Click. Tap. Click. Tap. Click. Tap.

Nova sat against the arm of the couch and waited for the truth after Overseer Mikean sent the estimated time of the news and decisions from the B.H Supernova. Reports on the D.S Butterfly went silent, with the slavering reporters giving up their hunt for the next juicy bit of gossip — whether it be major movements from the military or new anomalous findings from the Institution. Neo pressed the edge of his I-pen over and over while beating it against the couch while his leg bounced along while his eyes focused on the wall instead of the I-Screen while it showed a beautiful, sparkling view of the metropolis. Nova tipped her head back when raucous whoops sounded somewhere down the hall from their dorm room.

"Neo."

"Sorry!" He froze in an instant, snapping his attention from his usual late evening daze and silenced the clicking of his pen.

"No, not that." Nova curled around the back of the couch. "Is someone having a party?"

Neo swung around to check the time in the corner of the I-Screen before hauling himself off the couch. "I'm going to go find out," he said halfway out the door, where it slid closed behind him.

Nova shook her head and returned to her bliss in her own presence without the loud hollers and sounds and everything which overwhelmed her but Neo thrived in. Datascroll resting in her lap, she listened to the hum of their dorm room while lights glittered outside the windows. Ships hovered along set paths over the city, from giant transports carrying goods from outlying systems to passenger ships landing in the heart of the city.

Nova lifted her head from the soothing white noise at a chirp from their mailpod. Her heart slammed in response to its gentle chirping at unanswered messages with the school logo sprawled across the screen. Over the couch arm, she raced for it to get her answer, to release herself from the prison of suspense. It fumbled in her fingers as she attached the little pod into her datascroll.

Wait, this isn't mine, it's... Nova scoffed as she read through it. And... that's not a surprise, but what about... One more tab for her personal truth, her goal, the work she put in for the single moment. It swelled in her heart when it glowed with words on the screen, and she shuffled to the couch, leaning against the wall while she read it all, missing nothing. Footsteps echoed with her heartbeat, and the door slid open to let the light in.

"As it turns out, it wasn't a party, but I did see Ty asking around for one. Guess he heard the noise and thought someone took initiative." Neo closed the door behind him, but stopped on the edge of shadow. "Nova?"

"It came in," she rasped and tucked the datascroll against her chest while Neo frowned. "Whether we got the Internships or not — and to no one's surprise but your own, I'm sure." Nova flicked to the tab and held it out to him. "You got picked for the Anomalous Research Internship. The whole nine yards, Neo. You must've really impressed the scientist they sent, but that was never a debate to be had. You were a cinch the moment you signed up for it."

Neo took a step closer into the dorm and tangled his fingers together with a nervous squeeze. "Nova, what about you?"

I almost feel bad.

"Oh, you know..." Nova pushed her lips into a smile and begged for her skills to be enough. "Things happen and sometimes don't happen. I'm okay."

I'm going to need to call Dad and tell him the news.

Neo tipped his head. "It's okay if you're not okay, Nova. I know you really wanted this."

More than anything.

"We can watch your ghost hunting show," Neo said into a deft quickness. "I'm sure that'll help — or we can do something else if you want to take your mind off it. If it'll help." He pressed his hands into his cheeks with a huff through his nose. "I'm not doing this right, am I?"

"I know you don't like that show, Neo, you don't have to do that." Nova smiled at him. "You're fine. Is it even on tonight?"

Neo sat on the couch. "We can look!"

Okay, not almost. I do feel bad. Nova released the sigh she held for the news important to her as she sat beside Neo as he rifled through the usual channels for the one thing he hated the most. "Thanks, Neo."

"I'm sorry that they didn't pick you."

Nova grinned and rubbed the edge of her scroll while Neo found the ghost program in question and set it on. One of the only things Neo refused to fully believe without irrefutable proof, but then believed in everything with all his heart. Nova tested the distance between them, sliding her datascroll into his hands to view for himself the truth of their moment while the introduction of ghosts and haunts played out on the screen. He scrolled through his letter of acceptance, then switched to the other tab.

The time ticked closer to the end of evening with the setting sun over the city.

He rolled through the text with a dwindling frown and then it cooled into steel as he turned to her with a flattened expression.

Nova burst out into laughter.

"That. That is cruel, Nova Spacyn," he lectured as she found herself unable to stop and breathe. "You can't toy with my feelings like that."

"I know if I told you outright you'd never let me hear the end of it." Nova cackled, and Neo got up with a shake of his head. "You'd be impossible to deal with if I didn't lower your expectations just a little." Her fingertips touched. "I'm sorry," she said and followed him off the couch.

