Alpha Centauri

Thirty Five - Raev

After dinner, I walk to my room alone. I change into the clothes I arrived in and flop down on my bed.

None of this is right. We shouldn't be stuck on a spaceship with all these strangers. Jaden should be on her planet now.

I know there's nothing I can do about it. I fold two arms behind my head and cross the others over my stomach, trying to clear my head. What's wrong with me? I should be grateful. If what Nathan said about Centauri A is true, we probably wouldn't be alive.

After watching Back to the Future on my wrist device's holographic screen, I drift off to sleep, wondering what happened to Marty and Jennifer's children, and if we'll ever make it to Crenala.

-----

The trip to Proximia lasts for about a day and a half.

It's about a day more than I can stand.

Besides talking an eating with Jaden, I hate being with the Proximians. They all treat me like a real Scriosian, like I'm cold and evil. Little kids walk by me and stare at me with wide eyes full of fear. Nathan ignores my complaints about his rude family. He's too caught up in his sudden popularity. A lot of the Proximians try to talk to Jaden, too, wondering what I could possibly be like to be the awaiting ruler of Crenala.

"This is driving me crazy," Jaden says at dinner. "I don't know how long I can stay on this damn ship with all these nerds." She buries her head in her arms.

"Yeah," I agree, ineptly patting her head. I hesitate. "Do you wanna watch a movie with me, kid?"

Jaden looks up at me, seeming a little surprised. "Yeah. That sounds great."

The two of us leave the empty dinging hall and walk to my room, deciding what movie to watch. I've already watched most of the movies she suggests.

"Goddamn, Raev. You really like movies, don't you?"

"That's a bit of an understatement."

We sit next to each other at the head of my bed. I take off my wrist device and set it in front of us, scrolling through movies. I choose one of the Harry Potter movies, a movie that I've already seen, of course. The holographic screen hovers above the device, projecting the movie.

By the end of the movie, we've both shed some tears. I scream a couple times, and Jaden shouts at the characters as if they could actually hear her harsh suggestions.

When the movie ends, I try to move, but Jaden's fallen asleep on my shoulder. I fasten the device around my wrist again and pull the blanket up over our feet. I lean my cheek against her soft hair and eventually drift off, too.

-----

I wake to a sharp knock at my door. Jaden wakes up, too, and she awkwardly climbs off the bed.

Orion is at the door. He wears half of his hair up, his bangs fixed behind his head. "'Morning, Raev." Orion has to look up at me. "Have you seen Jaden? She didn't answer her door."

"Yeah," I say sheepishly, running a hand through my hair, trying to smooth it down unsuccessfully. "She's in here with me."

Orion peeks over my shoulder. "Oh. I see." An insinuating grin appears on his face. I scowl at him, and the grin instantly vanishes.

"Anyway, we're about to land on Proximia. Hurry and get ready and eat."

I swing the door closed whether he was finished or not.

"These people piss me off," I mutter, searching for a clean set of clothes.

"I know the feeling," Jaden replies. "I'll see you in a sec."