Lena stepped off the space shuttle, her heart pounding. The Academy floated above Earth, a shining silver structure suspended among the stars. She had dreamed of this place for years, but now that she was here, it felt… different. Bigger. Stranger.
“Lena! Over here!” Mira waved from the docking platform. Her voice was bright, full of energy. Lena smiled, relieved to see her friend. Mira had already arrived earlier and had made a few friends.
“Finally!” Lena called, hurrying to her side. “I was starting to think I got lost in space.”
Mira laughed. “Lost in space? You’re just overthinking. Come on, I want to show you the dorms.”
As they walked down the sleek corridors, Lena’s eyes wandered to the enormous windows. Stars glittered all around, planets spinning slowly in the distance. It was breathtaking.
Then she saw him.
He was leaning casually against the railing, looking out at the stars, but when he turned, their eyes met. Kai. His dark hair fell over his forehead, and his smile… it made Lena forget to breathe for a moment. She looked away quickly, embarrassed.
Mira nudged her. “Uh oh. Someone caught your attention, huh?”
Lena shook her head. “No! I… I don’t know him.”
Mira raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “Sure. Let’s go, future space explorer. Dorms first, staring at mysterious boys later.”
The dorms were surprisingly comfortable. Soft lighting, floating beds, and control panels beside each. Lena’s bed hovered in the corner, gently moving as though it knew she would sleep soon.
After unpacking, Lena followed Mira to the cafeteria. The room was crowded with students, all laughing, talking, or showing off small space gadgets. Lena felt out of place, until she noticed someone slipping past the crowd Sasha. A transfer student, dark and mysterious, with eyes that seemed to read right through her.
Sasha smiled faintly at Lena. “You’re new, aren’t you?”
Lena nodded. “Yes… I’m Lena.”
“I’m Sasha,” the girl said, tilting her head. “I think we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”
Before Lena could answer, a sudden alarm blared. Red lights flashed. A zero gravity training drill!
The cafeteria turned chaotic. Students floated into the air, bumping into walls and tables. Mira grabbed Lena’s arm. “Hold on!”
Lena’s stomach flipped as she shot upward, her feet leaving the floor. Her hands flailed until crash! she collided with someone.
“Whoa!” a deep voice exclaimed. It was Kai. He steadied her gently, holding her in the air. “You okay?”
Lena’s face heated. “I..I’m fine…”
“You seem… distracted,” he teased, grinning.
She wanted to push him away, but something in his eyes made her hesitate. The world spun around them, students floating, laughing, bumping into each other, but in that moment, it was just Lena and Kai.
The drill ended quickly, but the memory lingered. Lena couldn’t stop thinking about the way his hand had brushed hers, the warmth of his touch. And Sasha’s knowing smile as she watched from across the room didn’t help.
That night, Lena lay in her floating bed, staring at the stars through the window. She had arrived at the Academy for a reason, to study, to train, to reach the stars. But already, her heart was caught in something much more complicated… something she didn’t understand.
Somewhere in the vast Academy, friendships would be tested, hearts would be confused, and sparks would fly. Lena didn’t know it yet, but her life had just begun to change.
