Cosmic Collisions (Novel)

Chapter Three

Chapter Three:

Isla, Skye and Nia sat on the velvet orange sofas each trying to think of something to say. The two crew members were on their break; Nia was knitting yet another scarf and Skye was writing in her notebook and researching Dragon Lore on her laptop. Isla's mind was taken up with Elliot who was now in the Hospital space pod and seeing him lying there. Skye, who was trying to lighten the mood, said, "Did you know that dragons can lay five eggs at a time?" That is so cool!" Her face lit up when she spoke and Isla was grateful for the distraction.

"I didn't know that! I thought it was three at most. I found out from Cosmo that Whale-Dragons actually hide their young in the scales underneath their wings. Sort of like pouches, which I thought was amazing!" 

Cosmo, as far as Isla knew, was curled up next to Elliot's bed and she just wished she could be there too. Charlotte had been in her room for a whole day now and she started to get concerned. Even though Charlie had no burns, she couldn't even look Isla in the eye when they went to the Hospital pod. Isla wondered what she and Elliot could possibly have seen in that room. A twinge of pain on her arm where she'd put gel on her burns brought her back to the present.

"Oh that's a good one. Thanks!" Skye replied, flipping her hair over to the other side as she jotted it down in her notebook.

"Hmm. I didn't know that either. Very cool! By the way, have you seen Elliot yet? It's already Friday and since the IGF have moved the physical Trials to Monday and the ceremony to next friday...," Nia trailed off.

"Yes, I went with him, Charlotte, Mum and Dad and their dads when it happened," Isla replied, "he was sleeping most of the time, but when I had to leave at 10:30 pm because of the curfew, he was just waking up and seemed slightly better." Yet again, she wished that Luca was there; he would have known what to do, what to say.

Her two friends sighed in relief at the news. Isla spied Finley sitting alone on the other side of the room and quickly excused herself as she weaved through the crowded Headquarters in his direction. She waved to her aunt and uncle who were in deep conversation with her cousins.

"Hi," Isla said simply, plonking herself down on the empty spot next to him. Looking up from his sketchbook he quickly slammed it shut making her jump in the process.

"Hi. Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," Finley answered, smiling sheepishly, his slight blush showing off his freckles. Isla wondered what or who he had been drawing, but she had a pretty good guess who that was. They'd known each other since almost all their lives and Isla knew his secret even if he didn't tell her.

"That's fine. Since the trial I've been more jumpy than usual," Isla admitted. Somehow talking to Finley always makes her feel better. He was just so calm and listened without interrupting.

"Umm. Are you able to tell me what happened?" he asked gently while pacing his pencil, coloured pencils and the sketchbook on the small table opposite them.

Taking a deep breath Isla recounted what had happened shuddering at the thought of Luca really out there alone, his ashes spread amongst the stars. The Intergalactic Federation wouldn't even let her come to the Ashes Service as it was going to be 'too upsetting' for her, Elliot and Charlotte.

Finley listened intently then whispered, "that must've been.. Horrible. Sorry Isla,"

"I just... I don't understand what the point of it all was and how did I get all those burns? And Elliot. It looked so painful. And, I'm glad, of course, but why didn't Charlotte get any burns?"

"Honestly, I don't know," he answered after a minute, "maybe she... no, never mind,"

"What is it, Finley?"