The next morning, Lena woke to the soft hum of the Academy. The stars outside her window had faded into a pale blue glow as the artificial sun rose over the training platforms. She rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the lingering memory of yesterday’s zero gravity drill.
Mira was already up, floating near the ceiling as she brushed her hair. “Come on, sleepyhead. Training starts in an hour, and I don’t want to be late,” she said, grinning.
Lena got out of her floating bed, careful not to bump into the walls. Her thoughts, however, were not on training. They were on Kai. The way he had steadied her during the drill, the warm look in his eyes… she couldn’t stop thinking about him.
As they entered the training room, Lena noticed Kai talking to Evan, his best friend. He laughed easily, the kind of laugh that made Lena’s chest tighten. She quickly looked away, hoping he hadn’t noticed her staring.
Then she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Sasha, the mysterious transfer student.
“Good morning, Lena,” Sasha said smoothly. “Are you ready for today’s training?”
“I… I think so,” Lena stammered, suddenly aware of how flustered she felt around Sasha. There was something in her presence that made her nervous, yet curious.
“You’ll do fine,” Sasha continued, her voice soft but confident. “Just… don’t get distracted.”
Lena frowned slightly. Distracted? By who? She shook her head, trying to push the thought away.
The training was intense. Students floated through obstacle courses, maneuvering in zero gravity while handling complex equipment. Lena did her best to focus, but every time she glanced at Kai, her heart raced. And every time Sasha smiled at her from across the room, Lena felt a strange mix of excitement and unease.
During a teamwork exercise, Lena was paired with Kai and Evan. They had to navigate a small course together, grabbing floating data pods and placing them in the correct order.
“Stay close,” Kai said, his voice gentle but commanding. “We don’t want to lose points.”
Lena nodded, trying to steady her breathing. As they worked together, their hands brushed several times. Each touch sent a jolt through her body. She noticed the way Kai’s eyes lingered on her when he thought she wasn’t looking.
Meanwhile, Sasha watched them from the sidelines, her smile faint but knowing. Lena could feel her gaze like a spark of heat on her skin.
By the end of the exercise, Lena was exhausted. Her arms floated weakly in the air, and her cheeks burned from both the effort and the lingering thoughts of Kai.
“You did well,” Kai said quietly as they left the course. His hand brushed hers again. “You’re… impressive.”
Lena’s stomach flipped. “Th..thank you,” she managed to say. She wanted to look away, but she couldn’t. Not when he was so close.
Later that evening, Lena and Mira sat in their dorm, floating lazily near their beds.
“You like him,” Mira said bluntly, smiling mischievously.
“I don’t!” Lena protested, though her voice sounded weak even to her own ears.
“Lena, please,” Mira said, rolling her eyes. “I’ve known you for years. You stare at him like he’s the only person in the galaxy.”
“I just… I don’t know. It’s complicated,” Lena admitted. She didn’t mention Sasha, or the way her heart twisted every time she saw her watching Kai or herself.
Mira leaned closer. “Complicated, huh? Sounds like you’re in the middle of a space storm. You better figure it out before someone else does.”
Lena shivered, unsure if it was the cold air or the truth in Mira’s words. Somewhere out there, under the stars and inside the Academy, feelings were rising. Jealousy, curiosity, admiration… all swirling around her in a way she couldn’t control.
And she knew, deep down, that the next days would bring more sparks, more drama, and choices that could change everything.
