Evelyn had been buried with her husband, Thomas, right behind the church where they had held their wedding, just as she had always demanded. Her family had mourned endlessly. Two months came and went, and just as they found their tears had run dry, it was time for the trek that would take them to the ships.

"Evie!" Marybeth called out to her best friend from where she waited at the bus stop with her family.

The Coldwater family joined in with the small group of families waiting for the bus that would take them to their new home aboard the space shuttle at dock number nine.

"Hey, Maymay," Everly greeted her friend. "Been waitin' long?" she asked, making idle chit-chat. She knew her friend deserved more from her, but she didn't have it in her since her grandmother's passing.

"Only all day," David interjected, leaning over Everly's shoulder. He smelled like soap and warm sugar. Everly held her breath to keep from blushing.

When her grandmother had passed, David had come by with the rest of his family to offer their support and prayers. They brought casseroles and anecdotes and helped the Coldwater family remember their matriarch in all her splendor. David had managed to approach Everly in one of the few moments her best friend had been preoccupied. His presence had been more comforting than Everly would've liked to admit. Afterall, she still remembered a time when David was smaller than her. Now that he could easily be called a young man, things had changed between them. On more than one occasion, David had snuck a kiss from Everly, and on more than one occasion, Everly had kissed him back. But she had made him promise he wouldn't betray their secret to their families just yet. The Coldwaters were still grieving and Everly knew there would be no end to the teasing from Marybeth.

"Good morning, David," her voice falling quietly, afraid to sound too eager.

"Morning," David nodded. His bright blue eyes fell to her lips and quickly looked away, making her heart race.

"What do you think it'll be like?" Marybeth's eyes glittered with excitement. She hadn't seemed to notice Everly looking at David a little too long.

David spoke first, "Hmm, I'm not exactly sure what to expect." He rubbed his chin.

"I heard we get special lil' sleep pods that'll suspend us in cryostasis until we get to Eden Major," Evelyn spoke louder this time. She was very excited to see the machines in person. They had been learning about what to expect on the ships in school for years. By the time high school came, they were all on home study and virtual classrooms. Everly had been placed into the advanced classes which she credited not for her intelligence but for how the content of the classes held her interest. Although she was rather intelligent.

"Do ya think they'll be comfy though?" Marybeth asked. "I can't imagine anything cozier than my own bed. Man am I so bummed we're not supposed to bring more than the necessities for travel," she mocked the pamphlet given to all households.

It was true. Leaving behind the only home she could ever remember had been hard for Everly. She imagined it had been hard for everyone else as well. Marybeth loved her creature comforts, and this trip would offer little more than bare necessities. As for her mother, leaving Coldwater Ranch had been as painful as losing Evelyn all over again. But they all had to move forward if they wanted any future at all. It was the price they paid.

When the bus finally arrived, it kicked up dust from the long country road, coating those waiting in a fine layer they half-heartedly attempted to rid themselves of as they boarded. The trip would take nearly ten hours with only a few stops allocated for rest. Each stop saw Lillian arguing with Everly's younger brother, Tom, to make himself use the bathrooms in the rest areas to avoid the one on the bus. And at each stop, Everly would sneak coy glances at David hoping for a rendezvous that always seemed to be prevented by Marybeth showing up to complain about the endless trip to her best friend.

After ten hours turned into eleven and a half hours, they finally made it to their destination.

A large area, half a state wide, had been cleared for the massive task of building twelve space shuttles to launch America's populace into the stars and beyond to Eden Major. From a far-off distance, Everly had been able to see three of the ships' peaks and as they had gotten closer, she could see some of the runways that connected them that went on for miles. As they approached dock number nine, all she could see was the massive, towering ship above her and the many people bustling about in its shadow, referencing clipboards, soldering parts, handing off crates of parts and goods.

They departed the bus and were escorted to a large tent marked with a medical cross.

"Please form an orderly line," a tall brunette in scrubs with a stethoscope slung around her shoulders shouted to the crowd. "Remember to stay with your family. As a family, you should've completed the census sent to your house along with the questionnaire. If your family has already completed this, you will be moved to the appropriate line and assigned your living quarters. Each individual must have their immunization records ready for the pre-boarding health screening."

The Coldwaters separated from their friends, shouting such reassurances as, "See you soon." After completing their health screening, they were given the details of their assigned apartment and then escorted to an elevator at the base of the ship they would soon call home.

"Prepare for decontamination," the computer-generated voice instructed.

