I had sat there for hours in the VR cockpit, staring into space, trying to come to terms with what everyone knew about me and my past. Who I am. Where I came from. It shouldn't have mattered, but I know that no matter how insane it might seem, it does... matter. I know in my heart in that simple space of time, a few brief hours, Perseus, Cassie, and Darius had already told everyone they know, including Apollo, about my secret. Apollo might never look at me the same way again. By the time I lift a finger to move, my rear-end has grown numb, and my legs need prodding to climb out of the cockpit.

Dinner crosses my mind, but that's all it does. I have no desire to sit at a table with anyone, especially if they despise me for who I am, something I can't change if I wanted to. I wander the halls, avoiding anyone I know, even Apollo. Near the air hangar, I spot him. It's getting late, and he's looking for something or someone.

As soon as I see him, I duck back around the corner of a hallway intersection and wait. Cadets and higher-ranking officers pass by, giving me weird stares.

"Have you seen her?" I hear Apollo say. "Kiera? I mean, Ensign Sol."

My heart sinks. He's searching the base for me, but why... there's only one reason... why. He wants to confront me with what he's learned about what Perseus and Cassie, and even Darius have told him. I close my eyes and try to breathe. I have to get past him to get to the hangar to set eyes on a starfighter one more time before I get kicked out of Flight School. Yes, Admiral Sky and Captain Grey know about my secret, but I'm certain they never wanted the truth to get out. They, or rather, he, the admiral, only wanted to find the best pilots to defeat the Kry. And he wanted the knowledge of where I came from to remain classified. That's why he came up with a cover story about my parents being scientists assigned to the north pole.

Before I have time to react, Apollo hurries through the hallway intersection, never looking my way. I watch him from behind as he continues away from me. I use the opportunity and turn the corner toward the air hangar. My heart thrums against my rib cage, my breath short and shallow. I push the door open.

"Kiera." Apollo must have spun around as soon as I turned the corner. "Wait."

I glance back, staring sidelong at him, wanting to melt away and disappear. I shake my head and shove into the hangar, letting the doors close behind me. He will follow me, so I pick up the pace into a jog, running down the center aisle of the open space between rows of ships. The off-white fuselages gleam under the overhead lights. Behind me, the doors whisk open, but I keep going, not wanting to turn back or face anyone, especially not Apollo.

"Kiera. Slow down."

I find the replacement version of STF-07, grab the nearest ladder and roll it over, climb into the cockpit and seal myself inside the bubble canopy. A starfighter, my only avenue of escape. I can't face him right now, but I can't block out his tense, albeit muffled, voice either.

"Where are you going?" he asks. "An unauthorized flight would get you grounded, for sure." He climbs the ladder and knocks on the polycarbonate, drawing my glare. "Kiera, we need to talk."

"I can't." The words scrape over my throat and fall flat. I glance down at my hands, my fingers coiled around each other, wondering what to do.

"I heard Perseus and Cassie talking in your dorm room about what they'd seen." He raps on the canopy and tilts his head to get my attention. I can see him in my periphery, but I refuse to look at him. "That's when Darius walked in behind me and I confronted all of them. They said they had told no one else, so I ordered them to put a lid on it. They'll face disciplinary action if they mention it to anyone else."

I allow myself a careful peek at Apollo, not trusting my emotions. "How can I face them again? How can I face anyone?"

"Please open the canopy. I can barely hear you." With the push of a button, the polycarbonate seal breaks with a gush of air and hydraulics, removing the barrier between me and Apollo. He offers me a halfhearted smile as an attempt to cut through the shield I'm using to guard my heart. "I didn't know, Kiera."

My lips press together, trying to hold back the well of emotion that wants to escape. At the moment, I can't speak. I still don't trust what I'll say.

"But now that I know, I don't care." He stares at me, his sapphire eyes piercing through my defensive shield. After a long pause, he reaches inside the cockpit and grabs my hand. "I don't care if you're an orphan. It makes no difference to me. I never understood why the colony divided us like that. You're still the same person who showed up here on day one. You're still an exceptional starfighter pilot."

Hearing him speak about my piloting skills makes my gaze wander away as I consider everything that's brought me here. That strange test the admiral gave us. My trip to the mining central office and the ride on the elevator with Apollo that brought me to the airbase.

"You're still Starlight," he says.

My eyes flick up to meet his.

"You want to come down and talk?"

I exhale and nod, staring back at Apollo and then down at his hand still holding mine. He doesn't let go.

A moment later, I'm standing on the floor of the air hangar, facing him. "I have little to say."

"That's fine. I'll do the talking." He glances behind him, back at the entrance, then turns back to me. Satisfied that he can proceed, he gathers my other hand, holding both in his palms, the warmth of his skin cradling mine.

I swallow a nervous lump as I look up into his eyes. My lips haven't moved, still pressed together. But as if they have a mind of their own, the corners curl up slightly.

"Look," he says. "I understand how they say that orphans don't have parents who contributed to the growth of the colony, especially its defense."

I go rigid, my hands wanting to pull away, but not wanting it enough to do it.

"But." Apollo's grasp slips to my fingers, which curl over his. I think he wants me to know that I can remove my hands from his at any time. "I believe we shouldn't judge a person by who their parents are, or aren't. Each person is an individual who can only contribute to the success of the colony if they're allowed to. I also think we should allow anyone to become a starfighter if they have what it takes. And Kiera," his voice softens, "you have it. You possess what it takes to become a starfighter. You possess the passion and the fire, the determination, and the flight skills that no Kry wants to see coming their way." He grins, and I can't resist mirroring his expression.

"That's good to know," I say.

"But I haven't talked to Captain Grey yet."

"She knows. Told me the other day before we went to the underground lake. Before the attack. Before the Kry shot me out of the sky."

"Oh."

"She's been trying to get me to quit since the first day she walked into our classroom."

"Yeah." Apollo still holds my hands in his. "She asked me to monitor you. Keep my eye on you. Said you were a weak link and that I needed to report to her any of your failures during flight training. I had little to tell her, and as time went on, I found it difficult not to... keep my... eyes on you." He smiles, and I feel the heat radiating between our palms and fingers, where they touch. My breath hitches, and I can't help but hold it while staring into his unbelievably blue eyes. My goodness, his irises are like force beams, drawing me toward him. I remember the secret cave. What am I supposed to do? "Kiera. Graduation is just around the corner. Once you walk across that stage, I won't be your flight instructor anymore."

I nod, but can't reply.

He chances a glance behind him but turns right back to me, drawing closer, invading my personal space, which I don't mind. His eyes comb over my face as if he's taking in every angle of my cheeks and jawline. My gaze does the same as the space between us decreases into nothing, our lips moving ever closer to meeting in the middle of forbidden territory... once again. But I remind myself, it won't be long until no one will frown upon moments like these, and even if they do, it won't bring consequences. Unless being an orphan brings Mars down on me.

I can't wait until after graduation. I don't want to...

It's going to happen again. Right here, right now... we're going to kiss.

The doors open behind us, and Captain Grey clears her throat, driving me and Apollo apart.

His hands release mine, and we both stand at attention.

"I need to see Ensign Sol in my office," the captain says. "Now."