Neo breathed deep and turned to her with a smile. "It's okay. I'm a lover, not a fighter, so I forgive you. I hope you had your fun, because I will get you back when you least expect it." Nova stifled a snort when he hugged her close and tight, and she brushed her hands down his back. "I'm happy for you — we both got chosen. We're going to be interning on the B.H Supernova."

"Don't say it."

"I told you so."

Nova moved her arms up and choked him as he grabbed onto the wall with a gasp. "Okay, sorry, sorry. Mercy. Mercy, ow," he said as he tried to escape her grasp and clung onto the jacket hangar.

Nova released him as he rubbed his neck and pushed her datascroll back into her hands. "I'm guessing this cancels watching our favourite show?" she teased and motioned at the episode continuing uninterrupted on the screen from their scuffle. "You said we could."

"Once again toying with my feelings and swindling me into watching it," he grumbled with a grin and waddled over to the couch. Nova joined him and tucked her arm around his middle as he rolled the volume up while the party outside the dorm returned.

"Guess he found someone," Neo muttered.

"I mean, I'm not going to stop you if you want to mingle... though I think you should call your mom and tell her you got accepted," she pointed out. "Aren't they planning a visit?"

"Planning? They're coming next week." Nova stared at him, and the realization jolted him as he leaned forward. "Oh. Next week."

Nova let him go to call her before messaging her own parents about the good news while Neo fumbled on his words when his mother answered. It took a few minutes, but Dad sent her a well-crafted message of pride and belief, when she had none in herself.

Suns rose and fell in their preparations for transport to the B.H Supernova, with everything packed and cleaned out of their dorm on the imposed week of expected preparations before leaving their planet behind.

Overseer Mikean sent her several forms to sign, the usual safety measures imposed by the Galactic Community for space travel in the outer reaches, and she went with Neo to the meeting place while they left their things to be loaded onto the transport.

Neo drove down the street while his GPS beeped, and Nova mused, "Did your mom say anything?"

"No, she just said she wanted me to have something before we left," Neo said as he turned a corner. "Also, thanks for asking your dad to put my car in the garage."

"It'll be safe with them." Nova patted the dashboard. "Should I go into that cold business detail that all the bigger businesses have about how the Spacyn Mechanics are above everyone else that calls themselves such in the same industry? I should have flashcards."

Neo laughed and shook his head. "I know the first words out of Jin's mouth if he actually came will be 'can I' and 'use your car', so I don't need to question the usefulness of your business," Neo said as he drove into the small cafe parking lot, where few patrons sat on the porches, with the main bulk enjoying their morning coffee inside. He parked in a spot close to the street, and they walked onto the porch where the table lit up for customers.

"Want anything?" he asked.

"I'm fine," Nova said.

He hummed and swiped through the projected menu while another car parked beside the Pulse with his back turned to it.

Nova grinned at the three shapes who left the car then waved them over with Neo's focus on his menu.

Mira Teimea, Neo's older sister, a tall, near imposing woman with her hair tied into a tight ponytail with a fashionable synth-weave lacing through her dark brown hair — something Nova could never hope to pull off with her shoulder-length waves — Mira blinked at the younger boy who escaped the car, giving a look of longing at the Pulse. Jin Teimea, with the same black hair as his older brother but none of his personality.

Nova raised an eyebrow when Jin eyed her, though Mrs. Teimea got in the way, with a warm, familiar smile and round features as she came up to them, with her purse tucked against her side. "We're here now."

"Mom!" Neo leaped out of his seat, abandoning his menu. Jin folded his arms from the back of their pack. "Where's Dad?"

Mira shook her head as Nova stood at Neo's side. "He may have forgotten that this was today, but he sends his love, Neo."

"More like 'wait, that was today?'," Jin said with a scoff and whisked strands of black hair off his brow. "I wish I could use that excuse." He flicked his gaze to Neo, but then rested on her, and a beaming smile which almost echoed Neo grew on his face. "Congratulations, Nova! You deserved this more than anybody." He slid up to her with raised fists, while Neo gave his little brother an expression of surprise. "I'm sure you're going to show them how it's done on that space station. What was your project on? I bet it blew everyone else in your class out of the water."

First words out of his mouth weren't can I use your car.

"Hi to you too, Jin," Neo said.

Nova smiled at Jin's enthusiasm, but it dropped like a stone when he turned to Neo where his previous interest croaked when he settled his attention on his brother. "Well, since you want to hold a conversation for once," Jin said. "Can I—"

"No."

"You didn't even let me finish."

