Tears rolled down her porcelain cheeks. For a few minutes, they couldn’t find the strength to resume their conversation.
“Hey, Jen?” Yalena whispered as she was about to drift off again. “When you first woke up, you mumbled something...”
A feeble smile blossomed on Jen’s lips, even though her face remained saddened and tear-streaked. “Save you, save me.”
“What does it mean?”
Jen had never looked more angelic than when she replied. “I said it to myself when I first met you.”
Through hazy thoughts, Yalena returned to that moment. She’d climbed onto the transporter on the way to a Unifier-bound shuttle. And out of more than a dozen space-crazed Earthlings on board, she’d chosen to sit next to a shy blonde who’d clutched her backpack against her chest as a shield.
“I thought you were the only one appropriately terrified of what we were about to do. And look at where it got us,” Yalena tried to joke. “We were right to be terrified.”
The smile still hadn’t left Jen’s lips. “And I decided at that time that we’d need each other to survive this. Of course, I meant parties, lectures and Unifier lifestyle at that point, but it’s been true all the same.”
Yalena allowed herself a moment of awe at the friendship that had given her roots in a life suspended in space. “I save you. You save me. That’s our deal.”
Chapter 41. Two Years Later
Yalena gathered the long skirts of her soft gray dress on one side as she climbed up the red-carpeted stairs. Behind the grand doors in front of her, the string quartet was already playing. She nervously adjusted the straps of her dress and knocked on the little door, off to the side. Natalia’s face poked out through a three-inch gap, checking to see who it was.
She exhaled with exaggerated relief at the sight of Yalena. “Finally.” Then, she opened the door wide enough to let her in.
Seated at the vanity table, Jen held still while her mother refreshed her blush and her little sister documented everything on video.
Jen’s eyes flashed to Yalena. “Everything all right?”
“Of course.” Yalena beamed at her. She never would have dreamed of telling her that one of the flower arrangements had collapsed. Blaine had been tasked with fixing it. Or hiding it, if it came to it.
“That’s why you’re the maid of honor.” Jen gave her a benevolent smile. “How do I look?”
Yalena sighed in sync with Jen’s mom, her little sister and Natalia. “Absolutely breath-taking.”
Jen glowed, and it wasn’t just because of the pearly make-up in earth-tones which suited her so well. She seemed much stronger and more energetic than she had been since the day they’d almost lost her. She stood with confidence, shoulders back, despite her mom and sister reaching to support her on either side.
“Are you sure you’re all right to walk?” Yalena asked. As hard as she tried, she was positive she’d never in her lifetime manage to shake off the feeling of just how fragile her friend had become.
“I’m all right, you guys, please.” Jen smoothed her crepe mermaid-cut dress in sparkling white. Bejeweled cap sleeves accentuated her shoulders and more gemstones decorated the back of the dress in a deep V.
Yalena reached out and took her hand, but it wasn’t out of worry. She gave Jen’s hand a little squeeze, her chest tight with excitement. “Then, let’s go.”
Jen’s mom, fanning her glassy eyes with one hand, left to fetch Jen’s dad. Yalena lined Natalia and Jen’s sister up in front of the big gates, both in lilac dresses that resembled Yalena’s in cut and fabric. She then fixed the train of Jen’s dress for the last time and took her place behind Natalia.
The doors opened right on time, and a new melody began. It was gentle and soft, angelic, like Jen had always seemed to Yalena. Jen’s sister took a left and began her slow walk down the aisle.
A minute later, Natalia gave Jen a wicked grin. “Try not to trip, little Jennevier.” And she followed Jen’s sister out.
Yalena couldn’t resist one final look at Jen in all her glory.
“There’s no-one else I wish would be here in your place,” Jen said. “Plus, I literally wouldn’t be here without you.” Her cheeks got flushed. “I hope you know how much you mean to me after all we’ve been through. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
With her cheeks tight from smiling, Yalena fought the feeling that she was getting teary-eyed. She clutched her small bouquet of purple peonies tighter and began her walk. The rows of chairs and their occupants turned into a faceless crowd as soon as she stepped into the room.
