An Astronomer's Guide to Falling Angels

Chapter 21

The morning sunlight filtered through the classroom windows, casting soft patterns of light across the desks. Arty sat near the back, her pencil tapping idly against her notebook as she glanced around to make sure no one was watching. A sly smile tugged at her lips as she scribbled a few final touches on the note she'd been working on. It was filled with doodles, random stickman comics, and sarcastic little comments. A tiny version of Astor, sketched in a cartoonish style, was standing next to an equally cartoonish Arty, the two of them in some sort of ridiculous misadventure.

Astor, seated just a few rows ahead, looked back at her out of the corner of his eye, his expression curious but amused. When she was sure no one was paying attention, Arty discreetly slipped the note toward him, watching as it landed on the edge of his desk. Astor glanced around nervously before unfolding the paper. His eyes widened slightly as he took in the messy doodles and stick-figure renditions of their friendship. The comics were ridiculous—one depicted them trying to outrun a giant bee, and another had them as space explorers in a spaceship shaped like a teapot. One comic even shows a stickman version of Astor being chased by a cockroach, only for Arty's stickman to swoop in with a giant fly swatter. There were small comments scrawled in the margins, all in Arty's unmistakable handwriting.

Astor pressed a hand to his mouth to suppress the laughter that threatened to escape. The pure silliness of the notes warmed his heart, and for a few moments, all the tension from the morning melted away. Arty always had this way of making everything feel lighter, even in the most mundane moments. He scribbled a quick reply, something playful and teasing about her awful art skills, and passed it back when the teacher wasn't looking. Arty caught his eye when she read it, giving him a mock-offended look before breaking into a grin.

They continued passing notes throughout class, the small, hidden exchange becoming a private game between them. By the time class ended, Astor's mood had significantly improved, the worries that had been clouding his mind earlier now temporarily forgotten.

However, that carefree feeling began to fade once he heard the announcement over the PA system about the school's annual camping trip. Everyone around him buzzed with excitement, voices overlapping as they discussed their plans. Astor's smile faltered. He'd always wanted to go on one of these trips, but with his mother's restrictions—and the ever-watchful presence of his bodyguard—it had always been impossible. The thought of missing out again this year weighed on him, his heart sinking as the details of the trip were read aloud.

He gathered his things and left class, lost in thought as he walked down the hallway. The excited chatter around him only made the disappointment worse. As he was walking, he felt a presence close behind and turned to find Oda sidling up next to him, her hands casually in her pockets, wearing her usual smirk.

"Hey, Prez," Oda greeted, keeping her voice low as they navigated through the crowd. "Don't look so glum. You're going on that camping trip."

Astor blinked, surprised. "I wish. You know my mother would never let me—"

Oda cut him off with a wink. "That's where you're wrong, bud. Me, Arty, and Meredith? We've got a plan. You just need to wait and trust us."

Astor's confusion deepened, but there was something about the way Oda said it—so confident, so sure—that made him believe her. "What's the plan?"

She shrugged, still smirking. "You'll see. Just be ready, okay? We've got this covered."

Astor wanted to press her for more details, but Oda was already blending into the crowd, her mischievous grin leaving him with more questions than answers. He sighed, though he couldn't help the small flicker of hope that was now rising in his chest. If anyone could pull off something like this, it was Arty and Oda.