To The Sun And Beyond

29. ENDINGS

MASON WASN'T THERE WHEN
School started up again. Everyone knew not to talk about it, though. Mr. Thomas didn't make me answer any questions or anything.

When the school day had finished, I walked to the library, and checked out the 'Solar Mythology' book again. I sat down in the same chair, at the same table I sat in that first time I was there. When I turned to the page I had read so long ago, it was missing. The tear lines at the spine of the book were raggedy and ripped.

I traced my finger along the tear line, thoughtful. I closed the book with a bang and returned it to the desk. I was just looking at it for nostalgia, anyway.

MR. THOMAS GREETED US AT THE
Door to astronomy the next day, and called us straight into the planetarium.

"Hey, Celeste. How are you holding up?" Kayla asked inside the planetarium.

"I'm fine. He calls me every day." I smiled at that.

"That's good. Do you know why Mr. Thomas called us in here?" She asked.

"No, I don't," I answered. "Do you?"

She shrugged. "Beats me."

Once everyone was inside, Mr. Thomas pressed the center button. "Look at this."

All the planets showed, like usual, Exept there was a small change. A few moons began appearing around Saturn and Neptune, connecting together with a white line.

"More planets begin appearing once someone in the Supernova has had contact with them. And, since everyone is here, the only logical answer is, Mason is meeting and interacting with other moons in Ohio." Mr. Thomas concluded.

"Does he know what he's doing?" Donovan asked, concerned.

"I don't know," Mr. Thomas answered. "But this means there are more moons out there. And Mason is meeting them."

I smiled at that.

Of course he is.

FIN AND I WALKED HOME
Together, like we usually do. But this time he was very silent. I think it was because we haven't talked about Mason and I, and he didn't want to bring him up to me since I was so torn apart when he left.

"So, what do we do now?" He asked.

"Well, I should tell you that it was all my doing, not Mason's," I began. My voice cracked when I said his name. "And I had grown very fond of him since we came here. I know I should've asked you first, but may I have your blessing?"

Fin thought about it for a moment. "I guess. That is, if you ever see each other again."

I pretended that statement didn't bother me. "Thank you, Fin."

"So, what's going to happen to us?" Fin asked.

"Well, we have to continue living with Vivian, find a new Mars, and, also, find a way to tell Mason he's interacting with too many moons." I answered.

"Did dad really kill the last team?" He asked quietly.

I nodded slowly. "But we're better then them," I reassured him. "We are stronger."

Fin nodded.

I looked into the sky, and wondered how many planets are in space, undiscovered. Hidden from us behind thousands of lightyears. I wondered if we'd ever notice them, the planets we don't know are there, the warriors that hide amung the crowd. Will we ever know what's out there, in deep space, among the shining stars and rocky asteroids? But if we did know, we wouldn't be able to imagine what's out there, waiting for us. The best thing we can do is believe that there is more out there, more past the Solar system, waiting there, shining with the stars, and stretching wide, reaching out to the dark horizon, and beyond.

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Finished September 19th, 2017