Chapter 39 Powerful Gesture of Goodwill

The rain fell in steady sheets around Aria, each droplet a soft, rhythmic tap against the soaked earth and metal benches. Slowly, she lifted her gaze, her damp hair clinging to her face as she turned to meet his eyes. She took in his face, the faint lines of worry etched across his face. In a quiet voice, she answered, “Hey, look who's here - our knight in shining armor. What’s up, Jacob? Late hours in maintenance, or are you just stalking me now?”

“Yeah, maintenance, just finished my shift,” he said, shifting uneasily. 

“But are you okay? I mean… you’re just sitting here, alone, soaked to the bone. Did you, uh, finish settling in? West told us you’d be gone for a few days, maybe more. Said you were busy… but I don’t know. This doesn’t exactly look like ‘settling in.’ Well, unless you decided to live in this small park.”

Aria gave a tired smile, “Yeah, I managed to finish my stuff. Got everything squared away… so I’ll be back at the academy tomorrow. Nothing for you to worry about, mister knight in shining armor.”

 "You’re sure? You don’t have to act like you’re fine if you’re not, you know. If you need someone to talk to about your troubles, I can be your go-to guy.”

“Don’t start getting mushy on me. I’m fine, okay? Just… a bit of a long day. Like I said, I’ll be back tomorrow, and I’ll even try to stay out of trouble.”

"Glad to hear you’re coming back, because missing yesterday's VR training? Yeah, that left the rest of us with a little present from West - 50 laps! And let’s just say, he had a field day with his shock baton whenever someone fell behind."

He rubbed his shoulder as if remembering a particularly stinging jolt.

 "The whole class turned up, hoping we could avoid extra laps, but we barely scraped by on points. Even without Harry dragging us down this time, we couldn’t hit 400,000. And a lot of people weren’t thrilled about you raising the bar so high and then... you know, vanishing. Sierra? She’s angry. Doesn’t like staying late, and she really doesn’t like running after class.”

 “But hey, don’t worry, I’m not complaining… just giving you a heads-up for tomorrow. I’m pretty sure half the class got a bone to pick with you.”

 He gave her a playful nudge.

 "Either way, people are looking forward to seeing you back."

Aria sighed, “Come on, guys, 400,000 isn’t even that high. West already said a million per squad is the bare minimum to pass, so... they might as well start aiming higher. It’s not like it’s that complex - one pilot maneuvers, the other shoots. That’s all there is to it. Simple.”

 She paused, glancing down at her hands, a hint of frustration flickering in her eyes.

“Anyway, let them hate me or praise me, whatever. I’m done caring, If someone’s got an issue and wants to pick a fight, they’ll get one. It’s that simple. It’s not rocket science.”

Jacob raised his hands in a calming gesture. 

"Hey, hey, no need to go in fists swinging, alright? Look, Sierra might be on a bit of a warpath, but she's not as bad as she comes off. She was upset about the whole thing, yeah, but... she's got her reasons."

He paused, rubbing the back of his neck as he thought about how to say it. 

"I know it’s not my place to talk about her personal stuff, but let’s just say there’s more to why she reacts that way. She’s got her struggles, just like the rest of us. What do you say? If she comes at you with her usual attitude, would you maybe give her a chance? Just... don’t knock her out right away."

"Can’t promise you anything, Jacob. I’ll try not to, but... let’s just say if she pushes me, I’ll push back."

"Fair enough. Just… meet me tomorrow, okay? Right before class. I’ve got a little present of goodwill for you, to kick off a good start on the whole ‘making friends’ thing."

"A present? Aren’t you full of surprises, ‘mister knight in shining armor.’"

He laughed and scratched his head. 

"Don’t get too excited; it’s just a small something. But hey, who knows - maybe it’ll make a difference."

 He gave her a warm smile.

 "See you tomorrow?"

"Alright, Jacob. Tomorrow."

"Umm... one more thing... so, do you plan on sitting through the night on this bench, In the rain? I can help you home, under my umbrella."

"Awww, you are such a nice guy Jacob. No, I'm fine as I am. See you tomorrow, bye-bye."

  "Alright, alright, I see you’re fine. Just… try not to catch a cold out here, okay? If you’re out sick, the rest of us might not survive another one of West’s ‘motivational’ punishments." 

He gave a mock shiver, glancing back in the direction of the academy.

"See you tomorrow, Liana. And… get some rest. We need you in one piece." 

With Jacob gone, Aria sat on the bench long after the rain had stopped, lost in thought. She eventually made her way back to her apartment, though sleep evaded her, and by morning, she was already dressed and ready as she stepped through the academy gates.

Near the entrance, she spotted Jacob, leaning against a wall. When he saw her, he straightened and gave her a sheepish wave.

“Hey, Jacob. Hope you didn’t wait too long.”

 “Nah, just got here a minute ago,” he said while holding his hands behind his back. 

 “Alright, so what’s this all about?”

Jacob hesitated for a beat before bringing out a neatly wrapped submarine sandwich. He held it out to her with both hands, like it was something fragile. 

“Here. I thought… maybe a little peace offering could help smooth things over with Sierra.”

Aria looked down at the sandwich, she knew this gesture very well. Food was strictly rationed in Beehive, with most people making do with protein bars and tasteless nutrient packs. Fresh or substantial food - like real bread, fresh greens, or anything resembling a sandwich - was rare and precious, usually reserved for special occasions. In Beehive, giving up a meal, especially something like this, was a powerful gesture of goodwill, a way of saying you’d sacrifice a bit of your comfort for someone else’s sake.

“A submarine sandwich? For me? Are you sure about this?”

Jacob nodded, his tone more serious now. 

“Yeah, I would like you and Sierra to get along. I know it's a small offering for such a big favor but please, give her a chance. I know Sierra’s not perfect, and she can be, you know, a handful. But she’s not a bad person. She’s just been under a lot of pressure. Her way of dealing with things… can come off as harsh, but I know she is a nice person, even if she’s too proud to say it. Look, I’m not trying to pry or play mediator here. I just think this might make a difference.”

Aria was silent, still looking down at the sandwich. She understood what this meant. Food wasn’t just food here - it was a sign of trust and kinship. 

“Alright,” she said, at last, taking the sandwich carefully.

 “No promises, but… I’ll try not to throw the first punch. But only if she keeps it civil.”

Jacob laughed in relief. 

“That’s all I’m asking. Sierra might act tough, but she’s really trying. Maybe… maybe you can try to meet her halfway. Thanks, Liana. It… it means a lot.”

She tucked the sandwich into her pocket as she looked back at him.

 “Yeah, well, guess I should say thanks, too. This… It’s not something I take lightly.” She glanced down at the sandwich again.