Chapter 2

Aria’s pov

The message continued to blink on my screen like a hallucination.

NASA.

NASA.

I read it again and again.

My Brian refused to believe this wasn’t some kind of sick joke the universe was playing on me.

I don’t remember getting this message.

Why would I ignore such an important message like this?

How is this even possible?!

The universe had timing.

Very strange timing.

When I looked over the message for what felt like the hundredth time I checked the date it was sent.

It was sent six days ago, making today the last day for me to send a response.

I checked my time and it’s 11:39pm.

I had less than 30 minutes to make the greatest decision of my life.

My fingers trembled as I sat inside my car, duffel bag beside me in the passenger seat.

Something buzzed again and this time it wasn’t my laptop, it was my phone.

Sam.

I let it ring.

It rang three times before it finally went off.

I swallowed hard and pressed the block button.

I needed time to myself, I needed to think and know what I wanted for myself.

My eyes returned to my dimming laptop screen and my grip tightened on the steering wheel.

If I decline this offer, I’ll never get the opportunity to be up there…in the stars.

There won’t be another do over.

But if I accept it…. I laugh.

“Of course,” I whispered to my empty car. “Of all nights….you pick this one.”

I dip my hands into my office bag and pull out a coin.

I don’t think or hesitate when I throw it and then catch it.

I take two steady breaths and flip the coin.

I stare at the result.

Silence.

I pushed my fingers into my hair, pulling slightly, ground myself. “Stupid,” I whispered, voice cracking. “Stupid, stupid. How did I not see it?”

I began to laugh uncontrollably.

How could I have forgotten so fast? How I struggled to climb the ladder to where I was.

I started my car and began driving.

I don’t stop for anything or let my mind wander to any other place.

I just drove straight to the stars.

The heads side of the coin stared back at me from the dashboard.

I’m reaching for the stars again.

And this time I’m not looking back.

————

Every few miles my phone buzzed on the cup holder, Sam’s names flashed again and again.

I flipped it face-down without slowing down.

My heartbeat sped up the closer I got to Huston.

Sam faded with each passing sign.

I didn’t look back, not once.

Pain still sat in my chest, heavy and uninvited, but I didn’t let it weigh me down.

I had somewhere to be.

Someone to become.

By the time the towering white buildings of NASA filed my view, my stomach was in nuts.

I parked.

Turned off the engine.

And stepped out of the car.

The glass doors reflected on my face.

I looked tired,my make up was smudged, hair a mess.

I pressed my palms against my thighs, grounding myself before walking inside.

When I reached the lobby the receptionist looked up, startled.

“Uh…hi. Do you…have an appointment?”

“No.” I inhaled. “But I received an invitation for candidate reassessment.”

The receptionist blinked at me.

She blinked again, confusion pulling her eyebrows together.

“I, I’m sorry but that was over a week ago, and everyone reached out to have responded.” She replied politely.

“But what’s your name?…. So I can check the records for a mix up.”

“Carter. Aria Carter.”

The receptionist nearly dropped her tablet.

“Carter? As in Aria Carter?”

My jaw tensed, waiting for a rejection.

“Yes.”

“We weren’t expecting….I mean….we assumed you weren’t interested. We never got a response from you….and we were expecting an email response, not-” she stopped herself, cheeks flushing. “Let me get someone.”

She hurried from her seat as I nodded, trying my best to ignore the way people kept stopping to stare at me, as if a ghost had walked into the building.

I don’t know if they were staring at my appearance or if they recognized me.

A man in a gray NASA jacket hurried out moments later, skidding slightly as he reached me.

“Ms, Carter?” His eyes widened. “You actually came….i mean, I…”

“Is that a problem?”

Whispers began to fly from every corner.

People gathered closer, while others carried their phones.

“No- no, not in the slightest. Just….very unexpected.” He gestured for me to follow him.

“We thought you had refused our offer by not responding, and then you’re here! It’s all so surreal.”

“It’s all so surreal to me too.”

His pace increased.

“We’ll take you to operations. They’ll brief you and introduce you to the lead of your division, who’s also the person you’ll be working with.”

I nodded enthusiastically, matching his quick pace.

The receptionist walked a little bit closer to me.

“There’s something you should know first….” She whispered.

We turned a corner just as a voice thundered from the room ahead.

“Mr Adrian isn’t….” But she couldn’t finish.

“I said absolutely not! Over my dead body will I work with a woman on this mission!”

I froze mid-step.

The hallways went silent.

The NASA staffer beside me winced like he’d been stabbed, and the receptionist stepped back.

The voice boomed again.

“Oh it better be a rumor alright….”

“…..I DONT BLOODY CARE IF SHE’S AN ALUMNA…”

The shouting continued, sharp and furious….a voice made for command and conflict, not compromise.

I swallowed hard, my pulse raced.

So this would be who I’m working with?

This was my superior?

The NASA staffer stepped forward, giving me an apologetic look.

“I ….think your introduction just got a bit more complicated.”

I stared at the door, my heart thumping aggressively against my chest.

I took a step forward toward the door.

What’s the worst that could possibly happen?