Tamsin and I met the following afternoon in a corner of Moreton Library. We had one day to complete our Martian history project. It was also the last time we'd have an excuse to meet in public.

She sat at a long wooden desk, bent over her tablets and a stack of worn books.

I paused at the end of the aisle to watch her--the perfect curve of her nose and lips in profile, her honeyed bob tucked behind her ears, wearing the pressed white blouse and pleated skirt of the Chamberlayne girls uniform. She was too beautiful for words.

My admiration collided with her cold demeanor. I did my best to smile.

She cast her eyes downward and slid the books aside to make room for me. Her words came as a dejected mumble. "We've much work to do, and not a lot of time."

"Of course." Feeling sheepish, I unpacked my devices and notes and sat next to her.

She still refused to look at me. "I've picked over the draft. It's ready for the final edit."

The notification tone on my tablet signaled receipt of her file.

"I'll have a look." I lowered my voice. "Please accept my apology for last night. I heard you arguing with him, and I feared for your safety."

Resting her chin on one palm, she drew mindless circles on her tablet, the stylus scraping across the screen. "My mother, my aunt and uncle, Vance, and now, you."

I leaned closer. "I don't understand."

"No one does. It just seems to be my lot in life. No one believes I can take care of myself. Not even you."

"I believe you're capable. But some things can't be taken for granted."

She snapped her head about. "Yes, and one of those things is us. If we get caught, that's one thing. But this is the second time you've shown up to my rescue out of the night, unexpected, and in the presence of those I must keep it from the most. My uncle will watch me even more. It wasn't a good move, Silas."

"I'm sorry. I was wrong to assume so much."

She studied me, then sighed. "I think it demonstrates a point. We've been sloppy. If we're to continue in the future, we must be more cautious."

"I agree. Please forgive me for last night's blunder."

Her frown lifted. "At least you're not hurt. I was worried for you."

"I'm fine. But Vance sure got himself into a muddle."

"I saw him this morning," she said. "He can't use his wrist for three weeks. And he was the only one of us cited for misconduct. I only hope he learns something from it."

We tackled our assignment, exchanging subtle pets when we could. Once we were happy with the final draft, we sent it to the professor's inbox.

"It's been wonderful working with you," I said. "My friend Gerald and I never completed a project so well."

"We'd make formidable business partners."

"We surely would." The thought amused me, but it could never be. Sooner or later, a vital conversation would arise. How long could we go on? And how would we continue, after we graduated and returned to our individual lives?

"It's time to go," she said, checking her wristcom. "There's a rally for War Awareness tonight, six o'clock at Pentworth Amphitheater. You're welcome to come."

"I'd love to. Unfortunately, my crew meets start at an unseemly hour. It must be an early night for me."

"Alright." Her smile held sadness. "I don't know when we can meet again. Most likely, it'll be after interim."

We clasped hands under the desk.

"I look forward to it. When the time comes, I'll be waiting for your call."

Parting was difficult. I tried not to stare after her.

Half of my finals were behind me. Only the races and a handful of exams remained. Then, I'd go home for three weeks. I'd changed since coming to Chamberlayne, and I wondered how different things would be with my family.

At dawn, my alarm blared. Gerald and I stumbled out of our beds. Breakfast was rushed, but we made it to the gym on time.

Vance didn't look chipper with his wrist in bandages.

"Alright team, this is it," the coach said, pacing before us in the locker room. "We're down a man with Mr. Prynne, but that won't stop us from taking the cup back from Weldon today. Are you ready to win?"

"Yes, sir!"

The coach cupped his hand to his ear. "I didn't hear you."

We repeated our conviction, then bellowed a cheer.

Vance sulked in the background.

I didn't pity him in the slightest.

A small crowd gathered along the lake shore, with cameramen and referees all gathering to their positions. I met the infamous Weldon boys crew for the first time, winners for the past two years. We ignored their jeers, and prepared our shells for the first match.

The starting round was in pairs. Chester and I gathered our oars, and waited our turn.

