Page 9 of Kailirex

CHAPTER 6

STELLA

“Come on, get up.”

I rolled over, blinking up at Eric.

“What?” I yawned. “Mmm, you interrupted my nap!”

“Then I guess you don’t want to take the cancellation the Scholarship Center said we could share if we get there in the next forty-five minutes.”

I sat bolt upright.

“Shut up! Did they really?”

“Just got the text and I told them we’d be there so get your ass up, brush your teeth, and do something with that crazy hair.”

I stood up, pushing him out of the way. “I need to change! Um, maybe you should put on something nicer too!” I called back over my shoulder. “Do you really want to meet your mate wearing an old sweatshirt?”

“It’s lucky!” he protested. “If we don’t get matched together and I’m wearing something else, we’ll both know why.”

I rolled my eyes, already rummaging in my closet. I quickly pulled out a fuzzy soft pink sweater and a pair of denim capris. Casual but not sloppy, I decided with approval, quickly swapping them out for the sweats and NYU T-shirt I was currently wearing.

“Shoes, shoes, shoes…ah, these will do!” I pulled out a pair of black ballet flats and slid my bare feet into them. Now to sort out my hair and make up.

“Hurry up!” Eric yelled. “We’ve got less than forty minutes to get there!”

“Shit,” I muttered. “Okay, pretty pink scrunchie, high ponytail, mascara, and some gloss.” I started on my hair, frowning at the crease on my cheek from how I’d slept. Hopefully that would be gone by the time we reached the Scholarship Center. “And done,” I said, admiring my handiwork with my hair. I reached into the basket on the sink vanity, grabbed my favorite sapphire blue mascara, and quickly swiped a few coats onto my upper lashes.

“We’re not gonna make it if we don’t leave now!”

I put the lid back on, deciding to take the lip gloss with me. I could put it on while we rode the subway, using the window’s reflection.

“Okay, okay!” I said, emerging.

Fortunately, the apartment was only three short blocks from the subway station we wanted and it was a twenty-three minute ride. Cutting it close with the short walk afterward, but we were both sure if we were only a couple of minutes late, it’d be okay.

“There you are,” the Mylos officer said, letting us in. “I was afraid you’d changed your minds.”

“Not at all,” I reassured him.

Eric shook his head in denial. “Definitely not. My sister’s dreamed of taking the test since she was a teenager and I’ve come to realize that just maybe there’s a better answer waiting for me than dating apps and speed dating events.”

The officer laughed. “Well, I’m Lieutenant Loris and if you’ll both just take a seat,” he gestured to a grouping consisting of a loveseat, two armchairs, and a coffee table, “I’ll bring you your tablets so you can both begin answering the questionnaire portion of the test.”

“Is it possible to apply to work on Playtime Fleet?” I asked.

He blinked. “You no longer wish to apply for the scholarship?”

“Well, if I’m not hired, then yes.”

“That’s unusual, but yes, there is no reason why not. I’ll set up the application form for you. You’re aware that you still need to answer the mate matching questionnaire?”

I grinned up at him from the loveseat, where I’d just settled down. “As my brother said, while everyone else was crushing on rock stars and movie actors, I was dreaming of becoming a Mylos bride.”

He chuckled. “Well, then, may all your dreams come true today, as well as yours, Eric.”

Eric gave him a thumbs up from the chair to my left.