The galley hummed with morning energy: clinking cutlery, the murmur of conversation, and the faint aroma of coffee cutting through the recycled air, and it felt like a battlefield, and I was not ready for it. I sat at my usual spot, trying to swallow a spoonful of oatmeal and savoring the first sip of coffee, and I was trying so hard to not think about Emily, and mostly, about what had happened, and what hadn''t happened. Things were calm. Too calm, like the calm before the storm. And maybe everyone felt it, because it was all so quiet. Usually, there was more chatter, even some banter, but today, everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts.


    Chris and Joey, who usually shared a playful rivalry, were unusually subdued. Chris picked at his food, his usual easygoing smile absent, while Joey stared intently at his plate, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. Even Emily seemed a bit off, her usual bright demeanor replaced with a more subdued, almost flustered expression, and she was avoiding looking at Ryan, which was weird. She was usually quick to engage with him, even if it was just to bicker, but not today. Today, she seemed to shrink into herself whenever Ryan spoke, her eyes darting around the room like she was searching for an escape route. What the hell had even happened last night? Had they all gotten into a fight?


    The silence stretched, punctuated only by the clinking of utensils and the low hum of the ship. It was so damn awkward, and I couldn''t take it anymore. I cleared my throat, the sound amplified in the quiet room, and I regretted it instantly, but I had to say something.


    "Alright," I began, trying to sound casual despite the tension knotting my stomach. "What the hell has made you all quiet today? Did someone slip a sedative into the coffee?" and I immediately regretted it, because then, Ryan happened, because of course he did.


    “I didn’t want to have to say anything, but since you asked…” Ryan said, sliding into a chair with far too much energy for the early hour, like he hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep. And yeah, that probably meant that he had been doing something, instead of just laying in bed, and what was he even doing, and why was he so damn giddy? “But you’re not gonna believe what I just heard.”


    My spoon paused halfway to my mouth, and I could feel my heart rate pick up, like my body was preparing for a fight. Oh shit. No. Whatever it is, don’t say it, don’t share anything, don''t even look at me, I’m not interested, and my whole body tensed. I set the spoon down carefully, giving Ryan a pointed look, but it was like talking to a wall. “Do we have to do this now?” Why did they always have to do this to me?


    “Yes, we do,” Ryan replied, leaning in like he was about to deliver the greatest story ever told, and it was probably about Zoe, I just knew it. “It’s about last night. Apparently, Joey and Chris-”


    I shot a glance at Joey, and his face was already turning an alarming shade of red, like he knew exactly what was about to happen. Ryan, no. Don’t. I swear to God, you are going to get us all killed. “Ryan…”


    “- had themselves quite the moment in the gym,” Ryan continued, oblivious, and the fact that he was not even a little bit subtle, was also, making me angry. “Zoe told me all about it.” What a damn shit stirrer.


    Fuck. Of course Zoe told him, because who else would she tell that kind of story to? I glanced down, aiming a discreet kick at Ryan’s shin, but my foot connected with the table leg instead. Ryan didn’t even flinch, and that only made me more pissed.


    "Oh, sweet Jesus," Danny blurted, his eyes widening in horror as he visibly paled, like he''d just been told the ship was about to hit an asteroid, and his hand flew to his mouth, like he was about to be sick. "Please tell me I''m not about to hear what I think I''m about to hear."


    Great, just what Danny needed to hear first thing in the morning - graphic details about his older brother''s love life. Danny, who was Joey''s younger brother and clearly wanted to be anywhere but here, looked like he was about to pass out, and he was so damn pale. And when the hell did this even happen? Before dinner? I should hit the gym with Emily from now on.


    “No,” Joey muttered, staring down at his plate. “You really don’t.” He was mortified, and it was a little bit cute.


    Ryan, ever the agent of chaos, ignored them both, because of course he did. “So there they were, thinking they had the gym all to themselves…”


    The galley door slid open, and in walked Zoe, and she was smirking. She had that look in her eyes, and it always made my skin tingle, the one that said she was up to something. She strolled over to the table, her plate in hand, and plopped down next to Emily, who was already trying to shrink into her chair. What the hell was wrong with them?


    “Oh, good,” Ryan said with a grin, and I wanted to punch him. “Zoe’s here. She can back me up.” Back you up? Back you up? I tried again to stop Ryan with a kick, this time grazing his calf, but Ryan only glanced at me with a smug, “you’re welcome” expression, and it was like he was doing this on purpose, like he was trying to torture me. Before turning to Zoe, he added “Tell them what you saw,” and yeah, he really was a shitbag.


    Zoe took her time, biting into a piece of toast and chewing slowly, while making eye contact with me, and I could feel my face getting hot. “Oh, it was nothing,” she said airily, and she had to be doing this to get to me, which, of course, was working. “Just Chris and Joey. Bonding. Really closely,” and then she winked, and I wanted to see her in the gym, and I needed to stop these thoughts.