Eric stood by the altar in a light blue suit that matched his clear eyes perfectly. His Adam’s apple bobbed before his lips parted for a deep exhale. Yalena smiled brighter at the sight of him. Then, her gaze landed on Cooper and Alec, standing to the side as his groomsmen. Alec’s eyes locked on Yalena, his dimple deepening in the way that always made her stomach flutter.
Yalena took her place in front of Jen’s sister. Heat rushed up her neck at all the excitement, but she forced her wildly-beating heart to stay calm.
The melody changed again, and the audience rose to their feet. In the front row, Heidi struggled to keep Marcus in line. The toddler wailed, but when she picked him up into her arms and whispered to him, his eyes found the bride and he held still.
Jen walked in with a parent on each side. It was as if she was floating on a little cloud of her own. The atmosphere was charged with the tension of everyone in the crowd holding their breath. And then Eric received Jen, hands open with his palms up, as if to show he was ready to support her, no matter what might come their way.
Yalena was on the verge of tears throughout the entire ceremony. She held herself together, though. The cocktail and photo shoot afterward both required her to coordinate, but she did manage to get lost in a couple of priceless moments. The way Jen rested her head on Eric’s shoulder during their first dance. Natalia slipping on her dress a little, then threatening everyone who dared to so much as chuckle at her with a gruesome death. Sutton and Jea, finally dancing together after months of back and forth in their relationship.
But the memory that would stand out in Yalena’s mind even years later was the one of her and Alec. He took her to the middle of the dance floor and led her into a slow sway. His tanned complexion glowed in the candlelight. It reminded her of that first tremor in her heart—back in their first year at STAR Academy, walking to the dorms together after she’d caused quite the scene to get him out of trouble. And it seemed she wasn’t the only one taking a mental stroll down memory lane.
“This reminds me,” Alec said, “of the Spring Gala back at STAR Academy.”
Yalena was positive she had just blushed like a high school student. “I was so stunned at the announcements, it’s all such a blur.”
That wasn’t one hundred percent true. She’d felt a flutter in her core again when Alec had twirled and led her with ease, when his hand had left a scorching trail down the small of her back.
“I was kind of nervous,” he admitted, but Yalena only exploded in giggles.
“You? Nervous? Never.”
A devilish grin appeared on his lips. “Well, you looked so absent-minded while we danced, you didn’t even notice-”
“That you pulled me in a little closer after each twirl?” Yalena teased. “I noticed.”
“And what do you notice now?”
His jaw squared like he was under pressure. Yalena tried to pick up a tell from him, any sign to show her if he was just messing with her now. But he wasn’t. He twirled her out, and when she whirled back in, Alec gathered her up into his arm, lifted her up so her feet dangled in the air, then slowly lowered her down. She felt his warm breath on her lips, too close to be appropriate in the middle of the dance floor.
“Take a good look around,” Alec whispered. “Think of how you’d like this day to be.”
Yalena’s lips parted as her jaw dropped slightly and her heart hammered inside h
er chest.
Alec dragged out the last bit with a Martian drawl that still sounded a little funny to her. “Because, Yalena Troian Russo-Tate, Lenly—I think we’re next.”
The fact that it wasn’t even a question made Yalena giggly. “I think we are going to be next.”
After all, Alec was her other half. The two of them existed in an odd state of cohesion, which made sense to them in a way it never would to people on the outside, looking in. She couldn’t help the grin that spread across her lips, because there was nothing that meant more than this moment. She didn’t need a ring on her finger. She didn’t care if Alec went down on one knee or spoke the exact words. When the time came, she wouldn’t even need a decadent party like this one. The only thing that mattered was that Yalena and Alec were going to spend the rest of their lives together. And that was enough for her.
