Summer Planets by A. T. Nager (great YA SF novel a teenager age 19)

Page 12.

7. Stella Grateful

Valk dropped Jared and Stella off at the Bachelor Officers’ Barracks in Old City.

Hustling through the last drizzle, with Jared shielding her under his coat, they rushed up stone steps that had coach lights and a beautiful, curving antique stone gateway. They entered the lobby, a modest hall under huge chandeliers, where they checked in at the robotic desk and concierge. Stella was able to plug in with her palm print and accomplish all this instantly

A cubby machine rolled beside them, carrying what little luggage they had. Most of Jared’s meager possessions were still stored in a locker at Lyxa’s palace.

On Lyxa’s private credit, Jared managed to obtain a Colonel’s lodgings (three rooms, private bath). “You wait for me here,” he told Lyxa

“That’s fine with me.” She opened his dripping coat, revealing a sketchy figure and dark red dress.

He took the coat and hung it on the back of a chair. He didn’t care if it dripped water onto the rough carpet. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Keep the door locked and stay safe.”

“I will.” She stepped closer. Something was brooding in the phantom squiggles of her face, the emo sine waves that rippled like auroras across her features. She placed a solid, firm hand on his shoulder and stood face to face. Their eyes intersected, and he read stars deep inside her skull through the eye sockets. Not stars, maybe, but flickering electrons. And yet there was a girl in there. “Thank you.”

He felt emo himself. He took her hand in both of his and pressed it to his mouth. “So glad you are with me.”

“You care,” she said. “It means everything to me.”

He let go of her hand and stepped back. “Me too.” She didn’t kiss or drink or make love. What was there? Companionship.

“Be safe, Jared.” Her voice had that lilting, Samba-like mix of exotic and innocent.

“I will be safe,” he promised. “Hide under the bed if you have to.”

She stared at him, stony if a djia could look stony (or baffled), and he said: “Bad joke. Gotta run now. Lock yourself in.”

“I will.”

Thank you for reading. If you love it, tell your friends. Please post a favorable review at Amazon, Good Reads, and other online resources. If you want to thank the author, you may also buy a copy for the low price of a cup of coffee. It's called Read-a-Latte: similar (or lower) price as a latte at your favorite coffeeshop, but the book lasts forever while the beverage is quickly gone. Thank you (JTC).

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