Tom moved closer to his big sister, reaching out for her hand. Everly accepted it with a tight squeeze and they both jumped at the sudden hiss of air blasting over them. Everly giggled and pulled her brother to her side to ruffle his hair. He relaxed at the affectionate gesture and offered back a sheepish smile.

The elevator climbed upwards. They were assigned to the seventy-eighth floor and the elevator would only take a few minutes to reach that height. The ride lasted a lifetime as each member of the Coldwater family found themselves holding their breath.

"Welcome to your new home," a cheery bald man in a gray blazer and matching slacks greeted them as the door opened. "Assignment please," he beckoned with a swooping motion of his hand.

Lillian stepped out of the elevator and offered him the slip of paper given to them just moments ago. The rest of the Coldwater family followed her into the open hallway. It looked over a railing at several floors below them, each with doors to apartments of their own, that all circled down until it ended at a sort of open floor space. Looking up, Everly could see the ceiling came only two floors above them.

"Ah, yes," the cheery man read Everly's confused look, "the ship is segregated by levels of ten, each with their own recreation area. Don't be alarmed though. Everyone is welcome to move about below or above, to a certain degree," he added, his smile never wavering. "Apartment twenty will be to your right and nearly all the way across," he pointed across the open space between them to the adjacent balcony. "Rations are provided weekly and sent straight to the kitchen in your unit until departure. On arrival to Eden Major, we will begin to offer monthly social gatherings. Think of it like a little hoe-down," he gestured to the overall appearance of the Coldwater family.

"Thank you," Lillian spoke for her still gawking family and ushered them towards their door.

The cheery man just waved and smiled as the family disappeared into their new apartment.

"I want this room," Tom declared as he zipped in and out of the two rooms inspecting their differences.

"Looks like we gotta share a room then," Everly noted. Her own inspection led her to note that both rooms were pretty much the same. They both had two of the sleeping pods that had been shown in the pamphlet and a desk with drawers filled with plain and adjustable clothing. Everly inspected the sleeping pod closely. It didn't look as comfortable as Marybeth had hoped, but for all it was intended for it looked more comfortable than Everly had imagined. Of what she had learned in school about cryostasis, she knew it wouldn't hurt but that waking up may have some side effects.

"We're supposed to close these lids at night when we sleep in 'em. Help block out all the noise goin' on while people are still loadin' up," Lillian slid her hand over the interior wall of the cryo-pod and demonstrated how to trigger the glass lid to slide closed. It settled with a hiss and then a click. "It's also supposed to have all sorts of programs for learnin' and such, so we don't gotta worry about you kids missin' out on school with everything goin' on. I don't know about all that, but once it's time to leave we'll snuggle in and it'll keep us safe for the ride at least."

Lillian had a way of talking around what was to come. It made the terror of it just a little less for her family. She talked about the "ride" as if it were a quick bus to the next city over. In reality, they would be frozen in the sleep chambers for nearly two hundred years as the giant ship hurtled through space. Then when it finally landed on the very distant planet of Eden Major, they would stay frozen until scouts and other essential personnel were able to terraform the area in preparation for its new populace.

According to Everly's schoolwork, most countries planned on pretty much the same tactic. Since America had been the one to discover Eden Major, there was a truce that it had first claim to land there. In order to ensure other countries would abide by the truce, America would release the exact coordinates of Eden Major only after their ships had taken flight. This alone caused some countries to plan their own exit from Earth. She had heard that some countries had decided to simply orbit the planet for however long it took for the Earth to heal. Forever in cryostasis.

Everly sighed, "I'm not sure I'll be able to lock myself in there until we absolutely have to." She made her way over to the desk and rifled through the drawers to inspect her new wardrobe. It was all relatively gender neutral. She imagined some of the people on board might have a problem wearing such dull clothes, but her family would hardly notice the difference. The Coldwaters were practical people. They had been wearing hand-me-downs from when Lillian's parents were children.

"Mama, there's a box of clothes and these weird shoes in it. It's got a note too, says we gotta change into these jumpsuits before we depart?" Tom paraphrased the note before bringing it to his mother.

"Yep," Lillian confirmed. "They're some kind of special fabric. They gave us more information at those medical tents," she explained. "They can't risk anything on our bodies in'erfering with that cryostasis workin'. Says if we brought anything else on our persons, we gotta pack it in the boxes for safekeeping."

Everly touched the small pendent hanging from her necklace. She hadn't taken it off since her grandmother's passing. And she had no intention of taking it off anytime soon. "Would it be okay if I looked for Marybeth?" Everly asked.

