“Academy,” Kayla said, after they had placed their order.

Rose was happy to see Kayla’s wide, focused eyes. At least she was interested in something other than hunting and climbing.

“It’s the most prestigious and secretive organization in the galaxy,” Rose said. “Only the very best female students from the settled worlds are invited to attend—but almost everyone gets rejected at the entrance test, and nobody knows what happens to the ones who get in.”

“Where is it? Why is it a secret?”

“Nobody knows where it is. Some people say they are spies for the League. I heard once that they explore planets that no-one has visited yet. But anyway, only the two highest scoring students from our school get selected to go to there.”

“And? What do they say about it when they come back?”

Rose shrugged. “They’ve only got vague memories. They talk about wonderful science labs, dazzling engineering workshops, and alien creatures in zoos—but they can’t say much more. Some people say they deliberately erase people’s memories. I met a graduate when I was on holiday, but when I asked her questions, she gave me a look, like this.”

She made a face that combined condemnation and disappointment, which made her friend laugh.

“I’m going there.” Kayla’s smile faded. Her eyes fixated on a spot behind Rose as her jaw clenched.

“Y-yes? You’ll have to beat my grades at school. I want to get a spot too.” Rose laughed. “My father doesn’t want me to go. He says I should work for the company, but I hate engineering.”

“Bring it on.”

“Okay.” Rose was more than a little nervous when she saw the fire in Kayla’s eyes. “But why?”

Kayla shook her head, then swallowed and wiped her eyes. “Do you know about what’s happening at the farms? The monster attacks?”

“Yes, some people are talking about it. It sounds terrible.” Rose didn’t mention that Helvetic society believed the colonists were exaggerating—or even faking—the attacks to drive a division between themselves and the League.

“A few months ago…one killed my father.”

“Gosh, I’m so sorry.” A chill seized Rose’s heart. She couldn’t bear the thought of anything hurting her own father.

“Nobody does anything about it, and they kill my friends every day. Whoever is at the Academy will help me make it stop.”

“How will they do that?”

Kayla shrugged.

Rose wanted to sympathize with the poor girl, but the talk shows couldn’t be wrong. Kayla was obviously traumatized and had probably misremembered what had happened, or been told lies by one of her fellow colonists.

When the mountain of ice cream was delivered, Kayla gasped at the sight. Rose’s eyes widened. They couldn’t possibly finish it all, and their reputation scores would be fined for wasting food. If they tried, they would probably end up throwing up. While Rose had made peace with the penalties she suffered for these moments, she knew Kayla would need every point she could get.

“Oh my god, this is the best thing ever,” Kayla said and began shoveling chocolate into her mouth.

Rose watched appalled as drips of ice cream flicked around the table. “Could you perhaps… oh never mind.” She reached for a napkin to wipe a smudge off her cheek.

“Why do you want to go to the Academy?” Kayla asked once she had stopped eating.

“Well, I don’t think they are spies, anyway. But I believe anyone can achieve whatever they put their mind to, and it’s my job to prove it to them. Whenever they see my photos or dancing videos, they believe in themselves a bit more. Do you know my family’s motto?”

“Your family has a motto?”

“Well, it’s more like the corporation’s motto. You know, the fusion business my father runs?”

“Okay.”

“It’s ‘Empowering Humanity’. Get it?”

“Oh, like electric power.” Kayla laughed so loudly that other guests looked around.

Rose cringed, reminding herself to stay calm and persevere.

“But that’s so cool,” Kayla said as she nodded vigorously, “because it means to help the people around you. I totally get it. On the farms, everyone has to look out for everyone else, whether you like them or not. There’s an old colonist saying—No one gets left behind.”

Rose smiled as a warm glow filled her heart. Though she didn’t tell Kayla, she also had an unwavering conviction that she must dedicate her life to something greater than herself. Whatever secrets the Academy graduate had been keeping, Rose had seen the same belief in her eyes that she clung to when she thought she couldn’t take the pain of another pirouette.

And, sometimes, her new friend Kayla Barnes had the same look, even if she was a bit misguided.

Rose noticed a movement out of the corner of her eye and froze.

In the window of the café, Gaella was taking a photo of them. It would be all over the feeds within hours, and the mockery from their classmates would carry on for weeks. Reminding herself to be more assertive, Rose smirked and waved. Kayla didn’t seem to care.

The driver picked them up as they struggled to walk out of the café. Rose had at least convinced Kayla to wipe her face, but the man still scowled at the messy display, so Rose gave him a cold glare. Kayla might look a mess, but he was just a driver and ought to know his place.

