The Apollo Academy by Kimberly P. Chase Page A

we’re the ones that have to save it.”

 

    ZANE
    Z ane pushed his food around on his plate. When he decided to join the Academy, he hadn’t been thinking of helping anyone but himself. Why should he help those who had never helped him? And was digging on the moon really that big of a deal?
    Zane shoved those thoughts away. None of it mattered. He was here for the free food, shelter, and better life. He would not be an unknown forever.
    “Do you want to go look around?” Akemi asked, his quiet voice breaking his reverie.
    Zane looked over at his roommate and nodded. “Yeah, just let me finish.” He picked up his fork with renewed vigor, but when Aurora and Kaylana stood, he remembered that normal people probably didn’t shovel food into their mouths the way he did. He carefully set his fork down next to his empty plate and looked up to find the girls walking away and Akemi silently watching him.
    “Hungry?” Akemi smiled.
    Zane kept his face blank. “Yeah, I guess.”
    He was secretly pleased with his roommate assignment. Akemi had rescued him from yesterday’s altercation with the guard and had yet to even ask for an explanation.
    Hailen leaned into him, putting her lips next to his ear.
    “Where are you going, Mr. Unknown ?” Hailen whispered.
    Zane winced at the word. Did she mean unknown as in no identity or that I’m somehow mysterious?
    “Um, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he replied in a dismissive tone.
    “That’s it? I tell you that I’m aware you have no retinal recognition identity and you’re not even going to try to deny it?”
    How did she know? She must have seen what happened yesterday. He had hoped everyone was already in the cafeteria at the time.
    Zane pulled away, trying to get more space. “Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He quickly looked at Akemi, hoping he couldn’t hear their whispered conversation.
    Hailen grabbed his hand, not letting go. “What have you been doing with these hands of yours?”
    “I work with tech a lot.”
    “I like a man who doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty.” Hailen moved her hand from his and up his arm. “I won’t say anything.” She smiled. “I think it’s kind of hot. I thought we might be kindred spirits.”
    “What would give you that idea? And what does that even mean?”
    Hailen shrugged.
    Zane needed to deal with this once and for all. Thankful Aurora had already left, he grabbed the hand Hailen still had on his arm, squeezing. He kept his face frozen, giving nothing away. “Do you think the Academy would really let an unknown into their facility?” He sneered. Zane had perfected the arrogantly rich, bad-boy persona a long time ago, and no one ever seemed to want to see through it, except for maybe Akemi. Zane had the suspicious feeling that Akemi was already putting some of the pieces of his puzzle together.
    He dropped her hand, picked up his tray, and glanced at Akemi. “Let’s go explore.”
    Akemi looked liked he’d been caught staring. “Yeah, okay.” He grabbed his plate, jumping from his seat.
    Hailen pursed her lips at Zane’s dismissal, then her face smoothed out in determination. She hopped up from the table like she had been invited to join them, and Brianna and Kylie followed suit. Neither Zane nor Akemi said a word when they followed them out of the cafeteria.
    “Where to?” Hailen asked when they all loaded into the elevator, her earlier attitude quickly changing.
    Akemi seemed uncomfortable, so Zane pressed a random floor number. A woman’s monotone voice came over the elevator speakers. “Fifth floor, physical training.”
    When the elevator door opened, Zane couldn’t believe his eyes. There were four Olympic sized pools all lined up next to one another. They passed a bay for virtual reality running that several people were pounding away on. They also passed a large weight room, a simulated boxing ring, a dance room, and a lot of equipment Zane didn’t