    Joey’s head hit the table with a soft thud, and I had to stop myself from laughing out loud, it was actually hilarious, and also, I was so tired of him acting so cool, and also, where was Chris? “I’m going to die.”


    Emily cleared her throat, her cheeks flaming as she glanced at Zoe, and for a second, I felt my body respond, and I wanted to grab her hand. “They weren’t... you know... at first,” she mumbled, and the fact that she was also embarrassed, made me want to tease her. “They were working out. Like normal. And then...”


    “And then they decided clothes were optional,” Zoe finished, grinning as she turned to Ryan, and it was like they were two sides of the same coin, always working in tandem, and I wanted that too, that easy friendship. “You should’ve seen them. It was like something out of a fitness calendar,” and my brain immediately conjured images of their bodies, of their muscles, and then I just wanted to shut down.


    Chris, lounging in his chair, and I swear, he was trying to get everyone to see that damn deltoid, gave an unapologetic shrug. “What can I say? A man’s gotta unwind.” But those shoulders, man, they were insane.


    Oh my God, stop. Please stop. Luca stared into his coffee as though it might swallow him whole. “I really don’t think we need to-” and then my mind went to Emily, and the way her tongue had felt.


    “And,” Zoe continued, undeterred, and I hated her so damn much, and also, I admired her for it, “things got a little... let’s say heated. Right, Emily?” And it was like she could read my mind, she had a way of doing that.


    Emily, sitting beside me, straightened slightly and tilted her head. Her embarrassment was gone, replaced by a wicked glint in her eyes, and I wanted to see her face, all red and wanting. “Yeah, I’d say Joey’s got the whole Deathstalker thing going on. You know, chiseled ass and heroic muscles,” and her eyes went to Chris, like she was trying to compare them, and that was so damn hot. She glanced at Chris, a slow smirk spreading across her face, “Chris, though? More like one of the comic relief guys. You know, the ones who trip over their swords,” and my mind went straight to the floor, and I couldn''t stop myself from imagining them all there, in all of their glory.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Joey snorted into his coffee, his mortification momentarily forgotten, while Chris’s grin faltered just enough to make Zoe burst into laughter, and then Ryan laughed, like the moron he was, and I just wanted it all to stop. Ryan slammed the table with a loud laugh, nearly choking on his eggs, and I suddenly wanted to punch him, to stop him, and to grab him and… what was even going on?


    Danny, muttering something about needing peace, pushed back his chair and made a hasty retreat, his hands over his ears, and I suddenly felt bad for him, because he was probably the most normal one out of all of us, and I was probably just as messed up as he was, even if I was trying so damn hard to pretend I wasn''t.


    I needed to end this madness, to find a way out of this mess, and also, I needed to go to the gym and hit something, hard. “Okay, that’s it. Breakfast is officially over,” I said, and I really hoped they would all stop talking, and also, that I could finally escape this, and think about Emily, and also, that I could also finally touch Emily, again.


    Joey sat up a little straighter, his face less red, finally, and yeah, I was kind of glad that he was able to find some normalcy out of all of this. “Thanks, Em,” he said quietly, and that moment of vulnerability was still kind of cute, and it was also kind of hot.


    Emily leaned back in her chair, entirely too pleased with herself, and I suddenly wanted to kiss her again. “Anytime.” And it made my heart flutter a little, it was a bad habit. Captain''s log, Luca muttered to himself, today Ryan shared a steamy story about Joey and Chris, Zoe seemed to have enjoyed it a little too much, and Emily, and her damn eyes, had nearly driven me crazy, and also, did they even clean up? Because, seriously, that’s what I want to know. I mean, I wasn''t opposed to anyone having fun, but I also didn’t want to touch any dried-up jizz at the gym, I needed to start working out and I needed to go now. I mean, maybe I was also a little bit jealous that I wasn’t there, and also, I really did hope they cleaned up after themselves. Because, seriously, this whole thing was hot and also, what were even the implications of all of this, and why did that also, make me want to go to the gym and sweat it out. Finally, some action! Yeah.


    I quickly stood up and grabbed my water bottle from the table, and I suddenly needed a distraction, fast. It had been what? Four weeks since we had left Earth? About damn time they were all finally getting comfortable, and that we could finally stop acting like we weren''t all attracted to each other. And if they were going to start having these kinds of moments, well, I needed to be ready for it, to see it all. Because honestly, this whole trip had just gotten so much more interesting, and I needed to go to the gym.


    <hr>


    I walked through the ship’s storage areas, and I was already bored, trying to look busy, cataloging the exploration tools we had at our disposal, even though, what was even the point? The hangar housed the dropship, vehicles, EVA suits, drones, and satellites we’d soon be deploying, and all of them looked so damn complicated, and I was in charge of all of that. I paused at each item, inspecting for any obvious wear or damage, and yeah, this was not my cup of tea. Everything needs to be perfect before we reach Alpha Centauri, I thought, mentally checking off each item on my list, and mostly, wishing I could be anywhere else.