Alec’s hands relaxed around her, even though their foreheads stayed pressed against each other for a while longer, and he led her into a dance again. The world had turned brighter, almost sparkling at the edges. Yalena’s heart felt like it would burst.
Before she’d accepted Chris’ invite to join STAR Academy, the only person she’d ever been close to had been Adeline. Now she was the maid of honor at her brother’s wedding, watching him vow to love her best friend forever. She was chuckling at Blaine and Natalia—the only couple that bickered as they danced. She was sneaking glances at Stanley and Adeline, amid another one of their spirited discussion, spying for any signs of the affection she’d started to suspect was developing between them, even if they’d stuck strictly to their parental roles until now. And, best of all, she was in the arms of her dream guy—the one she loved enough to call family.
After another series of twirls, Stanley tapped Alec on the shoulder. “Mind if I cut in?”
Alec gave Yalena one more fiery look to mean he did mind, but he stepped aside for Stanley. Her father took Yalena’s hand and she placed her other one on his shoulder.
“You look radiant,” he said with a knowing smile.
Yalena attempted her best inquisitive look, but she was overcome by chuckles. “Alec asked you first, didn’t he?”
“Very gentlemanly of him,” Stanley said. “Not that I’d have anything to worry about. Don’t forget I met him before I even met you. I saw you through his eyes before I knew you, and it was obvious how deeply he cares about you.”
“Does that mean you approve?” Yalena teased.
“I approve of anything and everything that makes you happy.” Stanley swayed her gracefully despite his slight limp. “I know I haven’t been there for most of your life, but I am grateful every day that I was able to get to know you, that I get to spend time with you.”
Yalena rather enjoyed the deep conversations Stanley was inclined to initiate with her. She suspected prison had made him more of a pensive person, but perhaps he’d always been that way. After all, growing up, he’d been shaped to lead the Fians—to make choices with regard to the near worlds, the hive engineers and Fian secrets.
With Felix gone, Stanley had settled seamlessly into that role, just like Yalena had slipped into her new position—as an ambassador for the hive engineers. The Scout—as he now called himself—had stayed behind to continue the collaboration between the races. Communication was still tricky at times, and the hive engineers hadn’t given any of their advanced technology to the humans, but they were fascinated with what seemed to be the first non-Novofex lifeform they’d discovered. Their message had remained clear since the Fian attack. Live and let live.
“I know, dad,” Yalena whispered. “Never look back with regret, right?” She was quoting one of his favorite pieces of advice to her.
“Never,” he agreed. “Even when the right choice comes at a great personal cost.”
He seemed lost in thought for a second, probably transported back to the time of his imprisonment.
“And sometimes you fight so that others don’t have to; you bear the consequences of imperfect choices, because someone has to.”
Yalena drifted to her own memories of Nico and the final fight that had won them the war. Sometimes the hardest part of thinking back to that day was knowing she didn’t regret it. As difficult and wretched as her choice had been, it had been the right one.
“That’s right,” Stanley said. “All any of us can do is fight for what we truly believe in, no matter the cost, because...” He seemed to be fishing for the next phrase, like a teacher trying to feed an answer to his favorite student.
Yalena beamed at him. She was his favorite student. “All we have is who we are.”
Thank You
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Emilia
The Candidates
As the son of the famous Unifier space station commander, Eric is used to being mixed up in STAR Academy business. When a secret of his dad's pushes a second agenda in the regular candidate selection meeting, though, he has to do his best to bring a special recruit on board.
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About the Author
Emilia Zeeland is a Young Adult sci-fi writer and author of The STAR Academy Series.
Her stories include coming-of-age tales, detailed worlds, unimaginable consequences, deep friendships, and romances that sneak up on you. She’s not afraid to push her characters to their limits and give them a depth that firmly plants them in readers’ hearts. In Zeeland’s writing, readers will be transported to another world, where they are not alone, but part of a tightly-knit, perfectly imperfect family.
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