening to Dash relating a classroom incident, which was getting more and more animated by the moment, but I could tell he was longing to touch Mira, his eyes distractedly flickering over her face as Dash rambled on. But, they didn’t dare touch. Not here, where it could be noted, or raise questions. I was glad of it. At least in public they had to obey our laws and spare me the pain of seeing their intimacy.
I wasn’t even listening to poor Dash, too busy glaring at Mira while she twisted her dark hair through her fingers, and stared around the room. Clearly, she was looking for someone else, anyone else, who could be less boring than she appeared to find us. I wished she’d spot a friend and get lost. It wasn’t like she even put in any effort with Dash and Meela. Even Meela, who rarely said a bad word against anyone found it hard to ignore Mira’s dismissive attitude.
“So,” said Meela, as our food popped up through the delivery shute in the centre of the table, “I know you can’t really talk about what’s going on, but maybe you can give us some general yes or no answers about it?” Meela turned on ‘the face’, a pleading expression accompanied with such huge and hopeful eyes I couldn’t help laughing.
“Okay I’ll give it a go.”
“Yay! So do you like the training so far?” Meela asked, leaning forward excitedly.
“Er...I wouldn’t really say yes, but not really no either,” I mused unhelpfully as I sipped my drink.
“Was it fun or boring?”
“Definitely not boring.”
“Exciting or scary?” Dash chipped in, between mouthfuls of food.
“Um...a little scary honestly.” Chaz put down his drink and looked at me sharply.
“So it was scary ay?” Dash said, sounding impressed. “As in dangerous scary?” I glanced at Mira and found her glaring scornfully back, her eyes narrowed, her upper lip curling.
“Well for me it was. Actually Mira was braver than I was,” I grudgingly admitted. Mira’s mouth fell open. It was probably the first compliment I’d ever paid her. Okay, it definitely was. It was the truth though. Where fear had almost conquered me, Mira had reacted with anger. Why was she so angry? You would think being Chaz’s girlfriend would have her beaming like an idiot all day long, but no, she still had to go about scowling like she’d just stepped in moga droppings. Suddenly, Chaz inhaled sharply, his eyes fixing on me strangely.
“What?”
“Those bruises on your neck...are those... finger marks?” He wasn’t smiling. My hand flew to my neck, my heart jumping a little as he gazed at me with concern.
“Erm...yes, I suppose they could be.” Flustered, I tore my eyes away from his. Meela gasped, while Dash looked even more impressed. He whistled under his breath.
“Whoa, I would partner with a swamp maiden to see what you got up to today.” Dash’s voice dripped with jealously and frustration. “It’s so unfair. I want in!”
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” I replied tensely, still feeling Chaz’s eyes on my face. Mira made an indignant huffing sound that resulted in Chaz immediately turning his focus to her.
“You weren’t hurt were you?” He gazed at her so intently it was like the rest of us weren’t even there. Ahem.
“Oh no,” she crooned, sickly sweet as she batted her eyelashes up at him, “I can take better care of myself than that.” It was a real struggle not to dive over the table and give her some bruises of her own. Instead, I just smiled calmly back. It irritated her, the desired effect.
The rest of the meal was spent with Dash and Meela grilling me while Chaz listened in silence. As careful as my answers were, Mira hissed and tutted at everything I said until I couldn’t take it a moment longer.
“What?” I hissed as she pulled a disdainful face at my last answer. “Can you answer any better?”
“Why answer at all?” she snapped. “Maybe you should just stop now before they know every last detail.”
“Excuse me?” I huffed. “I’m being as careful as I can. Besides, these are my friends whom I trust; they aren’t going to tell anyone else.” Meela and Dash sat up straight at that, staring at Mira with wounded expressions.
“Fine. Whatever. I just think you should show some respect for the Governing Body.” She folded her arms defensively, and Chaz’s expression turned grim.
“Respect?” I spluttered, so fuming at her hypocrisy that my hands gripped the glass table like I might break it. There were a number of objects on the table just begging to be levitated at her head. Just one little glass? Chaz would forgive me wouldn’t he? No, probably not.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying hard not to visualize my meal in her face. A second of power would be all it would take for the second war to break out, right over this table.
“Mira,” Chaz cut in sounding slightly chastising. “It’s not like that, take it easy. Twell would never say anything she shouldn’t.” She started to shoot him a dirty look, but wisely changed her mind at the last second. “Okay Chazzy,” she said in a totally fake humble voice. “If you say so, I trust your judgement.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t talk about it; I don’t want any of us to get in trouble.” Meela glanced worriedly around the restaurant as if a Governing official might pop out from a booth and arrest us at any moment.
“What’s the harm?” Dash argued. “Since when was talking a crime?”
“It might not be a crime, but that doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous,” Meela said, her voice hushed. My own eyes roved furtively around the restaurant, her paranoia contagious.
