Chapter 1
The ice rink is surrounded by people and bright lights, all focused on the girl in the middle of the ice. She wears an icy midnight-blue figure-skating dress that shimmers beneath the lights.
She tries an Axel.
She lands wrong and falls.
She gets back up and tries again.
And again.
The same result.
Finally, she gives up. She lets herself fall onto the ice, exhausted.
Naeris opens her eyes.
The bright rink is gone.
She is sitting inside a busy subway, surrounded by the restless hum of the city. Conversations overlap around her, footsteps echo against the floor, and the train rattles through the darkness.
Her white sweatshirt worn loosely over her, paired with baggy jeans. Her headphones rest around her neck, their wires disappearing beneath the fabric. Her messy black wolf cut falls around her face, curtain bangs framing her brown eyes.
She looks frightened, her breathing uneven.
It was only a dream.
After several attempts, she finally manages to calm herself, taking slow breaths as she tries to steady her thoughts.
“Next stop, Alverton.”
The announcement echoes through the subway.
Naeris takes a deep breath and collects herself before stepping off the train. She puts her headphones over her ears and plays *Here Comes the Sun* by The Beatles.
As the familiar melody fills her ears, a small smile appears on her face, almost as if the nightmare had never happened.
By the time she reaches Stellaris University, the fear has faded from her expression.
She walks through the entrance and immediately spots her friend, Harvey.
Harvey has shoulder-length brown hair, half tied back, with side bangs falling around his face. Small earrings catch the light as he turns toward her. He wears a dark hoodie with faded jeans, a shoulder bag hanging loosely from his side, and worn sneakers. Several rings decorate his fingers, while bracelets crowd both his wrists. His painted nails add another touch of personality to his casual look.
The moment Harvey sees her, his face lights up with a warm smile,The kind that comes naturally when you see someone you've known for a long time.
“Gurl, you are late,” Harvey says.
“Oh, I’m sorry, sweetheart.” Naeris giggles.
“Okay, let’s go.”
“Who the hell put our department this far away?” Naeris complains as they start walking.
“Someone who is clearly a jerk,” Harvey adds.
“Ah, did you complete the project?” Naeris asks.
“What project?” Harvey looks at her.
“Exoplanet Transit Analysis.”
“Oh God, I forgot about it!” Harvey groans. “How did you complete it?”
“I didn’t. It’s ridiculously hard. It’s taking my brain out.”
“Wanna do it together?” Harvey asks.
“Yeah.” Naeris thinks for a moment before nodding. “Let’s do it.”
“We should include Isabel,” Harvey says.
“Our lady is smart,” Naeris replies with a grin.
Before Harvey can respond, the bell rings in the background.
“Oh, shoot. Let’s go, fast!” Harvey says.
The two of them hurry toward their classroom.
Their class is held in a huge lecture hall, with rows of seats stretching upward in a steep incline. The seats at the back are much higher than those at the front, giving everyone a clear view of the large screen and the professor's desk below. Students are already filling the room, talking among themselves as they settle into their seats.
“Harvey! Naeris!”
They both turn toward the voice.
Isabel is waving at them from a few rows away.
Her blonde, wavy hair falls loosely around her shoulders, framing her bright blue eyes. She wears a pink top with blue straight-leg jeans, and her makeup subtly enhances her features without looking overdone.
“Oh, Lord. What's happening? You came early?” Harvey asks in a mocking tone.
“Hey, hey! I'm not the old Isabel, you know. I'm a new person now. I will not skip school. I will submit projects on time. Starting today, I'm a completely new person!” Isabel declares proudly.
“We have a project to submit next week,” Naeris says.
“What project?” Isabel asks.
Harvey bursts out laughing. “Hahaha! What a new person!”
Naeris shakes her head, trying not to laugh.
“Will Aston come?” she asks.
“You know he must be somewhere drunk as hell—or who knows where the hell he is,” Harvey says. He turns to Isabel. “You two are always together. You must know where he is.”
Isabel rolls her eyes. “We went to a bar together, and after seeing some girl, he ditched me "
“You haven't changed as much as you claim,” Naeris says.
“What?! You guys are the reason I'm not changing! You guys never support me!” Isabel cries dramatically.
“I don't wanna reply to this,” Harvey says, shaking his head.
Before Isabel can continue, the professor walks into the lecture hall.
The room gradually falls quiet as the professor places their notes on the desk and begins the lecture.
