“A guy? No,” I choke out. But why would she say that?
“Well, then what?” Alina asks.
Maybe I could tell her, too. Really, she’s been nothing but helpful. She tried to take me on a city tour, and she’s checking in on me now.
I open my mouth to speak.
“Did that guy Max happen to message you?” Irene interrupts.
I swing my attention to Irene, and she shakes her head slightly.
“Max is really cute,” Alina says with a sigh. “You think he’s single?”
Maybe more than one confidant is a bad idea for now. I follow Irene’s lead. “As far as I know, Max doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
Talking about boys seems to make Alina forget all about her original question.
“Are you into him?” she asks.
The question takes me aback. I haven’t even thought about Max that way. He has been nothing but sweet and helpful. And she’s right; he is good looking. But I’m not here for boys. Especially after everything that has happened. A relationship would complicate everything further. Not what I need.
So why can’t I get Javen out of my mind? My insides quiver with just the thought of his name. “No,” I say, almost too forcefully. Softening my voice I add, “Max and I are just friends.” I’m not sure if that statement is entirely true or even how Max feels, but figuring that out is way beyond my emotional capacity right now. Stifling a yawn, I mutter, “You know what, though? It’s late, and I’m super tired.”
“I have to be at work early, too,” Irene says and looks a little grateful for the change in topic.
Alina checks the time. “You’re right. Glad you’re okay, Cassi.”
“Thanks for checking in. Good night,” I say and head for my bunk. I scale the ladder and, once I’m up there, throw the blanket over my head.
The door opens and shuts. I peek out to see if Alina is still here—gone. I let out a relieved breath.
“We still have talking to do, Cassi Foster,” Irene says.
She’s right. We do. But I say nothing. Instead, I place my hand over the Starfire and wait for sleep to come.
∆∆∆
My Connect buzzes and my eyelids flutter open. I bring my wrist to my face and squint. It’s Max. My stomach does a flip when I see it.
Where are you?
I completely forgot to message him.
I’m so sorry. I’m fine. Can we meet later?
I send the message and another returns almost immediately.
I can be there at 11:00 AM.
I check the time; already it’s nine-thirty.
See you then.
I swing my head down to the bottom bunk. Irene’s bed is already made, and she’s nowhere to be seen. I’m not sure how she sneaks out of here so quietly or gets up so early in the morning without waking me up. But I scurry down the ladder and change from my pajamas into a white T-shirt and a floral skirt. I caress the green sweater in my drawer but decide against it since I haven’t been cold since I left the ship. Without much thought for the style, I run a comb through my hair, brush my teeth, and then I’m out the door.
In the lobby, I head straight for the exit, but through the window I spot Luca. He’s getting out of a black vehicle with the Board’s symbol etched onto the door. Maybe Hammond knows I was in her office.
I one-eighty and speed walk toward the elevator. I palm the call button and glance above at the screen displaying the elevator’s location. Ugh. It’s still several floors up. Instead of waiting, I turn to take the stairs. Maybe I can hide on the stairwell until he’s gone.
“Miss Foster,” Luca’s voice calls out from behind.
I stop in my tracks and slowly spin toward him. What am I going to say?
Think, think.
He stops a few feet in front of me. “I’m so glad I caught you. Do you have a few minutes? I need you to come with me.”
A shudder runs down my back. I could run, but what good would it do?
“Um . . . okay. I was leaving to do an errand.”
“This won’t take long.”
I glance around the foyer and outside. His vehicle is gone, so it’s not as if Hammond is arresting me. Relieved but wary, I reluctantly nod and follow him. I have a feeling that declining isn’t really an option, despite his attempt at politeness.
Luca and I walk for about three blocks before he says anything else. “So, how are you settling in?”
Now that’s a stupid question. “How do you think I’m settling in, Luca?
“I was just trying to be polite. You know, small talk.”
“If you want to be polite, put in a good word to Hammond about me. It isn’t kind to keep information about my father from me. And I’ve done nothing to deserve unkindness. Nothing.”
Luca stops in front of a building and considers me a moment. “Well, you’re also holding back from us.”
My jaw clenches at his words and I look past him to where he’s led me—the Capitol building. They know. A knot forms in my throat. I wasn’t paying attention along the way at all.
“Holding back?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
A faint smile plays across his lips. “Why didn’t you tell Hammond you’d been training as a terraformer under your father’s supervision?”
My body relaxes and Luca tilts his head, waiting for me to reply. A lock of wavy brown hair falls over his unnerving blue eyes, which continue to watch me closely. When my thoughts catch up with me, I say, “My studies weren’t official or anything, so I didn’t think it was worth mentioning. Especially since it takes years to become an expert.”
“Well, Hammond viewed your training sessions through your father’s account, and she thinks you’re good enough to start a new project.” The faint smile grows.
My mind shouts no, no, no, and I gaze up at the building in panic, when a thought hits me. “The job, it’s here?”
He nods.
“I’m still not certain of my skill level, but I’m willing to try.”
Luca fully smiles now. “Well, that was easier than I thought. I’m glad you’re seeing things our way. You’ll begin the day after tomorrow.”
