Boring is the only way you can describe the internship you hold at NASA. You wish they would accept you into the constellation mission but you need a sponsor. Maybe someone has sponsored you. You are so distracted you fail to notice a man in front of you. Crash. The mugs you are carrying fall into his chest. Dang, it.
"I am so sorry Neil," you realise it is Neil Armstrong. There goes your chance at the constellation mission.
"It will be alright Lilly," he responds. He starts to try and clean it but he doesn't get far with his efforts.
"Let me take your shirt," you offer because cleaning it is the least you could do since you drenched it in coffee. He swiftly undoes the buttons on his shirt. At least you have a good story to tell your dad when you get home. He passes the coffee-soaked shirt to you. You get the feeling that Neil is hiding something but you decide not to ask.
"I'm screwed, why did I ruin it," you utter. You hate the fact that you spilt coffee on the one man that could convince the head of the constellation mission. You wish you could have spilt it on one of the other interns. That would have been funny. But no you had to spill it on the most important man at NASA. At least you didn't spill it on Danny Winchester.
"You will be fine. You're one of the best engineers in the running," he remarks. You get the feeling that he is hiding something but you decide not to ask.
"Look I am really sorry," you over apologise. You hope it doesn't affect your chances. You bend down to clean up the shame. Neil bends down to help you. You are glad that it's almost over.
"Like I said before it could have been worse," Neil responds. He's right you could have spilt the coffee on Danny Winchester the head of the Constellation program. however, it doesn't make you feel better. Thirty seconds later you have finished and you leave to get a new cup of coffee. Three minutes later you have a fresh cup of coffee in your hands and you timidly knock on the door of the head of the constellation mission Danny Winchester.
"Come in," Danny remarks. Hopefully, there is no one there. You enter and your hopes are shattered because Neil is there. You put the cup down and you are about to leave but you are stopped.
"So Neil tells me he has sponsored you," Danny opens the conversation. Neil glances at you. So that's what he didn't tell you earlier. You return a surprised glance.
"I hadn't told her yet," Neil explains himself. Danny flashes an understanding look towards Neil.
"You will start the training program tomorrow," Danny announces.
"Thank you, Sir," your day has gotten a whole lot better.
"That's all for today," Danny ends the meeting and you both leave. You are walking in uncomfortable silence because you don't know what you want to say. You are happy and confused at the same time. At least the meeting didn't go wrong.
"Thank you," You speak up because the silence is bothering you. You start to think about why he sponsored you. You get the feeling that Your dad, Michael Collins has something to do with it.
"Don't worry about it," you can tell that he is glad he could help. It is the next day and you are getting ready for the introduction to the program. You arrive to find one other cadet in the classroom.
"Hello Jay," You greet him as you sit down. You notice Neil who is sitting at the back. He is probably here to see if the constellation program is anything like the Apollo program.
"Hello Lilly," He responds. He starts to fidget because he is bored. The rest of the cadets trickle in and they are followed by Danny. They sit down. Danny gets a whiteboard marker and he starts twirling it between his fingers.
"Our goal for the constellation mission is to get a base set up on the moon as a pit stop on the way to Mars," Danny announces as he stops pen twirling and processes to scribble something on the whiteboard. You recognise it as the formula for escape velocity. He also writes some stuff about the mission.
"To achieve this goal we will be taking an approach similar to the Apollo missions," he gestures in Neil's direction. You are glad to get started. Your mind drifts off to Apollo eleven and what your dad did for the mission. The rest of the cadets start talking amongst themselves. You get the feeling that you may end up as the commander of one of the Constellation missions.
"Sir would we be getting back to earth or will we head to Mars?" You ask, causing the cadets to go silent. You are surprised that no one else thought of the question.
"That will be the most likely outcome," Danny responds, not really answering your question. Forty-five minutes later you are about to leave the classroom when you are stopped.
"So are you coming to celebrate with us?" Jay asks. It takes you a second to think about your response. You know you will have to tell your dad but at the same time, it would be a good idea to celebrate with the other cadets.
"Yes I will," You leave with Jay. fifteen minutes later you've made it to a bar. You are talking to Jay when you notice your father sitting with Neil and Buzz. At least you can tell him before you get distracted by the others.
"excuse me, Jay I will be back," You remark as you split from the group. You approach the table where they are sitting. You decide to tell your dad the good news.
"Dad I have something to tell you," You announce with a hint of pride
"What is it, Lilly?" Your dad Micheal responds as you sit down next to him.
"You know how I applied for the constellation mission?" You are not sure if you told him or not. Neil takes a sip from his drink while Micheal thinks of his answer.
"Yes, you did. Did you get into the program?" He is not surprised. You can tell he is proud of your achievement.
"I did," you declare. You realise that the mission may be harder than you thought but that's ok because you will be supported by a team.
"Congratulations," Buzz beats Micheal to it. You get up because you've told your dad the news.
"Thank you. I'll be going back to the other cadets," you reply. You are a little flustered but you know it will be ok. You leave. Fifteen seconds later you've made it to the table of cadets. They are looking at you as if you were famous.
"What?" you are confused.
"You're friends with Neil Armstrong?" One of the cadets remarks. You know they would be surprised.
"Jess he is a family friend," you are a little embarrassed. You also shoot a glance at your dad.
"Anyway let's have fun," Jay changes the topic. You giggle.
"Good luck everyone," Jess declares.
YOU ARE READING
Constellations
Fanfiction"I am so sorry Neil" "It will be alright Lily," he responds. Lily Collins yearned to follow in her father Micheal Collins' footsteps but there was one problem. She was stuck serving coffee to people at NASA. One fateful day she ends up spilling cof...
