Blackstone Academy: The Rogue

18. Nova Rose

Nova (Female P.O.V)

Date: October 2, 2138

Entering the main building, Stacy and I stopped short at the long line spilling from the cafeteria. It was only a quarter past seven, but the crowd of students waiting for breakfast was already immense. Stacy and I joined them, squeezing in at the back.

"We should have come down earlier." She grumbled, leaning back against the wall.

"I don't know about that." I yawned, stretching my arms above my head. "Any earlier, and we'd beat the sun up."

She sighed, inching forward as the people ahead of us moved up. Suddenly she turned to me and whispered, "Guess what I heard yesterday."

"What?"

"A few people got questioned about the incident at Family Day."

"Who? Students? Teachers?"

"Both. And probably anybody else that was there."

"Nah, that can't be true."

"Why not?"

"Because they would've just announced it. Instead of trying to keep it this big secret."

"Not necessarily. Ma-" Her voice trailed off as something behind me captured her attention. "Hey, Troy!" She over-enthusiastically greeted him as he appeared by my side.

He returned her greeting with a smile and a slight nod before turning to me. "Nova, can we talk for a minute?" He asked with a jerk of his head toward the Memorial Room.

"Yeah, yeah."

Gently cupping my elbow, he led me into the dimly lit room. The first thing that caught my attention was the three long transparent screens at the center of the room. They were surrounded by numerous pictures, flowers, and miscellaneous trinkets in memory of the names and faces, playing on an endless loop on the screens.

None of the names or faces were familiar, but I couldn't stop wishing they were still here.

"What happened to you yesterday?" Troy asked, drawing my attention away.

"I overslept. Why? What did I miss?"

He lazily shrugged one shoulder. "Nothing much. Sergeant Carter just had us pair up and do a Simulation."

"Oh yeah? Who did you partner with?"

"Larry." He scowled, folding his hands across his chest. "Fucking tool."

"I'm guessing by your tone things didn't go well."

"It went alright. We finished with fifteen seconds on the clock." The tiniest of smiles curled his lips in pride.

"But?"

"I, honestly, don't even know where to begin." He sighed deeply, looking off to the side. "But I promise to tell you later."

"Okay." Slowly curling my fingers into a ball, I resisted the urge to smooth the deep lines etched across his forehead. Whatever had happened between them, it was clearly stressing him out. But it wouldn't do well to press him. It was just best to wait and let him come to me.

"So fifteen seconds, huh?" I asked, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Yeah." He cracked a small smile.

"That's good and all but... I'm going to beat your time."

"Oh really?"

"Yep. Easily."

"Well, if you're that confident..." he stepped closer, his voice low and husky as he gazed at me with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "How about we put a bet on it?"

My mouth ran dry, and my heart slammed against my chest cavity, trying to break free.

What the hell had I gotten myself into?

"Um..." I inadvertently stepped back, putting some much-needed space between us as my eyes darted around the room. "No, no, no. That's not a good idea."

"Why not? Are you scared?"

"Me? Scared?" I scoffed. "No, in fact, I'm so confident I-I don't even know the terms of the wager."

"Me either."

"Okay then. We have a bet." I held my hand out toward him.

And he shook it with a smirk. "Yes, we do."

Dear god. Please, don't let me regret this. I briefly shut my eyes and prayed to the heavens.

"Soo, what did you drag me off into here to talk about?"

"Oh..." he glanced at the students and guards passing by the doorway before lowering his voice. "I wanted to ask what you thought about what happened the other day?"

The change in topic dampened the mood and instantly reminded me where we were. All the bad things had been briefly forgotten, even with my surroundings being a constant reminder. Something that only seemed to happen when Troy and I were together.

"I have so many questions going through my head. I mean... I didn't recognize her. Did you?" I stopped myself from looking at the screen behind Troy and staring at the two names that always stood out the most among all the others.

"No."

"Exactly! So how did she get in? Did someone help her?" My teeth unconsciously gnawed on my bottom lip while awaiting his reply.

His eyes strayed to my lips before snapping back up to meet mine. "I have no idea. Maybe she was a student. I don't know every student here. Do you?"

I shook my head. "But if she is a student. How did she get infected, Troy? Is this thing airborne or what?"

"Airborne?" The corner of his lips quivered as he tried to suppress his grin. I rolled my eyes at him and placed my hand over my mouth in an attempt to hide my smile.

I was desperate to come up with a solution.

Any solution.

"I wish I had the answers, b-"

The speaker over the door cracked to life, interrupting him.

"Troy Roman, please report to the Dean's office." A male voice said before repeating it once more.

Had I been wrong?