"I don't see how you could find her in this big place," her father shook his head. "Maybe it's best if we just stay here for now."

"Nonsense, Jonah," her mother grabbed her hand, "we can't stay cooped up in here without a little adventure before the big day." Lillian held out her other hand for her son to grab, "Come along children. We're off to adventure!"

And off the Coldwaters followed their new matriarch. Jonah, sure that leaving the apartment was not what the organizers had intended. Tom, big eyed and struggling with whether to be scared or amazed. And Everly, hoping for a secret rendezvous with David and kicking herself for not hoping to run into her best friend.

They traveled all the way down to the area the bald man who had greeted them from the elevator had said would later be used for social gatherings. Later had apparently meant only moments for most people as they approached what looked like a cheerful gathering of people meeting and discussing their exciting upcoming voyage.

"Evie!" The unmistakable voice of Everly's best friend squealed through the crowd.

Everly watched as Marybeth jumped up and down, trying to wedge her way through the crowd. David walked steadily behind her, the crowd parting out of his way with each step. Comparatively, David was much taller than most. The time working in the mines with his family had made his shoulders and arms broad and muscled. Everly blushed at the memory of his arms pulling her into an embrace at her grandmother's wake. Her tears had wet his shirt as she buried her face in his chest. When she had looked up at his face, they had only a breath between them. His kiss had been cautious as he hesitated to do more than lightly touch his lips to hers. Everly had let out a shaky exhale before closing her eyes and meeting his lips more firmly. The kiss had been like lightning to Everly's body. It had also been cut short by the sudden footfall of Marybeth coming to check on her. Just about every kiss they had snuck in the last two months had been interrupted by Marybeth.

"Hey, Maymay," Everly clenched her jaw and reminded herself that Marybeth was just being a good friend. "David," she greeted him with contained enthusiasm, stifling a smile.

He smiled less conspicuously back, "This is pretty crazy, right? I can't believe there's going to be almost twenty thousand people living here. And we got lucky enough to be in the same segment as you," he winked.

"I heard they had to squeeze more people in last minute so most of the apartments have double or triple of those sleeping pods than they originally planned. It's only temporary until they start unloading us on Eden Major though. I'm lucky 'cuz I'm an only child but you prolly hafta share a room, don't ya Evie?" Marybeth rambled out in one long breath.

"Yep, thank the lord it's only temporary," otherwise how would I ever get alone time with David, Everly thought. In the two months since their first kiss all they had done was sneak in several other kisses. Everly wasn't complaining about the kisses, she just thought it'd be nice to have time to maybe get to know David a little more. She hadn't given him much attention when they were younger and realized she had no idea if he had a favorite color or even what his middle name was. Now she felt like she was beginning to like him enough to at least learn those two things about him.

"Did you know they're calling this ship, "Libra"? I think it's on account of there being twelve of them. I guess "number nine" isn't much of a name when you really think about it and they had to name it something," Marybeth paused only to inhale, "My dad says that everyone who's been here longer than us, like the elevator people, are all super calm and nice. He thinks sleeping in the beds must be really relaxing if they all —"

"Hey, Marybeth," David interrupted, "I heard that if you find one of the welcome personnel, you can put your name on a list to get a pet when we get to Eden Major." David knew that Marybeth had always wanted a pet but with the world as it was it hadn't been an option for many years. Besides, no one would be allowed to bring their own on the ships unless they had been incredibly lucky to be chosen for the "Arc Project" for Earth's animal population. Some people wouldn't be making the trip to Eden Major because they opted to stay behind with their pets, but most people had given up on having them over ten years ago when the rations began. "But you have to act fast before the reservations fill up," he added.

"Oh my gosh!" Marybeth squealed and ran off without so much as an afterthought of David and Everly.

"I wasn't sure if she'd actually go," David said, watching Marybeth disappear into the crowd.

Everly playfully slapped his arm, "Did you just lie to her to get me alone?"

"No, no, of course not!" He laughed, waving his arms defensively. "I really did hear that. I don't know if it's true or not," he shrugged, "but look at that, we are alone."

Everly looked at the crowd and saw her family preoccupied with the rest of Marybeth's family.

"Here," David took Everly's hand and led her to an area behind the stairs that ascended upwards.

No one noticed as they slipped into the secluded alcove. David moved so that his back was to the crowd and brought his hand to Everly's face as he bent down to meet her lips with his. Everly reached up on her tiptoes to greedily end the gap between them. Their kiss was hurried, both nervous about being interrupted again. Heat and lightning built in Everly as she tested a nibble at his lower lip. David brought his other hand to the small of her back and Everly arched to press herself closer to him. A low groaning noise escaped him as he moved from her lips to her jaw and down to her neck. She gripped at his sandy blonde hair, a gasp escaping her as she found herself losing the ability to stand properly.

