My birthday was a small event. I dare say everyone had forgotten but I think Tristen reminded them. That morning I woke up to a text from Tristen telling me that he had breakfast in his room and to head down when I finally got up. I wasn’t much in the mood to actually get dressed so I ended up just padding over in my slippers and pajamas. I spent the whole day with him. We had a knife throwing competition, which I’m sure he let me win but I was too busy partying and happy dancing to really care. We had a rather romantic dinner including roses and candles. The evening was spent at the small bowling alley next to the dress shop. Tristen planned it out and invited a bunch of my friends. It was amazing and was so much fun.
After that, things kind of went back to normal. Time flew and we rocked through the universe.
Before we knew it, it was May. We were so close to Novelta! I was so excited I was ready to jump up and down and do my famous victory dance at all times. It was truly amazing how far we’d all come. I had become an expert gunsman and knife thrower. I knew how to navigate my way to virtually anywhere and to know approximately where I was on the new world in case of separation. I knew how to survive in any situation and I was training to become a pilot for the second trip for exploring.
In piloting and navigation we began testing out simulations. They were almost like video games. We had to put on these clear goggles. Someone would turn them on and right before our eyes, a makeshift world unfolded. It was like you were actually there! We learned how to maneuver out of sticky situations and what to do in case of a plane malfunction.
My favorite part was the simulations where we had to explore and they made it to look exactly like what they could predict Novelta would look like. There were surprise attacks from unknown species and you had to ‘survive’. We have a health bar that shows you if you need food, energy, or medicine. My first time I died within the first minute but now I could go for hours on end.
This simulation was kind of my sanctuary; going off into a virtual world was the best distraction anyone could use to get away from the real world. It worked like a charm. The best part was that it would be reality soon.
Since my birthday Tristen and I had gone out on several more dates. Everything was going great and I loved that I could be at his side every day. He was the best thing that had happened to me since getting on the ship.
After weaponry on May 3rd he came up to me, taking my hands in his.
“I have plans,” he said coyly, dragging me down the hallway. He was always surprising me with little events or gifts. I followed him down a hallway I’d never been before. He opened the fifth door on the left and peeked inside, not letting me in yet. After a second he pulled us both inside and shut the door. He flipped on the light and I was suddenly blinded by the pure what walls surrounding us.
“Close your eyes,” he said smiling. I did as he said all the while wondering what the heck we were doing in a completely empty room. He pressed a smooth object into my hand and I immediately recognized it to be some sort of gun.
“You can open them,” I opened my eyes and looked down at the gun. I looked up at him with curiosity to see his face full of mischief. He raised his own gun.
“Paintball fight!” he yelled nailing me in the foot. I yelped and hopped backwards.
“Oh, it’s on!” I screamed aiming at his head and pulling the trigger
Laughing and breathless we both plopped down on the floor. The once white walls and our once unstained clothes looked like a rainbow exploded on them.
“One more thing,” he said before squeezing my hand and walking to the wall directly in front of us. He pulled at the wall and it crumpled to the floor. I realized it was a sheet and looked up at the new wall. It was again white with the exception of a few simple words. Will you be my girlfriend Auroriana Payton? It read in beautiful cursive. Below was a giant box with a yes beside it and a giant box with a no beside it. I looked up at Tristen. His face was serious but his eyes were sparkling. He tossed me a mini paint gun. I pulled the trigger. In seconds Tristen scooped me up in his arms and we had our first real kiss while behind us the paint dripped down the yes box.
