Battletech: Fall From Glory (Founding of the Clans, Book One) by Randall N. Bills
Author:Randall N. Bills
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
Published: 2021-03-17T05:00:00+00:00
Andery entered the mess area reserved for academy staff and immediately tried to exit.
âAndery,â Paula Zinkski called out, raising a friendly hand.
Caught. With a smile, as though heâd changed his mind about leaving, he angled toward her. âHello, Paula.â
âHey, have a seat.â
âThanks.â He pulled out the chair to the scrape of fingernails on a chalkboard, as the metal legs lacked rubber bottoms.
Paula flinched as Andery finished settling into the seat. âSorry about that,â he said. âYouâd think after all this time theyâd finally have enough free rubber to throw onto the bottom of chair legs.â
She shrugged, her plump arms swinging freely in her short-sleeve shirt. âStill too expensive. Donât really need them, right?â
âI guess.â He leaned back and let his head fall back even more. Perhaps if he just rested here, she might leave him alone.
âSo, howâs your new class?â
No such luck. He opened his eyes to find her soft round face practically drinking in his own. For a moment he wanted to let her know sheâd never have a chance. No woman does. Changed his mind. âThe usual,â he said. âEarnest, eager to do their part. To live the dream.â
She nodded her head enthusiastically, missing his sarcasm, as usual. âI know. Were we ever that young?â She sighed, then laughed a high-pitched tweeter; nails to his ears.
I wasnât. Neither was Niki; especially Niki. The last came grudgingly. âHard to believe we were.â
âI know, I know. Any troublemakers?â
A genuine smile this time. âYeah, one kid. Noble aristocrat through and through. Probably here to pay off some debt to daddy. Heâll be a handful all year.â
âThereâs always one.â
âSure is.â Andery leaned back again, closed his eyes, and tried to wish himself elsewhere. Had he been here long enough to excuse himself?
âUm, Anderyâ¦â she began hesitantly.
Uh-oh. Is she going to finally get up the nerve to ask him out on a date? Shouldâve gone home to find a little peace and quiet. âYeah?â
âI heard the colonel turned down your request again,â she said slowly.
Andery managed to not wince; barely. How the hell did she know that? I didnât tell anyone. He opened his eyes to find her face conflicted; as plain as day, her desire for him and joy he wouldnât be leaving warring with her wish to see him get what he wanted. For an instant he felt sick to his stomach, his breakfast piling up behind his throat as bile backed up. Does everyone know?
âIâm sorry,â she said.
He knew it, yet it didnât help. She was only an acquaintance, a coworker; not one he counted a true friend. He managed to crank out a smile, shrug lightly, respond. âDonât worry about it. I enjoy working here.â And he did, after a fashion.
The relief visible on her face was painful to see. âIâm so glad, Andery. I didnât want to bring it up as I thought you might be hurt, but I wanted to let you know I cared.â
Iâm sure you do, in your own way. âThanks, Paula. I appreciate it.â
âWill General Carson be coming by again, then?â Paulaâs eyes took on a slightly dreamy cast.
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