Gerald had a new partner, a wiry yet committed boy named Owen. They were the first racers from Chamberlayne, and they beat the qualifying time by seconds. It boosted morale into the next set.

The Weldon team was good, pressing us neck and neck, ahead by several points at the intermission. After lunch break were the challenges in fours. Gerald, Owen, Chester and I assembled at the bank. When our slot arrived, we clambered into the shell, and paddled to the starting line.

The countdown began, the gunshot fired, and we swept across the water. Breathing and rhythm became one. The burn in my arms and shoulders urged me on. I counted the pace, and the others fell into stroke.

At the end of the day, we not only reclaimed the cup, but our team set a new record for itself. All was done without Vance. He no longer had a reason to lord over us as the expert. The droop in his stature displayed his contrition.

Alys and her friends rushed to congratulate us. We were soon surrounded by five female fans, with many appreciative glances exchanged.

Gerald and Alys kissed, uncaring as to who watched.

While Chester and Owen enjoyed the flirtations, I found them uninteresting. I only yearned for one person. A slash of envy forced me to ignore Gerald and his girlfriend.

"Excellent work today, Blane. Congratulations on the win."

I turned about, surprised to hear Vance's compliment.

He grinned nervously. "May I have a quick word with you?"

"Certainly."

We stepped aside, and he ran his free hand through his blond locks. The other hung in a sling about his neck.

"I know this seems trite, but I must apologize for my behavior last night. I was angry. I hope you understand, after what you heard between Tamsin and I."

His humility surprised me. There were two possibilities. Either he was truly repentant, or it was a ploy to lure me back into his deceptions. My stance hadn't changed. One thing I'd learned about Vance during our altercation was he lacked common sense--a short fuse, and a little short in brains as well. He might be useful sometime.

"With all due respect, I forgive the trespass, Mr. Prynne," I said, emphasizing his name. "My family raised me to never hold a grudge. We all make mistakes. From time to time. I assure you there are no hard feelings between us."

We shook hands.

"You've proven yourself a man of many virtues," he said.

I merely nodded, sparing not a drop of conceit.

To celebrate our victory, we held a spontaneous picnic on the green, a scenic social terrace near the pavilion where Tamsin and I often met. She attended, though she hovered near her friends, and only cast me an occasional glance.

As she predicted, we never found time to meet before interim. It was too treacherous, with her uncle and father near, and so much suspicion around us.

We next spoke via wristcom, as I waited for a delayed shuttle flight to home.

Gerald sat beside me in the spaceport waiting area, head flung over the back of his seat in slumber.

Tamsin's call startled me from a catnap. The display was off, but her voice thrilled me.

"Hello, my love," she said. "I miss you already."

"I miss you, too. We must keep in touch. Do you have a spare contact? I'll create an alias, and we can at least exchange a message here and there."

"I'll send you a new one. As for your alias, we can say you're my dear friend Simone, from Worlds History class. Uncle Raleigh despises when I chatter with friends. I've done it in the past to vex him. If he's scouting my inboxes, he'll skim over girlish things. It's a lovely facade."

"It's settled, then. A girl named Simone--this will be amusing, at the very least."

She giggled. "We always have fun, no matter what we do. I like that about you. But sadly, I must go. Mother's calling me downstairs. Goodbye for now."

Two hours later, we boarded the shuttle. With the recent escalation in the War, and increased traffic, many spacelines had done away with first class. Amid the bustle and shove of the pinched rows, grumpy stares, and wailing children, I remained serene. I tuned to the classical Net channel once we cleared launch, and hummed to a playlist of famous arias. I enjoyed the energy of the jazz music emerging on Earth, and the bold styles following it. Yet nothing moved me like Donezti.

We'd meet Father at the orbital platform, and from there travel to Altair-7 to take Gerald home. I looked forward to seeing Father again. However, I faced severe consequences if he found out about Tamsin. There was more than the Order to conceal, now. And much more than my reputation was at stake.

I breathed deeply, and reclined as much as I could in the cramped seat. It was sure to be an interesting reunion.