If you only knew, Luca . . .
“I’ll take care of informing the restaurant of your new employment. What do you think about meeting for dinner there tomorrow night to discuss the details?”
Without a thought, I take a step back. Apparently, my body wants nothing to do with that request either. But Luca is a means for information.
“Sure.” I force my lips into a smile. “What time?”
Chapter 12
Iopen my door at precisely 11:00 a.m. and smile. Max is striding down the hall toward me, a bag slung over his shoulder. Just the familiar sight of him calms my nerves.
“I’m really glad to see you,” he says, concern in his eyes.
I step out into the hallway and pull the door closed behind me. “Let’s go. I gotta get out of here,” I say, pointing to the elevator.
A few minutes later we exit the front and Max slides a glance my way. “I can’t believe I let you go out on your own last night with those codes. I’m basically never forgiving myself. When that meeting I was staffing at let out early, I thought for sure you’d been caught. Everyone was on edge.”
“Then you don’t know?”
Panic fills his face. “Know what?”
Max is already aware of too much for me to hold back on a confession. He’ll find out about the break-in eventually. But I don’t have to tell him about Javen.
Leaning into Max, I whisper, “They were probably on edge because of me.”
His eyes widen. “So, you did go to the Capitol building?”
“I made it inside. But I just got scared and left.” I hate lying, but I need to feed him something. “I don’t think anyone saw me. Guards entered the building after I’d left. I might have accidentally set off an alarm.”
Max sighs. “Well, I’m glad you’re safe.”
“Me too.”
/> “And you’re sure they didn’t identify you?”
“If the guards did, I’d think the authorities would already be here.”
“Yeah, I suppose that’s true.” He gestures to his bag. “I brought an early lunch, and there’s a park about five blocks from here.” My stomach rumbles at the mention of food. I haven’t eaten anything since last night at the restaurant. Max eyes me humorously and asks, “Hungry yet?”
“Starving.”
The park is small, barely more than a separation between the two buildings flanking it. Especially small compared to the vast forest I was in last night with Javen. Even so, the park has a few trees, green grass, and four stone tables with benches. An Agrowbot buzzes through the space, tending to the plant life.
Max flops his bag onto a table and starts to unload the food, placing two red apples on a plate. The fruit looks suspiciously like the ones we had on the ship before we left. It could be a complete coincidence, but the offering also makes me wonder if Max is perhaps interested in more than just friendship. I mean, what guy pays attention to details—like apple type—unless he likes a girl?
“I wanted to be able to talk with you about the meeting I was working at last night,” Max says, pulling me from my thoughts. “The minute I heard what was going on, I knew you’d be interested. Then a call came in, and the meeting broke up quickly. After everyone left, I messaged you but you didn’t answer. That’s when I started worrying, so I went straight to your dorm.”
My mind lights up with the events of last night—how Javen blew out the window, our jump, and how we landed in a river. “Everything was so crazy,” I begin. “I finally noticed your message after midnight, but I was so scared from almost getting caught that I forgot to reply.”
“I still can’t believe you were nearly caught.” Max hands me a paper-wrapped sandwich. “I brought turkey and cheese. I hope that’s okay.”
“It’s fine. Thank you.” I unwrap the sandwich and bite into it, ignoring the apples. “So, what’s your news?”
He leans in closer to me. “You’re not going to believe how things are heating up on the Board. With your dad's absence, there’s a spot open.”
I place my sandwich down on its paper. Every ounce of my hunger dissipates with those words.
“But the Board is divided on who should take the seat,” he continues. “Hirata and Cooper made several recommendations of well-respected men and women who worked on your dad’s team. But Hammond has rejected every one of their recommendations.”
My chest burns with anger. I’ve met Dad’s team, and they’re good people who agreed with his vision. No wonder Hammond doesn’t want them. “Who does she want?”
“That’s the thing. It doesn’t make sense.”
“Who?” I urge.
Max’s lips form a thin line, as if he doesn’t want to tell me.
“You’re the one who brought the topic up,” I say.
“Luca Powell.”
“Luca Powell!” I shout and jump to my feet.
“Hey, I was just as shocked as you”—Max’s eyes grow wide and he looks around— “but please, sit down.”
I drop into my seat and shove the sandwich across the stone tabletop. If I thought my appetite was gone before, now I’m certain hunger will never return.
“Luca Powell can’t be older than twenty,” I practically snap, my voice low. “And he knows nothing about terraforming. Why would Hammond want him on the Board?” And then an idea clicks. This is why she’s pulling me in. A sick feeling rounds in my stomach.
“He’s nineteen.”
I scoff. “Hammond wants a person she can control, making Luca the right guy for the job. You know, he came to my dorm this morning.”
Max nearly chokes on his sandwich. “Why?”
“To offer me a job.”
“A job?” he asks. “What about the restaurant?”
I lift an eyebrow. “Apparently my terraforming skills aren’t being realized there.”
Max is silent for a moment. “Hammond wants you to work for the Board so they don’t need anyone else on your father’s team. You’re young . . . controllable.”
“Apparently.”
