"Nova!" Felix called out, his face brightening as he wove through the crowded produce aisle. She stood by the apple bins, sorting through them.
"Why were you bothering Jared while he was on the clock?" Nova interrupted, not even looking up.
"He wasn't working, he was on break—"
"That's not what he told me." Nova snapped her head around, locking her eyes onto his. "Are you trying to get him fired?"
"No! I was apologizing. I used to work in a grocery store, remember? Back in Intermarium, you used to visit—"
"That was a long time ago," Nova said, her voice dropping cold. "And I remember you refusing to sell me a single loaf of bread when my family was starving."
"I wasn't allowed to!" Felix pleaded, stepping closer, his hands raised in defence. "Prices were skyrocketing, and my mother was the one running the store—"
Nova rolled her eyes, letting out a bitter laugh. "You hardly even tried to convince her, Felix. Can you really blame me for holding a grudge?"
"Nova, I don't want you to stay mad at me. I talked with Jared because I wanted to apologize, and he's forgiven me-"
"He's forgiven you?" Nova's eyes hardened. "I doubt that. Especially after you brought up his scar just to rattle him. He went through hell the night he got that. You had no right."
"Felix, who are you talking to?"
Felix turned to see Fawn standing a few feet away, holding a bottle of Cherry Coke.
I'm talking to Nova," he explained quickly. "We trained together at the base. Nova, this is Fawn—"
"Jacob sent me to get him a Cherry Coke," Fawn interrupted. "He hates the regular kind you brought to his office."
"I didn't realize—"
"Clearly," Fawn rolled her eyes. "Yet he's taking you over me to the global summit."
"Fawn, please," Felix muttered.
"I'm not here to fraternize, Felix. We're expected back at Parliament, and we're already late."
Felix turned back to Nova. "Nova, I—"
"Go, Felix." Nova crossed her arms, voice ice-cold. "You're clearly busy."
She turned back to the apples, dismissing him entirely.
Fawn grabbed his sleeve. "Let's go."
Felix hesitated for a split second, then let her pull him away.