"We have to stop," she forced herself to push away from David.

He loosened his grip on her, but his hands stayed one at her hip and one gently cradling her cheek. "Okay," his voice breathless and shuddering.

"I don't mean forever," Everly clarified, still winded herself, "I just mean you should probably offer to take me on some kinda date. I mean not like right this minute, but like when we get to Eden Major maybe. I don't know—" Everly's heartbeat was thunderous in her ears, and she was sure her face was growing a deep shade of red.

David chuckled softly and sighed, "A date? In the apocalypse? Sure. We'll just have to wait a couple hundred years. I suppose that makes it all the more worth the wait, though."

"It's not gonna feel like a couple hundred years. It'll be like going out the next day," Everly smiled. She hadn't been able to look him in the eyes since she had put a stop to their kissing, but she attempted a shy pleading look. David was staring at her with a devilish eyebrow raised. Her legs were going to give out again. "It's probably not gonna happen with everything going on, but we can try to meet up a couple times before the trip—but it'll just be to talk," she added quickly when his smile sharpened, "and get to know each other," she laughed and teasingly slapped his arm again.

He made a faux gesture of debating internally. "Okay," he agreed, "but only if you promise I can kiss you again when we get to Eden Major. Promise?"

"Promise," she giggled, smiling up at him, "but only at the end of our date."

"Of course," he agreed.

"Oh, of course," Everly teased, continuing her giggle.

"Everly?" Her mother's voice carried over the crowd, "Everly?"

"I gotta go," She peeked behind David and saw her mother was quickly moving her way toward them as she searched the crowd with her eyes.

David dropped his hand from her face and scooped up her hand with both of his. "Until the stars," he said, bringing her hand to his lips for a kiss and then he slipped out of their secret alcove and made his way up the staircase.

Everly made her way to her mother and joined her family as they returned to their apartment for the evening.

For the next three weeks while the ship finished loading its passengers and cargo, Everly had tried to meet up privately with David to finally get to know the boy who felt like lightning to kiss. Most days he was nowhere to be found. Some days he had Marybeth glued to him and they could only make light conversation around Marybeth's chattering gossips. By the end of the three weeks, Everly had given up hope that even on a new planet, David would ever get to be alone with her again.

"Okay, kids," Jonah announced as the Coldwater family finished dinner, "tonight is the night. Mom and I will help settle you into bed and then we'll all go to sleep and wake up in the future!" He lifted his hand to motion into the distance and chuckled.

They all took turns changing into the navy jumpsuits and thin-soled neoprene shoes provided for them. Everly kissed her pendant and tucked it under her collar. As a family, they helped Tom into his bed first.

"I don't wanna go to sleep, I'm scared," tears pooled in his eyes and when he blinked, they spilled down his cheek.

None of the Coldwaters had closed the lid to their beds since they had been there. Each swallowed hard at the thought of doing so as they reassured their youngest that all would be ok.

"There's nothin' to be afraid of," Everly swept her brother's hair back from his forehead, "it's just gonna be one long dream and we'll wake up like it's tomorrow."

"Promise?"

She paused, recalling the promise she'd made to David, and smiled. "I promise."

He nodded slowly and each of them gave him a peck on the cheek, his mother lastly as she dried his tears and squeezed his face tight.

"See you tomorrow," she smiled down, tears building in her own eyes as she pressed the external button to close the lid.

They all watched as it slid over their youngest family member. The pod turned blue then more hissing filled the see-through compartment with a gas that covered Tom in a dense blanket until he was no longer visible. Everyone held their breath and then a pinging noise turned the whole pod green. They peered through the lid to see Tom restfully still. Frozen as if he had just closed his eyes and fallen asleep.

Everly exhaled and turned dutifully to climb into her own pod.

"We're about to have the best sleep of our lives. Two-hundred-year vacation, here we come," her father grinned and leaned in for a peck on the cheek.

"Dream big, baby girl," her mother said, squeezing Everly's face between her palms as she kissed her forehead.

Everly's pulse quickened as the glass lid closed over her with a hiss and a click. The lid turned blue and Everly saw that it was a screen. It displayed her quickening heart rate along with several other vitals.

"Welcome to Libra," a gentle male voice greeted her. "Let's begin."

The air became thick as her eyes grew heavy and finally closed.