CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Castor
I sat in the back of class, nerves tangled in knots. I swiped my solisPhone repeatedly to keep it from fading to black. Every time I checked, it was the same – no response from Nova, only my last text. To be fair, only thirty seconds had passed.
Castor
Part of me wanted to see those dreaded three dots bubble up and disappear, just to know that she’d at least read it. Someone placed a hand on my knee to keep my leg from shaking. I jerked away, then relaxed.
‘Class ended a few minutes ago,’ Pua prompted.
Other students were standing around us, gathering their books.
‘Meet you in the hall?’ she said as she started down the steps.
Introduction to Exercise and Sports Science was a full class of one hundred and fifty students. Dr Munroe was known to pass almost anyone as long as you did two things: show up and at least pretend to pay attention. I’d only managed one.
Dr Munroe tapped the whiteboard. ‘You have ten seconds, Mr Fox.’ He waited as I quickly snapped a picture of the day’s notes and extra reading suggestions.
‘My bad.’
‘If you need additional time, or have hellflares in class, I offer extended office hours for those with helical disease. I know I carry mine well –’
My brows shot up. ‘You’re a Pain Carrier?’
‘Not by choice, unfortunately. But tenure does get me some nice healthcare and heavy discounts on SPF so I don’t distract you all.’ Dr Munroe smiled.
I nodded, surprised. Between Perla and Dr Munroe, I clearly needed to pay more attention.
I felt embarrassed I hadn’t known, and uneasy about pretending I wasn’t a Pain Giver now.
People kept going out of their way to accommodate me when they didn’t need to.
I fixed my solisWatch so it covered the small incision scar.
‘The extra office hours won’t be necessary.
Today was a fluke. It won’t happen again. ’
I stood up and stretched. Ten days without helical disease and I felt good – minus the shame of hiding it. No one outside of my family, Jaiden and Pua knew I was pain-free now (they wouldn’t let me in the water otherwise). This time, I’d do things right.
There was only one person left whose opinion mattered before I updated everyone, and I was one step closer to telling her.
I’d tell Nova in person. It would be the first thing I said to her Sunday – if she says yes.
Then, if Jacinta wanted me to do one last interview, I’d do it.
The news cycle had shifted, though people were still leaving supportive and not-so-supportive messages on my socials, and Dominion stock was on the rise.
All was right in the Fox world. There was only one thing left to do to make everything perfect.
Pua – and now Jaiden – were waiting for me in the hall. As I walked toward them, it felt like I was gliding across clouds. I was so close to a date with Nova. I’d planned a ridiculous number of possibilities, all based on things she loved. I had to get this right.
‘Hey,’ someone called from behind me. Sera smiled and tucked her long red curls behind her ear. ‘Did you take any extra notes today? You know not everything makes it on to Munroe’s whiteboard.’ She wore colored contacts, the kind that brightened the ring from her oculsight to an unnatural glow.
‘I probably missed everything, but I’ll survive. Pua takes enough notes for both of us.’ I nodded toward her and Sera shifted to stand between us. I stopped walking.
‘You were pretty distracted on your phone the whole lecture.’
Texting with Nova. ‘Yep.’ I rocked back on my heels. ‘Sooo …’
‘So, if you need a study partner …’ Her voice trailed off as she plucked my phone from my hand.
She opened her own holoscreen, double-tapped, then made a swiping motion toward mine.
Her contact information flashed. ‘This weekend a few of us are getting together to study. Maybe have a few drinks, dance a little. You could unwind before you become a pro athlete and take your mind off that pain you’re so courageously carrying. ’
I winced. I was still wearing the long sleeves and hats to play my part. But even if I weren’t living my lie, Sera’s offer was the last thing I wanted. I was ninety-nine per cent sure I’d seen her best friend leave a comment calling my helical disease a publicity stunt.
‘I’m busy this weekend,’ I told her. I hope. I took my phone back. ‘And for foreseeable weekends.’