“I don’t think we’re doing anything wrong,” I persisted despite my unease. It seemed unfair I couldn’t offload to my friends without worrying someone might overhear and report us for social misconduct.
“Well I do, and I can’t be part of this conversation,” Mira declared primly. Getting up from the table, she flounced off to the door where she stood, foot tapping, waiting for Chaz. Meela glanced sideways at me, her expression incredulous. I stared pointedly at Chaz, waiting for the excuse I knew he’d make for her. He shrugged at us apologetically.
“She’s just a little edgy tonight.” He looked embarrassed. “She’s probably just nervous about training, don’t take it personally, she means no harm.” Oh no, course not. No harm at all, just wants to shock me into a trillion pieces, that’s all. I bit my tongue very hard to avoid a retort. After we watched them leave, I turned to my remaining friends with eyebrows raised.
“Is that girl colder than a sunless planet or what?” Dash began, throwing his feet onto the seat where Mira had just been. “I mean nice face and all, but well, zero for the personality.”
“Dash!” Meela squealed, slapping him. We both laughed anyway. I loved it when Dash trash talked Mira. If I did it, as a girl I was a moga. If Dash did it, it was simply true, and funny. I tried very hard not to encourage him; too much.
“She does seem to love provoking you,” Meela admitted.
“You think?” I snorted. “Her mission in life is to annoy the heck outta me.”
“I really don’t understand what Chaz sees in her,” Dash mused. “I mean I’m a sucker for a good-looking sort, but I seriously could not deal with the attitude.”
“Can you please stop mentioning how good looking she is?”
“Jealous, Twell?” Dash grinned, his eyebrows dancing up and down.
“Of her?” I sniffed. “Don’t insult me.”
“Okay, okay.” Dash chuckled. “Well as long as she makes Chaz happy, I guess we have to put up with her.”
“Speak for yourself,” I muttered. “The way Chaz defends her behaviour is crazy. Why doesn’t he put her in her place?”
“I’m not sure even Chaz is that brave,” Meela giggled.
“Ahhh it’s the mystery of woman,” Dash began in a theatrical tone, pulling his face into a dreamy expression. “You make fools of us, be cruel to us, but then you bat your eyelashes and look all appealing, and we are helpless to your wile ways.”
“Puullllease,” Meela groaned, rolling her eyes. “I would never treat my man like that.”
“Your man? Who is he?” Dash sat up. Giving her a very keen look, he poked her in the ribs.
“No one, it’s hypothetical stupid,” said Meela blushing. “I just mean not all girls play games like that, what a waste of time when we get matched in the end anyway.”
“Exactly,” I agreed. Then I glanced at my organizer and noticed the time. “I have to go,” I groaned. “I have to pick Marz up.”
“Speaking of girls and boys...” Dash said slyly.
“Don’t go there,” I warned.
“Aww, come on, he’s so obvious, can’t I tease a little?” Dash begged, his eyes shining wickedly.
“He is cute though, you do realize?” Meela couldn’t help adding. “Maybe you should put in a good word for me, since you’re not interested.” Dash sat back suddenly, his face darkening a little.
“I’m not interested?” I raised an eyebrow at her.
“Nope, I’ve decided he’s not your type after all.”
“Really? What’s my type?” I was intrigued in her thoughts on the matter, considering the only ‘type’ the Governing Body cared about was our genetic type.
“Well...lemmee see...good looking but not too brawny, intense, unavailable...”
“Meela!” I cried in dismay. “Whom have I gone for that’s unavailable?” A better question would be whom had I ever gone for?
“Um, Chaz?” Meela suggested without batting an eyelid.
“I most certainly have not, thanks very much!” I wasted my lying breath. Dash and Meela would have had to be daft not to notice my infatuation with Chaz. Like I’d said, everyone but Chaz himself noticed. But I’d never done anything about it; I had some dignity.
“Well, what about that Jonaz then?” Meela continued her theories, ignoring my scowl. “He seems just the right type, well built, gorgeous, we don’t know much about him so he’s mysterious too!”
“Arrogant, self-absorbed, goes through girlfriends like they’re about to become extinct.” I stood up, climbing over Meela and Dash’s legs to escape. I didn’t like this conversation anymore, and she was soooo wrong about Jonaz. I’d rather wrestle a six fanged swamp serpent than involve myself with a preening poser like him.
“You seem to hate him a lot for someone you don’t care about,” Dash pointed out as I reached for my bag.
“I think you’re forgetting what I was doing all day,” I hissed as I drew myself up in a huff. “I have powers remember? I’m training to use them better; are you picking up what I’m putting down?” Dash roared with laughter.
“Okay I’m done,” he said as he grinned unapologetically. We swiped our wristbands to pay as we left the venue; Dash and Meela carrying on and elbowing each other like first years behind me.
“See ya tomorrow.” I jumped into my pod and rose up off the ground.
“Have fun with Marzzzzzzz,” Dash mouthed, once I was at a safe height. Meela waved, smirking impishly while I rolled my eyes to the heavens.