Flying lesson

Emma and her friends were in the locker room changing from uniform to sports clothes. Physical education was about to start. The worried class rep had only taken her shoes off, she was too busy trying to contact Nyco through her light pink E-Cube.

-He is not picking up… He must have jumped to my old man’s office. God, what a disaster-, she deduced. The poor 19 year old pressed her forehead into her locker as a sign of frustration and to try and to cool her head in the cold steel.

-Come on, Emma. You don’t know that. Maybe he is just busy and has his E-C on mute-, said Yve trying to cheer her friend.

-No, he never leaves it on mute. Not for me. Something has happened.

-Well, even if he IS with your dad. He can just explain what happened and that’s it.

-You don’t know my dad, Yve. There’s a reason why you haven’t come to my house for a sleepover even though we’ve been friends for 5 years. He is the worst.

-Well, that’s good to know. I thought you didn’t invite me because you secretly hated me for always asking you to do my math homework-, she joked sticking her tongue out and making her worried friend smile a little.

-You could try and do it on your own, you know. It’s your homework after all.

-And waste all that precious time trying, when we both know I would just end up asking for your help later anyway?. Nah, I’m just trying to save you some time. You’re welcome-.

Emma pinched Yve in the belly playfully which started a fight to see who could make the other one laugh the hardest.

-Hey, enough chit chat-, interrupter Gyanna. -You haven’t even gotten your shirt off, Emma. And you-, she said pointing at Yve. -Stop interrupting her and come out. Let 's go!!-, she complained.

-Aye aye, captain-, said Yve making the military salute. Yve not taking her seriously only made Gyanna roll her eyes and leave them there. Emma put on her black pants and t-shirt and tried calling Nyco again. No answer.

-Come on, Emma. You’ll try again later. There’s nothing you can do now-, said Yve.

-Yeah, you are right… I just hope that if he is in my dad’s office, he can leave without getting caught-, wished the poor innocent girl.

Many kilometers away from Andromeda School, inside a small infirmary in Mr. Litdawn’s company, poor Nyco was face to face with Emma’s fear.

-Look me in the eye and tell me why you were in my office with my daughter’s Warpy-, he demanded with a serious face.

-Well it wasn’t to enjoy your lovely company. I promise you that. You broke my nose!-, complained the boy that was having trouble breathing through his swollen nose.

-I just made a little cut on your skin with my ring. It will heal on its own. Plus, the nurse already cleaned the little cut. She even gave you a beautiful band ade for that small cut so don’t be a baby. And it was your fault for entering my office without permission. How could I have known it was you-, he argued.

-Would you have hit me harder or softer if you had known it was me?-, he confronted. The anger made him ignore all the fear he really had for that man. After seeing how his expression changed he regretted the comment.

-You always were an audacious boy with a foul mouth, Nyco. I never understood what my daughter and wife saw in you to open the doors of our family. Women always tend to see the good in people even when it’s not there.

-...-, the mention of Emma’s late mother made Nyco not want to usher a word out of respect.

-Now tell me why were you in my office? Did you want to steal something to give it to my competitors? I know you are poor and only live on government money, but that’s a new low even for you-, he said with as much disrespect as possible.

-...I told you. I was being chased by a bully and Emma helped me escape by giving me her Warpy. I just happened to jump here. Believe me, I would have preferred jumping anywhere else.

-You are always getting yourself into trouble. What a disgrace it was the day my daughter found you, Nyco-. The boy did not answer, not because he didn’t want to, but because he knew what was coming now and didn’t want to make things worse. Out of respect for Emma he always respected Mr. Litdawn and today wasn’t any different. All he did was look him straight in the eyes trying to hide all the fear of what he knew was coming. -Now you listen to me. I don’t want you near my daughter again. You only bring trouble wherever you are, I don’t want your bad decisions corrupting my daughter’s future. If a bully has an issue with you I don’t care, just don’t involve her ever again or I’ll make sure you don’t have a future in whatever university you try and get it. That is IF you can even enter a university. I’ve seen your grades, Nyco. Very disappointing. Now get out of my sight and don’t let me see you again. You are not welcome in my family-, ordered the angry father pointing at the exit door.

