Free There Once Were Stars by Melanie McFarlane Page B

anyone else.”
    I lean away, absorbing his words, but I can’t commit. “Right now, I need to deal with all of this.” I wave my hands to the tiny room around us. “Plus, I still have no idea what happened to Grandfather. My entire world has fallen apart. Give me time, please.”
    He winces as he lets go of me. I know I’m being selfish, but I really can’t extend myself any further. I reach for his hand, but he pulls it away and stands, leaving me sitting alone.
    “I still love you and Xara, like always.” I try to reassure him.
    He walks to my desk, absentmindedly running his hand across the top. There’s nothing there. I’ve barely tried to make myself at home in the short amount of time I’ve been here. I can’t tell what he’s thinking, his face not meeting mine. But his movements are deliberate and rigid.
    “I’d better get back to work.” His voice cracks, and he clears his throat. “Duty calls.” He pauses at the door, without looking back. “Be careful outside. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
    “Thank you, Jak. I love you.”
    “Not in the way I need you to,” he mumbles from the hallway.
    I throw myself back on my bed and cover my face with my hands. When did life get so complicated? If Jak really loves me, then he should understand I need time to adapt to all this change. Seeing him come when I needed someone means so much to me, but I’m not ready for something serious, and I’m not sure I want that with Jak. Shouldn’t I feel more than platonic love?
    I touch my ear where Evan whispered yesterday. Evan makes me feel different than Jak does. There’s more of a mystery there, but at the same time he frustrates me. Jak is secure, and predictable. I’ve known him since we were little kids. Evan is unpredictable and showed me just how explosive he can become.
    The door to my room slides open, and Evan walks in. My face instantly flushes. Can he tell I was just thinking about him?
    “Is that your boyfriend?” Evan thumbs over his shoulder.
    “I don’t recall inviting you in.”
    “Come on, kid.” He flops onto my bed. “Let’s go get some breakfast.”
    I scramble for my blanket and pull it up to my neck. “I just woke up. Can I have some privacy, please?”
    “I’ll save you a spot in the cafeteria.” Evan steps into the hallway, then turns, poking his head back in. “Lighten up, kid.”
    “I’m not a kid,” I yell after him as the door closes, then I turn and scream into my pillow.
    I dress at my own pace, and as far from the camera that I’m able; Evan is not going to govern how I run my morning. By the time I’m finished, I hope he’s gone, but when I finally slip through the door of the cafeteria, he waves me over. Darn .
    I ignore him and get myself some eggs and fruit from the buffet. Outside the Axis, these are a luxury, but here they’re in abundance. I wonder what the people in the districts would do if they knew of all the extravagances the Axis has inside its tower walls. While I’m stuck here, I’m going to take advantage of it all.
    I pause at the end of the buffet, considering my seating options. The room is filled with white square tables, pushed together to make rows. All the occupants are scientists, evident by their white lab coats and scrubs. They’re outlined by the dim light pouring in from the tinted windows that run all along the walls, revealing the dome and the gray skies on the outside. Not even the sun pokes through today.
    My runners squeak on the vinyl floor, louder than they should, and people quiet as I pass by. Everyone’s gazes burn into my back. Why are they staring at me? I dart to the empty seat across from Evan, and keep my head down, wishing I had remained in my bedroom.
    “We’re discussing locations for our expeditions.” Evan explains. “What are your thoughts?”
    Two other scientists from our division are sitting with him. One is an older woman—maybe thirty—with red hair that matches her lipstick, and a