Her Astronaut

✯7✯

"For the last time, you are not my evil step-sister Elle," groaned Nova.

"Oh come on, don't ruin my dreams of being the villain in the story. You know how much I love the title of being the wicked one," she smirked.

"Keep your fetishes in the bedroom and out of our friendship - you sick and twisted idiot."

"You love me."

"Unfortunately, yes."

Closing the door behind her and gracefully waltzing into the hotel suite was the drop-dead gorgeous Elle Jackson. Her naturally blonde hair was braided perfectly, cascading down her back. Although she wore a simple tunic, black leggings, and simple black sneakers, she looked like she just came off the runway. Even with no makeup on in her current state, she was flawless.

Elle was Nova's long-time friend and self-proclaimed step-sister. As much as she hated that title, there was some truth behind it.

Elle's mom was none other than Aunt Cass.

Nova first met Elle almost a decade ago when she first relocated to California. While going through her initial diagnosis and subsequent therapy, she chose to hold off on starting at UCLA right away and instead opted for community college for her freshman year. As fate would have it, she met Elle through a fateful encounter on campus one day.

From then on they were inseparable.

Elle became a frequent visitor at Jenn's home and eventually began to take up space making it her second home. It wasn't until around the girl's joint college graduation that Elle finally brought her mom around.

Let's just say, Cass never left after that.

Within a year of Cassie and Jenn's initial meeting, they were married. Thus making Elle and Nova 'step-sisters'.

"Elle, I love you, but I can't have you distract me. These next two weeks are so damn important. I can't fuck it up."

"And that's why I'm here for you idiot. To help keep you focused and stable."

"Like my fucking babysitter?" Nova asked, starting to feel annoyed.

"As a matter of fact, yes."

Nova threw a pillow directly at Elle.

"What the fuck? Why doesn't anyone trust me to do my goddamn job? Why do you all treat me like a piece of glass that is on the brink of shattering?"

"I hate to break it to you, but that's exactly what you are right now."

Nova was pissed but more hurt than anything.

Ever since Jenn passed away, she couldn't help but feel that everyone was treating her like a porcelain doll. She knew that her mental health was in a fragile state, but being treated in such a manner made it worse. It was degrading and made her doubt herself even further.

"Fuck you, Elle."

As much as it shattered her heart to see her best friend angry and curse at her in such a manner, Elle knew the last thing she should do was react. Over the years, she watched how Jenn would treat Nova when she was emotionally dysregulated. Nine times out of ten, Nova would say things that she didn't mean.

All she needed was an outlet to express whatever emotional state she was in.

Outside of observing how Jenn used to deal with situations such as now, Elle had also witnessed Nova at her lowest of lows. They ended up meeting in the first place all those years ago due to Nova having a full-blown panic attack in the middle of the busy quad of their community college.