Nova

Chapter Four

There was just one small issue though. How the HELL are two socially awkward teenage nerds supposed to travel all the way to England, hijack the government files, steal the rock, and then build a giant motherfucking converter for the rock. I was freaking out, and Ian knew it because I cuss when I'm panicked. Did Ian do anything? No! He just proceeded to google something. Upon a second glance I realized he was googling plane tickets!

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Ian?" I whisper yelled.

He replied in a very calm tone, never taking his eyes of the computer, "Going to England to build ago to space, now go pack your bags".

I packed my bags hastily, still shocked by the sudden insanity I've gotten myself into. I took some deep breathes, but who am I kidding? That doesn't help anyone. I eventually calmed down and helped Ian to hack the airlines ticketing system. It was settled, we were going to England.

Now, the thing about Ian is that he never lets onto how scared he actually is, but over the years I've learned that his coping mechanism for fear is planning. One year he accidentally stole a cookie from the store, although it wasn't stealing because they were free samples, and he was so scared that when I went over to check on him the next day, I found him asleep, surrounded by papers all titled "How I would theoretically dominate the world". Sometimes I worry about that kid.  But at least this time his planning was of some use. Ian said that I was supposed to tell my parents that school was hosting a "olden days" simulation for a month, and that we would be going somewhere with no internet or phones, so not to contact us. It was the stupidest plan I'd ever heard, nut our parents aren't necessarily concerned about school. Or us for that matter. It was so stupid that it actually worked.

Before I knew it, it was the day of our flight, and I was sitting at an airport, trying not to panic. I mean, I had good reason to panic. I was about to pull out the roots of my life and plant them in unknown soil. We didn't even know where we'd live, or when we'd even be about to build our converter. A giant converter used for turning rock into usable substance isn't necessarily normal in London, now is it?

Finally our plane arrived. Thanks to my flawless hacking skills we got a first class seat. We boarded the plane and sat in the gross, sticky, leather seats.

"See?" Said Ian, "It's not that bad". Ian then proceeded to pull a jar of applesauce and some pickles for dipping out of his bag, "A delicacy" he said, knowing I'd be disgusted.

"You're so gross" I said as I rolled my eyes.

"Hey" he teased, "Don't know it until you try it".

"Yeah, I'll try that when the Hurns and Talenes make peace" I whispered, in case anyone was listening. Let's just hope nobody overhears us talking. They might think we are, like, terrorists talking in code, or just downright insane.

The plane ride seemed to take ages. About an hour in, Ian leaned over and whispered, "Hey Nov, you awake?"

"No" I replied as I shifted my position to face him, "I decided it'd be a good idea to fall asleep in a metal bullet of death!"

"Sorry Mrs. Sassypants" Ian laughed and continued, "I didn't realize I was interrupting your space eavesdropping session."

I'm usually not so uptight but this time I was genuinely concerned, "What if we can't find the stone? What if we can't hack the systems? Ian, what if it's all for nothing? What if it doesn't work?"

Ian smiled and put his hand on my shoulder, "Well Nov, that's the thing about us. Alone we are just some crazy teenagers, but together we can do anything. You've got to believe in me Nov, You've got to believe in us."

I smiled. Even though Ian is one of the cheesiest people I know he is still really sweet, and I have to admit, that made me feel a lot better. 

The plane ride dragged on and on. Usually I'm okay with plane rides because I just look out at the clouds and the world passing below us in its many variations. This ride though, this trip was over the ocean, thus meaning that there was nothing of any interest to look at.