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Briarstrolls out of the bathroom, running her fingers through her long black hair.She’sbeautiful but seems to have no clue. “Ihope you made a cup for me.I’mnot much of a morning person, andI’meven worse without coffee.”

“Briar,I’mnot sure this is coffee; it’s similar, but lacks its usual kick.Inormally prefer mine black, but this needs something.I’msure if you want to add to it, there’s a way, butIdon’t understand the symbols on the screen.”

“Black!Ughh… are you from the dark ages?”

“Nah, butI’vebeen drinking it this way with myPapawsinceIwas little, andIjust got used to it, is all.I’vetried all the fancy stuff but never acquired a taste for all the sugars.”

“Damngirl, you are one tough cookie.Notsure my stomach could handle it straight, so until we can figure this dohickey out,I’llskip mine for now.ButI’mwarning you,Imay not be able to keep up this outstanding positive attitude without it.”

Weare both laughing as we head for the door.IfollowBriaras she steps out into the crowded hallway because she knows where she’s going.Justa few turns later, we enter a large cafeteria with a long buffet along its far wall.AsIget in line,Ilook around at the others in the room.You’dthink it would be noisy, but almost everybody seems to be keeping to themselves.

OnethingInotice quickly is that the majority of us are around the same age: in our mid-twenties to early thirties.Therecan’t be more than a handful older than that.Whensomeone bumps into me, beforeIcan fall, a hand grabs me.

“Sorryabout that,Iseem to be tripping over my own feet this morning.I’mEric, what’s your name?”

“Oh,I’mfine.Ishould have been paying more attention.I’mLacie, it’s nice to meet you.”

Hemotions for me to continue as the line begins to move in front of me.Briarglances back at me, then at the guy standing way too close behind me, and frowns.Shehands me a tray, and suddenly she has switched places with me in line, stepping between me andEric.Isee him step back to talk to another guy behind him, but his eyes keep catching mine.Oncehis attention returns to the other guy behind him, she leans toward me to whisper.

“Thatguy creeps me out.Hisroaming eyes have been on every skirt in this room since we walked in.”

“Heseemed nice enough.”

“Justwatch yourselfLace, because even though our scenery has changed doesn’t mean we have.Youhave to stay vigilant, and don’t trust anyone until they prove themselves worthy.Guyslike him are predators looking for easy prey.”

Frowning,Iselect a few items that look familiar, placing them on my plate before followingBriarto an empty table.Nibbling,Isample each dish, but nothing tastes right, though it’s not horrible either.Papawwould have grimaced right before saying,‘it’s not great but it’ll make a turd.’Ijerk when a voice echoes through the room.

“Attentionall!Shortly, a rare comet will appear on our port side, so if any of you would like to witness this phenomenon, please head to the fourth floor for the best view.”

“Dammit, that scares the hell out of me every time.”Briarpicks up our empty plates, placing them in an opening on the wall. “Ok, one of us is going to have to figure out how to cook in this dive.Everythingso far has tasted like cardboard to me.”

“Ihave a feeling that late night trips toTacoBellare going to become a fond memory.Youwanna go see what’s around us?”

“Whynot?It’snot like we have anything else better to do.”

Inotice several of us are heading toward what they call lifts.Whilewaiting for the next one,Ifeel a presence behind me again.Glancingback,IseeEricwith a huge smile on his face.It’snot that he isn’t nice-looking; he’s just almost too perfectly groomed.Hegives off vibes of being overly absorbed in himself and thinks everyone else should be as well.

“Youtwo heading up to see the comet?”

“Nope, just standing here for shits and giggles,”Briarsays beforeIcan respond.Ihave no idea what he’s done to her, but there’s no missing her extreme dislike of him.

“Ugh, do you guys know each other?”

Theyboth shake their heads no, butIdon’t believe it.Youdon’t just instantly act like that toward a stranger.

Thelift doors opening saves me from having to respond either way, and thankfully, it becomes so crowded thatEricis pushed away from us.Steppingoff the lift,Igasp at the sight in front of us.Itlooks like we could simply walk off the deck and into space itself.Hesitantly,Imove with the crowd as they spread out; this is a first for most of us.Itfeels as ifI’min a live planetarium, motionless while the world turns.

Ihear someone say, “Wow, would you look at all those colors?”Suddenly, chairs form right out of the floor, just before theDestroyerannounces, “Pleasehave a seat and enjoy the show the heavens are putting on for your enjoyment this rising.”

I’vebecome so engulfed in the sights before me thatIhaven’t been paying any attention to who is around until a large hand grabs mine, pulling me down.Bouncingin my seat,Isnatch my hand away and move over as far asIcan.

“Sorry,Iwas afraid you were going to fall if you stepped back.”Ericseems sincere, but now there’s just something about him that makes me uncomfortable.

“Thanks,I’mjust overly jumpy it seems.”Turningaway from him,Ilook around forBriar, but she appears to have vanished within the crowd.Suddenly, the sky brightens and a huge fireball streaks past us, a long glittering tail trailing behind it.Ifyou blinked, you would’ve almost missed it, as it’s already outof sight.Severalpeople clap, while others rise from their seats, heading back to the lift.

Inotice that the momentIget up, so doesEric, but at least he doesn’t follow me through the room asIsearch forBriar.Ifind her leaning against the wall, looking down through the clear glass that separates us from the vastness of space.

“Hey,Ilost ya.”