28: Is It Really Just A Crush?

Splitting up with Nyssa once they got to the busy training floor, Celeste wandered around while looking around. Picking up a drink from the nearby snack stand, she sipped it a few times before blinking and taking a look at it. “Not bad...”

It was hot out, so the icy drink gave some nice temporary relief while also waking her up from the sleepiness Nyssa had infected her with. Yawning, she shaded her eyes with her free hand while searching for the particular person she wanted to talk to: the Moon’s Apostle, Amaris.

Well, there was one random clump of people just in front of her.

Wandering over, she craned her neck to try and look into the center where there was a neater line. Seeing a distinctive black motorcycle helmet, she realized it was the hero Accelerator and moved on. A couple minutes of wandering later, she ran across Titus, asked him where the Moon’s Apostle was and was well on her way.

Joining the line, Celeste sighed as she realized she was quite literally, in the very back. Sure, everyone when joining a line would be in the back for a second, but given how popular these people were, oftentimes it was an unending stream of people rushing to form the line. Like a school lunch line almost. If you’re staying in the back for more than a minute, you’ve come late.

It seemed her lack of urgency had come back with a vengeance this time around. She had considered forcing an ascendency and flying around to search a little faster, but that seemed a little... out of touch. No one else was using their powers after all. There was a bit of an unspoken agreement going on and she didn’t want to break it.

Scrolling on her phone, Celeste just stood back while waiting for the line to inch forward. She didn’t mind, she was planning on having—or, well, trying to have—a decent conversation of her own once she arrived at the front. As the line shifted forward though, a couple people did end up filing in right behind her.

After baking under the morning sun for another while longer, she made it to the front of the line. Relaxing her nose as the sweaty person in front of her finally peeled away from her, she let out a sigh of relief under her breath. Walking forward, she extended a hand outward while flashing a smile. “Nice to meet you! I’m Celeste. Currently seventeen, and in Class Zero.”

“Celeste, a nice name,” Amaris smiled back while returning the smile. “A pleasure to meet you! Class Zero, hmm? That’s a rarity. I’ve only met one of your classmates so far today, what was his name... Titus? Glad to see you all are still alive and kicking. I’m Amaris, I used to be a part of Class Zero too. My younger brother is part of the graduate division right now, but I’m sure you’re well aware of that. I’ll stop blabbing, anything you want to talk about?”

Ending off her little statement with a laugh, she shifted on her feet and sat back on one leg. Celeste, getting the go-ahead, just shrugged while covering her mouth with a sleeve. “I, in all honesty, wanted to just introduce myself and get my face out there. I guess, if I have to ask a question, what’s your advice for maximizing your time at the Institute?”

“Ah, the classic,” Amaris tapped her chin. “I’d say to just enjoy your time here. It may seem with the graduate division and everything you have all the time in the world. Plus, it’s always easy to focus on the hero or hunter industry and chase that dream. But your time here will be over before you even know it. Just have some fun, make some friends, and fall in love. Many of these people are the ones who will stay with you for the rest of your life.”

Thinking of Nyssa—immediately—Celeste coughed and nodded while listening to Amaris’s words. With Albion, Titus, and Conrad coming to mind afterward, she tried her best to keep a poker face before Amaris.

It was just... a little uncomfortable. Because of her powers, Amaris’s eyes were always bright. Her two piercing silver-white irises drilled through anything they looked at.

But, for Celeste, she felt exposed. Like Amaris saw right through her. Almost as if her most shameful secrets were open

Amaris, to her credit, noticed the slight change in expression. Raising an eyebrow as a knowing smile ghosted its way across her lips, she chuckled and gave Celeste a couple pats on the shoulder. “Don’t be afraid to open up a little. Be vulnerable if it fits, it’s those moments that’ll let you form a bridge of connection to those around you. Not just being agreeable and kind. Being human.”

“... Thank you,” Celeste murmured as her eyes clouded over a bit. With thoughts swirling behind her eyes, she gave Amaris a half-hug before moving off to the side to let the next person in line go.

Wandering off with her fruit drink still in her hand, Celeste fell into her thoughts as she wove through the crowd. Shading her eyes, she looked up and stared off into the sky. Feeling the wind tickle her neck as it brushed by her with gentle caresses, she let out a long sigh.

She was such a... such a... fool, for lack of a better term...

Biting her lip, she resisted the urge to cuss herself out. Her heart threatened to rip itself out of her chest as her stomach tossed and turned. Trying to quell the deep-seated loneliness welling up in her heart, she shook her head and trudged forward with a grimace. “I’ll do it later. I’ll think about it tonight. It’s fine.”

After walking back up the bleachers, she took a seat once more. Staring off into space, she bit the straw of her drink as images of a certain someone named Nyssa flashed across her mind.

It didn’t make sense. Why was love like this? Why did her heart flutter at every small action Nyssa did?

Why was it so easy for those feelings to punch their number into her heart?

It wasn’t even real... probably. Love at first sight wasn’t a thing. That was just physical attraction. Mild infatuation. Maybe a supposed ‘crush’ or whatever, the type middle schoolers always gossiped about.

Noticing Nyssa walking back up the bleachers towards her, Celeste pinched her leg to clear her mind. She needed to compose herself. She didn’t need her weird feelings getting in the way of this blossoming friendship at least.

Once she was laying in bed all alone, she’d have all the time in the world to ponder, contemplate, and overthink everything.

Shelving her thoughts, she took another nonchalant sip of her drink while waving to Nyssa.

“Hey Celeste!” Nyssa waved back while taking a seat beside her. “How was it? Get a lot from whoever you talked to?”

“It was fine,” Celeste smiled. With a whole mixture of emotions swirling behind her eyes, she covered her mouth with a sleeve while looking away. “I just used it as a chance to get my face out there a little more. Not much to it really.”