Max has completely recovered from choking and proceeds to down the last two bites of his sandwich. “You told him no, right?”
“Actually, I agreed.”
“What? Why?”
I take a slow, deep breath and, deciding that I might be able to eat again, pick up my lunch. “Working there gets me inside the building without having to sneak around. On my own, I’m not going to get the information I need. But working inside the Capitol building? I’ll have better access to the people I need to speak with.” I take a small bite.
Max grabs one of the apples. “Okay. Well, I can see your point. My guess? Hammond is going to do what she wants when it comes to filling the open seat. So, being on the inside might work.” He bites into his apple with a loud crunch and says, mouth full, “Just be careful.”
I need a new topic, even if just for a few minutes. “Why’d you come to Arcadia, Max?”
He finishes his bite and sets the fruit down. “My parents paid for my trip.”
I look at him, eyes wide, because I fully expected him to say he was trying to claw himself out of a terrible situation on Earth . . . but in essence, he’s a patron. Max’s family is rich. “Then why are you working?”
Max shrugs. “I want to, like to. And most of the people I work for know me . . . or at least they know my family. Either way, they trust me because of my connection, which keeps me stocked with information.” He pauses and lifts a half-smile. “Information is valuable. More valuable than CosmicCoin sometimes.”
I shake my head. Max is clever. And the fact that he’s only seventeen definitely helps him to fly smoothly under the radar. I lift a half-smile of my own as new questions pop into my head.
“Who’s your famil—?” I barely get the question out when, from out of the corner of my eye, I see a figure enter the park. I glance at the person and my stomach does a flip—Javen. He’s dressed in simple khaki pants and a gray T-shirt, and his head is down as if he’s uncomfortable or trying to avoid notice. He glances up at me for half a heartbeat and then focuses on the grassy earth.
Max turns his head to see where I’m glancing. “What are you staring at?”
“Um . . . oh, I just thought we should be careful what we talk about when other people are here at the park.”
He twists around again. “Other people? Uh, we’re the only ones here.”
Confused, I look to Javen and then to Max. Can’t Max see Javen? It seemed as if Alina couldn’t see him the other day, either.
“I only meant if more people were here.”
Max squints at me and then returns to his apple.
Needing an excuse to speak with Javen, I check my Connect for the time. “Thank you so much for lunch, but—”
Max peers down at my mostly uneaten sandwich. “Not that you ate.”
“Too much is going on for me to feel very hungry. Thank you for doing this anyway.”
“No problem,” Max says.
“I’ll message you soon to keep you up to date.” I glance at Javen, who’s still waiting. “But I have to go now.” I wave goodbye to Max and head toward the edge of the park.
“Why are you here?” I whisper to Javen as I reach his side, but I keep my back to Max. “And why can’t anyone else see you?”
Javen studies the ground. “That’s difficult to explain.”
“Well, I’m listening.” I look at Max who is staring our direction and then return my gaze back to Javen. “We need to find someplace more out of the way.” I wave goodbye to Max, hoping I appear natural.
Not far is an empty walkway, and both Javen and I duck into it. I check the neighboring street, relaxing when it appears we are hidden from view.
“Javen, what’s going o—”
Before I have a chance to finish, his hands are in my hair and he’s pulling me into h
is arms. All my questions turn to mush in my brain.
“I had to see you again,” he says in a deep voice, deeper than I remember hearing him speak before. "When we touched—in the city, something happened. I saw you. I saw everything about you. It's as if we've always been together.”
My knees go weak, and thankfully he continues to hold me or I’m pretty sure I’d find myself on the ground.
“I saw you, too,” I say, breathless, and cup my hands over his shoulders to draw him even closer.
He leans down until our noses touch, and before he closes his eyes, I see his dark irises swirl with cyan. Then his soft lips touch mine and my breath hitches in both shock and excitement. Without any hesitation, I sink into the kiss, delirious. The world around us shifts. My mind transports to the blue-green dream world from when I was unconscious on the ship, where I saw him and reached out to him but couldn’t connect. His memories, now stored in my mind, flutter through my consciousness. Kissing him makes them feel all the more real. I grip onto his neck, never wanting to let go now that he is here with me. Never wanting our kiss to end.
But a blazing white light ends the vision, and I snap open my eyelids, breathless.
Javen loosens his embrace, though longing remains in his expression.
“How is all this possible,” I whisper. “What’s happening to us?”
He lets out a long breath. “It’s more than that now, but the effect has to do with the Starfire.”
I ease from him. “The Starfire? I don’t understand.”
“Yes, the Starfire has powers. You experienced what the crystal could do. It's bonding us together.”
Is this why I’ve been experiencing all these longings against my better judgment? I shake my head in confusion and then move to lean on the building’s metal wall. It's as if an outside force is compelling us together. But something in me doesn't want it to stop. "I still don’t understand what’s going on.”
“When I saved you on the ship, the Starfire connected us. Somehow . . .” He pauses as if he’s trying to identify the right words.
My thoughts race far too much to wait for him to finish. “So, is what we’re feeling even real?”
The Starfire Wars: The Complete Series Page 9