Chapter Five
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Day One: Asteroid
I spent most of the first day in space in my room. “There ain’t nothin’ to do on this stinkin’ ship!” I also spent a bunch of time complaining with Constellation. She’s as dumbstruck as I am about the whole “burger incident”. She’s kinda become my confidante with… Meteor. She says he likes me. I agree.
As I’m staring up at my ceiling, the door creaks open. I sit up like my pillow is on fire. Our rooms are private. None of the other team members are supposed to come into a room that’s not theirs.
“Aster?”
“Meteor! You nearly gave me a heart attack!” I exhale a breath I didn’t even know I was holding.
“Well, I just wanted to check on you, what with the whole Nova-burger blowup.”
“Is that what they’re calling it now?” I roll my eyes but gesture to my couch. “Come on in. That couch should be able to hold all that muscle of yours.”
“Your speech was great. I don’t know why you were so nervous. I’m sure the kiss didn’t help,” he stutters, running his hand through his black locks.
“Actually, it did. What didn’t help, though, was being at the top. Now that made me freak out.”
“Oh! Are you still freaked out?”
“Yeah. What with Nova, and the burger thing, and the fact that there ain’t nothin’ to do on this stinkin’ ship!” I know I sound frustrated, but I don’t care. “The whole team is falling apart and we haven’t even gotten to Earth! I’m sorry, but I am going to call Comet and tell him to make someone else captain. I can’t take…” I am unable to say anything else. Because Meteor is kissing me. After what seems like forever, he leans back and gently says, “Wanna leave now, Aster?”
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Day One: Meteor
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The first days in space are always the hardest, or at least that's what my dad always says. Nova, the jet-black-haired pilot chic, has spent all day at the wheel, seething. I haven't gone near her.
I spent a good portion of the day prepping with Star. That is, prepping for a serious conversation with Aster… oid. Asteroid. Now I’m walking towards her door, scared like something big is after me. I open the portal quietly, but it still creaks. Apparently I scared her more than I originally thought. She says I nearly gave her a heart attack. I tell her I came to check on her, which is true. Now, she’s getting all fired up about how she doesn’t want to be captain anymore, and I decide to take desperate measures. I need to keep her near me. So, I kiss her. On the lips. I lean back and say, “Wanna leave now, Aster?”
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Day One: Nova
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ARGH! Why am I screaming you ask? Well, how would you feel if you had to go to an unexplored, alien-inhabited planet in the vast reaches of space, for a BURGER RECIPE? Anyway, I'm sitting in the pilot's chair, quietly steering and sparking like a bonfire. “A burger. A BURGER? Oh, my word. If I had any say in it, I would turn this ship around so fast all Star would see would be stars!” In case you couldn't tell, I'm not very happy with the arrangements. Again, a burger? Come on, Comet! Anything but a burger!
I put Orion on autopilot and tear to Asteroid’s room. I hear voices and crack open the door. When I put my head in, all I see is Meteor kissing Asteroid. On. The. Lips. I’m so surprised it’s all I can do not to thunder in there like an out-of-control cyclone. Still in shock, I close the door silently, float back to my pilot's seat, and collapse. I start charging to Constellation’s room. “She has to know about this!” I think. “So does Star!” I rally them and haul them into the leisure room.
“OK, guys. Guess what.” I start.
“What?” Star is impossible.
“I saw Meteor and Asteroid KISSING!”
“WHAT?!” The other two seem as thunderstruck as I am.
“Oh! I’ve got it!” They are staring at me like I’m crazy. Which I’m not.
“Got what?”
“Well, Constellation, Asteroid plus Meteor equals Meteoroid! Isn’t that hilarious?”
“Yep. You’re a genius.”
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Day Two: Star
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Well, lucky Meteor. I knew he would take my above-board advice. And she kissed him back, so I guess he got the girl. Lucky him.
Anyway, Nova, Constellation, and I have been calling them “Meteoroid” whenever we see them together. They don’t seem to care all that much. In fact they seem kinda happy about it, albeit a little confused. Apparently, they have no idea what Nova saw.
We have little club meetings, trying to decide on what needs to be done about the “Meteoroid Shower”, as we like to call it.
Whenever Nova is talking about the Meteoroid Shower, she completely forgets about the burger thing, which is good, so we talk about the Meteoroid Shower a lot.
Personally, I am excruciatingly happy for Meteor, so I don’t fully participate in their gossiping. Meteor deserves Asteroid! I’ve never met a better match, and I’ve met a lot of good couples. None with me, though!
Right now, I’m marching straight to Meteor’s room and I’m going to tell him everything. We’re cool like that. No secrets. But, before I can get to his quarters, Nova comes careening down the hall.
“Woah! Where’s the fire, Super Nova?”
“Huh? Oh, no fire. I was just looking for you! What are you doing at Meteor’s door, anyway?”
“Uh… I was going to… um… invite Meteor into the leisure room for a game of… holochess! Yeah. Holochess.”
“Riiight. Okay. Don’t let lil’ ol’ me get in your way. Sorry for disturbing you, Star.”
“Oh, you don’t need to apologize, Super Nova!” What can I say? I like girls with an attitude! “We can play some hologolf instead! That way all three of us can play.”
“Really?! Uh... I mean sure, whatever. If Meteor says yes, I’m game. Hologolf’s no fun with two people.”
“Meet ya in the leisure room, Meteor or no Meteor.”
“‘Kay! See ya there!”
I walk into Meteor’s room to Asteroid sitting on the couch with Meteor. They seem to be deeply immersed in a game of holocheckers. Every so often, Meteor leans over and gently kisses her cheek or forehead. It's beautiful. I decide that, no matter what I do, they won’t leave each other, so instead, I gently close the door and dart into the leisure room. Seeing Nova, I rush over and ask her, “What do you think about a dance party?” She seems enthralled with the idea, so I hurry to the comms system microphone and announce it.
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