Nyco said nothing as he walked away. He knew that what he said was true. Mr. Litdawn was one of the most influential businessmen in all of Iberika. His company was one of the most profitable and that meant having contacts everywhere. He was not someone you wanted on your bad side, and that’s the only side Nyco had ever had with that man.

“As much as I hate his guts, he is right… I only drag Emma down… Even the kids at school see it… Should I just go my own way?”. All these thoughts were circling inside his head on his way out.

Nyco closed the door of the office behind him and just as he was going to walk down the hallway to the exit, he heard a scream from the other side of the door. “AAagh. How did this wasp get in here? It just stung me!” Mr. Litdawn shouted. Nyco could not hide his smile. “She is no wasp. She is a beeautiful Queen” he thought, happy that karma had worked.

As soon as he left the building, he got his obsidian black E-Cube out of his pocket and saw on the screen that Emma had tried calling him 5 times. “Sorry Emma. Your dad was being a total… well, himself”, he apologized.
He thought about calling her but he discarded that option since she was in class. He decided he would just talk to her later and tell her he was sorry for being such a moron. He knew her dad would also scream at her today. He rubbed his forehead and sighed, thinking what a fool he was. “I’m so sorry, Emma”.

She checked her E-C only to see that Nyco hadn’t answered yet. Yve slapped her hand because the teacher was coming. Just before the teacher could see her using her E-C, Emma hid it in her right pocket.

-Attention little birds!-, jelled the physical education teacher, clapping her hands. -Today we are going to practice for your flying test. Time to deepen your bond with the Rocket Boots. So go in pairs to the Obstacle room in the gym and wait in line for your turn to fly like eagles.

Emma’s face turned white, she was terrible with the propulsion shoes. She had a fear of heights and she always did terrible in these exercises. Her friend Gyanna knew this and tried to help her.

-But Miss. Jehnfred. Only people that explore other planets for a living really need to know how to use them. On Earth not everyone uses them.

-Well, Gyanna. Knowing how to use Rocket Boots is part of your end-of-year exam. We’ve talked about this. You can’t skip this exercise. If you get a 0 in the flight exam, you won’t graduate. Plus, you never know where the future may take you, so it’s always a good ability to have. Any more complaints?... No?… Well put your boots on everyone-, she screamed.

-Sorry Emma. I tried-, whispered her friend.

-It’s ok. Thank you.

-We’ll go together ok? Yve! Can you go to the obstacle room with someone else? Since I’m a bit better at this it’s best if I stay with Emma.

-Sure, makes sense. Good luck girls-, said Yve.

Emma put the white Rocket Boots on, slid the control glove on her right hand and stood up. On the side of the boots, a blue light turned on indicating the amount of fuel it had. It was at 95% percent capacity, so they would easily last the whole class. Gyanna stood beside her and grabbed her hand.

-We are going to do it together, ok? Don’t worry-, said Gyanna. Emma nodded trying to fake confidence.

They waited in line until it was their turn to get inside. They got through the door and Emma looked up. The first part of the obstacle course was a dodging exercise. There was a big pillar in the middle of the room with horizontal poles sticking out of it. The pillar rotated constantly so the objective was not to get smacked by its poles

-Ok, you know how it is. Make a fist with your hand. That way you will unlock the control glove. Then, tap with your thumb the button on the side of your index finger to start the boots. After doing this you will only lift yourself a few centimeters from the ground-, explained Gyanna.

Emma pressed the button on her glove with her fingers until the boots activated. The Rocket Boots then sens waves of energy from the sole of the boots making her rise from the ground and hover over it. It was hard to maintain balance but Gyanna was holding her hands and guiding her.

-Ok-, said Emma with a nervous smile. -I think I got it-.

An unforeseen buzz from her E-Cube startled her and made her lose concentration. The shock of a new call made her flinch and made her press the button on the base of the index finger and slide it upwards, making her blast off right up with her friend hanging from her hands.

-EMMA STOP!!-, shouted her friend as she saw that they were going straight to the ceiling.