    As I entered the workshop section, I spotted Danny and Ryan hunched over one of the larger drones, and it was like I had walked in on something that I wasn’t supposed to see, like they had a secret life here, that I had no idea about. It was an impressive piece of tech, nearly as big as them, bristling with sensors and reinforced plating, and yeah, I was a little bit impressed, even if it made me feel like more of a useless moron. The pair were deep in the process of recalibrating its systems, Danny carefully threading wires into a panel, and yeah, he was looking cute, while Ryan adjusted the drone’s alignment, and they seemed to know exactly what they were doing, which was kind of annoying. They always did.


    I leaned against the doorway, watching silently for a moment, and I was trying so hard not to just gawk at them, because maybe they also had something else going on, and it was not my place to interrupt. Good, they’re on it, I thought, and I almost sounded a little bit like my dad, in my head. At least someone around here isn’t dragging their ass, and it was so damn tempting to just call out to them, and get their attention, and ruin their little moment. Then, without warning, the drone slipped from their grip, and I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes.


    “Shit!” Ryan shouted, and it sounded like a surprised little yelp, as the heavy machine crashed to the ground with a sickening crunch of metal and plastic, and yeah, I had felt that in my gut. Danny stumbled back, clutching his leg and letting out a sharp grunt, and I wanted to laugh, but I also knew that I had to play it cool.


    “Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, striding over, and even though I wanted to laugh, I also needed to make sure he was okay, and that Ryan was okay, too, even if it was entirely his fault. “Danny, you okay?” My voice was sharp, mostly because I was trying to mask that I was actually a little bit concerned, and not just annoyed, and also, they looked so small next to all that tech.


    Danny grimaced but nodded, testing his leg with a slight flex, and then, he gave me a little look, and yeah, he was fine, I knew it. “Yeah, just got clipped. I’ll live.” And then he smirked. The nerd.


    I crouched beside the drone, running a hand over its cracked casing, and it was all jacked up, and the wires were all over the place, and this was probably going to take some real effort to fix. Wires jutted out like broken limbs, and several of the internal components were clearly damaged, and I really wanted to find out which part was most expensive, to see if Ryan was in trouble, but also, what was I even doing? I glanced up at Ryan, who was hovering awkwardly nearby, and it was almost cute. “What the hell happened?” And also, why did I want to be there with them, working on the drone, what was going on?


    Ryan hesitated, scratching the back of his neck, and that was always his tell. “Uh... the harness wasn’t secured.” Of course it wasn''t. He was always doing shit like this.


    I straightened, fixing him with a hard stare, and my body reacted to that, and I could feel my muscles tense up, like I was ready to fight him. “You’re telling me you didn’t check the fucking harness?” What are you, a moron?


    Ryan bristled, and yeah, he was a little bit cute when he was all puffed up like that. “Hey, it wasn’t just me. Danny didn’t…”


    “Don’t throw Danny under the bus,” I snapped, cutting him off, and yeah, I wanted to protect him, which was also, very weird, “You’re supposed to know better. That’s basic shit, Ryan.” And yeah, I was also just angry because what the hell was I supposed to do now? I was so bored.


    Danny cleared his throat, his voice quieter, and he was always like that, so calm. “Look, it’s on both of us. We got sloppy. It won’t happen again.”


    I exhaled through my nose, and yeah, I was more annoyed than actually angry, but it was still important that they knew they messed up. My frustration flaring briefly before I reined it in, and yeah, I didn''t have the energy for this, not today. “It better not. We can’t afford to break anything else. Every piece of equipment counts.” He also looked a little too upset, and yeah, I needed to stop. I knelt back down, turning the drone carefully to assess the damage, and it was a total mess, and it made me want to kick something. After a few minutes, I sat back with a sigh, because that was all I had time for, I had no idea how to fix that thing. “Yeah, it’s toast. Motherboard’s bent, sensors are shot. Scrap it.”


    Danny let out a long breath, rubbing the back of his neck, and yeah, he probably had been excited to work on that thing. “That’s... not ideal.”


    “Not ideal is putting it lightly,” Ryan muttered, and he sounded actually upset, and that made me feel a bit bad. “Hours of work down the drain.” He also looked really cute when he was all vulnerable. What the hell?


    I pushed myself to my feet, dusting off my hands, and I needed to get out of here, because I was not sure what was happening. “It sucks, yeah, but we’ve still got a full set of drones. This one was a backup.” I shot Ryan a look, and tried to sound like I was in control, even when I wasn''t. “Secure the next one properly before you start messing with it, got it?”


    Ryan nodded begrudgingly, his jaw tight, and I wanted to see him smile. “Got it.”


    “Good,” I said, though my frustration lingered, but what did I expect from him anyway? I turned toward the door, muttering to myself as I walked away, and I wanted to see Emily, and maybe touch her again. “Should’ve been here helping instead of playing inventory clerk.” And also, why was I so jealous of their ability to just… do their thing? What was even my thing?