Neo blinked. "I don't have to, Jin. You're going to ask if you can use my car, my answer is no. I'm putting it in the garage, where no one has access too except Mom." Neo rifled through his pockets for the keys.

Jin turned to Nova with wide eyes. "You see how he treats me? I don't know how you can live with him."

Mira closed her eyes. "Oh, the times I've asked myself that and never got an answer," she mumbled under her breath as she flicked Jin in the back of her head. "You have to be such a brat?"

"What? He's going to be on a space station doing... whatever he does." Jin rolled his hand at Neo. "What do you do again? I bet it's nothing compared to the work Nova does." He wriggled beside her and beamed at her with wide, almost sparkling eyes.

Mrs. Teimea tipped her head at Jin as she took the keys from Neo. "Your brother's going to be gone for a while, and that's the only thing you want to say to him?"

Jin pursed his lips and snubbed Neo.

He's sure... become a lot more... what's the word for it?

Mira headed to Neo and tugged him into an embrace, which Neo returned. "Try not to get into too much trouble up there," she said. "I'm afraid I can't stay. I've got a meeting with someone up the street, but I just wanted to get a goodbye in before my annoying little brother leaves us for greater things." She tapped his shoulder, and Nova eyed Jin, who pressed his arms deeper into his chest.

"What trouble could I get into?" Neo questioned.

Mira turned to Nova with a wider smile. "You too, Nova. Don't let Neo drag you into said trouble."

"Him? Drag me into trouble? Never," Nova teased.

"I better get going," Mira said. "See you when you're done with your internship, Neo." Her hand squeezed his shoulder. "Come back with lots to say."

"Will do." Neo nodded while Mira left the porch and walked down the street of bustling people. "And that's how you say goodbye to someone, Jin," he said with a smile. "Wasn't that nice?"

"I don't want to hug you." Jin sniffed. "Honestly, maybe you won't come back and the Pulse will collect dust. Goodbye." He stuck his tongue out. "And don't come back."

Nova and Mrs. Teimea jolted at his aggressive answer. Where did that come from?

Neo closed his eyes. "I'll miss you too, Jin."

"Jin." Mrs. Teimea turned to him, but Jin rushed back to the car without replying to Neo. "I can't keep up with him." Her hand rifled through her purse. "I'll have a talk with him, Neo. I don't know what's gotten into him lately, but I'll try and see what's bothering him."

"It's okay, Mom," Neo said, and Nova frowned at the chilly, masked tone to his voice as he gazed at her. "He'll get over it. It's just a car."

Nova frowned at Neo's shift in behaviour, and from the way Mrs. Teimea echoed her expression, it hadn't escaped her notice either. "I'll make sure it's safe," she assured and hugged Neo. "I brought something to you. I hope it'll give you some comfort while you're out there — a reminder."

"I could always use those."

Nova hung back while Mrs. Teimea pulled out a beautiful necklace out of her purse. On the end of the silver-weaved chain, a mosaic butterfly of nebulous clouds within the shaped glass of its long tendrils of starlight. Neo's expression faltered as Mrs. Teimea held it out to him, where it glinted in the sun.

"Mom—" He went wide-eyed.

"I know you lost it a couple quadrums ago, but I found it in your old room," Mrs. Teimea explained. "Would you believe it? Right where you left it before you came here. Your good luck charm." It fluttered into his outstretched hands, and he tucked it close to his chest as she smiled at him. "I'm proud of you, Neo, and we'll be here when you come back," her voice wavered inch by inch.

Neo tensed in his shoulders, then tied the necklace where it belonged. "I'll try not to lose it again."

Nova grinned when Mrs. Teimea hugged Neo. "Be careful, okay? The both of you," she said, then turned to Nova. "Thank you, for being there for my son."

"Oh!" Nova chuckled and pressed her fingers into her hair. "It's no problem, Mrs. Teimea."

Mrs. Teimea smiled with the same joy of her son. "You and your parents will always be welcome around our home," she said, then held onto Neo's shoulders. "And Neo—"

"I know, Mom." He hugged her. "It'll be okay."

It's okay to not be okay.

Nova stood with Neo while they waved off Mrs. Teimea and Jin, who sank into the back seat without a second glance through the window while they drove off.

"You always had that necklace?" Nova questioned while Neo stared down into its crystalline surface.

"Yes, but I lost it," he said. "I have it again — quite fitting to what got me on the space station. Chaos Theory." He wound his fingers around the butterfly. "This small, simple idea that the motion of a single beat of a butterfly's wing will change the course through the maelstrom of time. This question I have; I want it answered." He tucked his nose against the necklace. "I'll get it answered for them, they won't be erased."