Always

Chapter Seventeen

Six's POV

I watch a girl named Gina spin around and generate the final blow that completely disintegrates an iron chunk as big as myself that I've had my final group of Human Garde chipping away at for a new record time of 3 minutes. They get faster and better coordinated everyday.

I nod at them and give them some more pointers that I noticed and send them on their way. To be honest, I'm a little relieved that I'm done for the day.

Marina and I walk back to the main campus together and meet John, Nine, and Ella there.

"Took you guys long enough," Ella groans. "I'm hungry."

"Same," Nine says.

John sarcastically puts a hand over his stomach.

"I'm famished," he groans in sarcastic pain.

"You need to shut up," Marina says.

"Yeah, ok, whatever," John mumbles.

I playfully slap him on the arm and shake my head, he looks back at me with narrowed eyes that say "if we weren't in public I would not just keep walking."

I stick my tongue out at him like a little kid.

"How old are you?" Marina asks.

"She's twelve," John comments.

"And a half!" I sarcastically correct.

"Sorry, my bad," he says with a smile.

"You guys are seriously relationship goals!" Ella squeals.

"What?" John and I both say simultaneously.

"I swear they practice that," Nine says, pointing at me and John.

We all burst into laughter, I can't remember a time when we were all together like this and laughing so freely. It's almost like we never went through an intergalactic war. Like we're just normal teenagers. I almost wish we were.

But when I look at John, who is looking directly at me with a smile full of laughter, I realize I never would have had it any other way. Being a normal teenager would've been boring anyway.

"Movie?" Nine asks randomly.

"Oh yes!" John says.

"I'm down," Marina says.

"Sounds fun," says Ella.

John is the first one to shift is expectant gaze to me, as if my opinion would change everything.

"Why not?" I say.

...

Someone is poking me.

"The movie's over, Sleepyhead," John whispers in my ear.

I shift uncomfortably in my chair, remembering that I actually fell asleep during a movie. People are filing out of the room, it's almost empty. John looks down at me with a small amused smile.