‘I see.’ Her bubbliness deflated. ‘Situationship?’
‘Something more,’ I corrected. At least, I wanted it to be. I was close. I could get through the walls Nova had up. ‘But if you’re looking for someone to hang with …’
As if on cue, Jaiden joined us, slinging his arm around my shoulder. ‘Hi, I’m Jaiden – the handsome, slightly rugged and available friend.’
‘Brah, I didn’t introduce you yet,’ I said. ‘And definitely not like that.’
Sera giggled. ‘Saturday night, eight o’clock. Bonfire at Northend.’ She walked off, her friends trailing behind her. I transferred her contact to Jaiden’s phone and deleted it from mine.
‘Thank you, as always,’ he said, quickly saving her number.
Pua walked over, tugging her backpack over her shoulder. ‘Why are you here, Jaiden? You aren’t even enrolled.’
‘For situations like this. I have to protect Cas from my type. Steer them in the right direction.’ He pointed at himself. ‘You’d be surprised how often this happens.’
I laughed, right as my phone chimed.
Hot-Pink Seven-Speed
Sunday, 2 p.m.
She said yes. SHE SAID YES.
I’d take her on our official first date – one she deserved.
I texted her back and we exchanged a few quick replies. Then I fist-pumped the air, jumping up and down.
‘Slow down, lover boy,’ said Pua. ‘I assume Operation: First Non-Fake Date is a go?’
‘Yep.’ I grinned. I’d caught my friends up on everything during our morning surfs. Pua pushed for me to take it slow and do something sweet, while Jaiden wanted me to crash Nova’s chem lab and play ‘Starlight’ over the speakers. I’d settled for something in between.
‘You know what this calls for?’ Jaiden slung an arm around each of us. ‘I have a date. Cas has a date. Pua continues to make everyone she attracts suffer by refusing to date – myself included.’
‘It’s hard to make emotional connections with anyone when I have you as my standard,’ she said dryly, though her gaze lingered on him. I wasn’t sure Jaiden caught it. Eventually he would, but I was staying out of it until then.
‘To the beach! The waves are ours, my friends.’
When we pulled into the Northend Shores parking lot, the swells were glassy. The temperature outside – perfect. Happy people rollerbladed beneath the boardwalk’s extended glassways, kids riding bikes and balancing fried avocados on sticks. I had my life back.
The three of us changed into our wetsuits, Pua throwing on her hooded poncho first.
‘Hey,’ someone called as they walked by. ‘Respect. Out here getting ready for the AB Cup knowing you could have a hellflare mid-wave? That’s some scary shit, man.’
I nodded and shouted back an awkward thanks. I hated having to do that. As soon as I told Nova, I’d tell everyone else – I had my life back. It had only taken trusting Grandfather.
I rubbed a hand down my arm, no longer afraid I’d trigger a hellflare. Helical disease had almost stolen my life – twice, when I thought about it: the crash and the almost-drowning thing. But it had also brought me to Nova. Or her to me, by way of my windshield.
‘I think I should thank my Pain Carrier,’ I said, the unfiltered thought slipping out of my mouth.
Jaiden popped his head up from behind the campervan, nearly stumbling as he carried both our boards. ‘Isn’t that illegal? You said you signed, like, a bajillion NDAs –’ he lowered his voice – ‘just to break them and tell us everything. Hospital beds with silk sheets, damn right.’
Pua stilled, a faraway look crossing her face. ‘You don’t think that’d be dangerous?’
I frowned. ‘Why would it be? I’m in their debt. I want them to know I appreciate what they’re doing.’
‘I guess that could be the gentleman thing to do.’ She tucked her board under her arm. ‘Come on. I’ll race you in.’ She took off, and I knew her well enough to pick up on when she was deliberately changing the subject.
This was important to me. I had to do it. Eventually.
First though, I had a date with Nova Williams. I’d see her this weekend to tell her everything. Everything was back on track.
Still, as I ran after my friends, heavy dread filled all the places inside me where my helical disease used to reign.