Alpha One - Chris Burton [57]
Jake ignored Steve’s negativity, putting it down to last-minute nerves. His friend had run out of chances; today was critical. “We’ve got Sabres to take out today, so make sure you don’t get yourself grounded between and this afternoon.”
“Yeah, no worries. I am not missing any more flying…see you at the Refectory at mid-day”
Jake wished Steve good luck, and Steve strolled purposefully towards the tutorial block while Jake headed for the Resources block. He had a double free period and he wanted to continue his work on Quadroponics.
He felt sad for his friend. Carla dumped him, his grades were appalling and even his flight training was behind schedule. To make matters worse, Carla had planned to tell Steve she was going back to Titan and that she took him and not Steve.
Steve exited the tutorial block at 11.55 and headed for the Refectory. He passed the assessment, just barely. A pass was a pass, and this would get them off his back. He could concentrate on getting Carla back. Until then—on the Sabres this afternoon.
He joined Carla, Jake and Maria, who sat outside enjoying the hazy sunshine and the clearer air that had arisen following the rain storm. The humidity was returning though. There will be another storm tonight, thought Steve.
The four friends conversed and enjoyed a pasta-and-fish lunch. Carla was much chattier today than she had been of late. Steve hoped this was the start of reconciliation. They took coffee after lunch, and it was then Carla announced she was returning to Titan in a couple of weeks to see her sister again.
Steve was just about to offer to go with her, when Carla spoke again.
“I asked Jake to come with me. I hope you guys don’t mind if I borrow him for a few days.”
Both Steve and Maria looked shocked.
“Did you know about this already Jake? Why didn’t you tell me?” said Maria.
“That’s because they didn’t want us to know about their affair,” shouted Steve. He slammed his glass down on the table, knocking plates and cutlery towards the floor and then stormed off.
Maria made her excuses. Jake shrugged and said he would talk to her about it properly later. She departed, embarrassed, but also annoyed.
“That went well,” said Carla.
“Yeah, perhaps on reflection we should have spoken to them separately.”
“Don’t you think you should go after Maria?”
Jake sighed and stood up. “Yes that sounds like a good idea.”
He eventually caught up with Maria as she headed into the Resources block.
“That was not what you think,” he said.
“So why did you not just tell me? You must have known for a while.”
“Carla mentioned it a few weeks ago. To be honest, I forgot until yesterday. There is nothing in it. She said she would feel more comfortable if I went with her.”
“So there’s no reason why I can’t come?”
Jake put his face in his hands and sighed. “Sweetheart, this is something Carla needs to do on her own or with just me. She is not going to want anyone extra towing along.”
“Because she has ‘special’ plans for you.”
“No. Look Maria, I am going and it is best if you don’t come. Can’t we just leave it at that?”
Maria sighed and turned to enter the building. “Jake, I think you and I need to have a chat about how we feel about each other.”
Jake frowned. He knew this was coming. “Fine, but not now. I am on a Sabre mission until tomorrow midday. We can talk tomorrow night.”
Maria blew Jake a kiss as she walked up the steps and Jake responded in kind, before turning and heading towards the sub rail station. She was really beginning to bug him.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The Venusian Void
Jake arrived at the Space Port Training building, just as the doors were opening. Steve was already here and took a seat at the back of the lecture theatre. Jake climbed the steps to the back row and asked Steve if he could sit with him.
Steve nodded, Jake sat down, and they waited for the tutors to arrive. Jake set about trying to assure Steve that his relationship with Carla was purely platonic and always would be. Satisfied, Steve said he was not upset with Jake, but he could not understand what