Later that day, Rose was summoned to Madame Lefevre’s office, and when she entered, her stomach knotted up. Had she gone too far and embarrassed her family’s business? Would they make her stop spending time with Kayla? What would the poor girl do when no-one else wanted to be her friend?

The headmistress stared over the rims of her glasses and pursed her lips. She had made clear how unhappy she was to be assigned as Rose’s personal counselor, and today’s events certainly wouldn’t improve things. But the Djallen family paid a generous contribution to the school and always got their way.

“I’m afraid I’ve just had a call from your social media manager, Ms. Djallen,” Lefevre said. She lifted a tablet from her desk and turned it toward Rose. Gaella’s photo filled the screen. “He has been shocked to learn that this image of two grotesquely self-indulgent girls has been blowing up the Rackeye feeds. Please, can you explain yourself?”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Rose smiled. She’d already thought up a satisfying explanation. “Of course, Madam Lefevre. Actually, I think the photo was a good thing. Kayla has joined us from the colony farms, and I think it’s important that we are seen to bring her into the Helvetic world, even with her flaws. Of course, things won’t always look perfect but—”

“According to your classmates, this girl is having more of an effect on you than you are on her. This report contains dozens of posts complaining about you climbing on things, running wild, telling inappropriate jokes, and on and on.”

Rose’s face fell. Getting out of trouble was not going to be so easy. “I can’t reach out to her if I’m not her friend, Madam Lefevre.”

The headmistress tapped her stylus on her tablet in frustration. “It’s true that we have experienced some success with our outreach program, but those girls are supposed to be given strict mentorship and preparation before they enter Helvet society. I have no idea how this Barnes girl got hold of an invitation. In any case, I’m afraid we cannot allow the elevation of lesser citizens to interfere with your own development. Some other student will have to mentor the girl.”

“But none of the others want to talk to her—”

“Then she’ll just have to learn the hard way what is expected of Helvet citizens. Really Rose, I’m very disappointed in you. I certainly am not looking forward to calling your father and explaining the situation.”

Rose paled. “I don’t think that he needs to be told anything about this.”

“Of course he does. Do you realize that there has been a hundredth of a percent dip in the Djallen stock price coincident with the spread of this photo?”

Rose’s mouth hung open. How could they blame her for such a thing? “I—but… that couldn’t possibly—”

“Public opinion has a big impact on the stock price. Perhaps some investors thought that your little stunt was part of a PR campaign to kick-start a charity venture? Or maybe they’re wondering how your father managed to raise a troublesome daughter, and what that says about his leadership? Regardless, that dip represents hundreds of millions of credits of corporate value. Think of all the employees whose livelihoods are being damaged by your actions, not to mention the smear to the reputation of the brand, its patrons, and your very own family.”

Rose wanted to cry. It was so monstrously unfair that whenever she suggested some activity her parents didn’t like, they would always bring up the stock price. They made her feel like an employee, and they had taught Madame Lefevre to do the same. She had to stand firm.

“I will explain to my father,” she insisted, “how important it is for Helvets to look like they are helping colonists instead of ignoring them, and I’m sure he’ll understand. When Kayla is an upstanding and respectable graduate of this school, you will all appreciate my actions.”

Madam Lefevre glared at her. “Very well. Your father will be informed immediately. Go back to your dormitory.”

Kayla hadn’t seen Rose at all since they had returned from the shop, and when she was called to Madam Lefevre’s office later in the day, she began to worry. What if she’d caused Rose to get in trouble?

When she wandered into the room, she saw the headmistress waiting for her, with a handsome, well-dressed businessman, who she thought she recognized as Rose’s father from his picture on the city billboards.

The man smiled warmly. “Miss Barnes, what a pleasure. I am Hieron Djallen—Rose is my daughter.” he extended his hand.

Kayla shook it, anxious not to appear impolite lest she make things worse for her new friend. “Hello.”

“I have heard from the esteemed Madame Lefevre,” Rose’s father continued, “that you are a strong-willed and energetic young woman. It certainly makes me proud to see that my daughter is an excellent judge of character.” He smiled again. “Unfortunately, as I’m sure you are aware, Rose’s social activities are closely connected to the public image of a very large corporation, and we have to be extra careful about how she appears to the world.”

Kayla said nothing. Why should she care what happened to some dumb company?

“I know if I ask you to stop spending time with Rose you will probably refuse, and cause even more trouble. Therefore, it behooves me to make a deal with you. We understand that you have expressed a strong interest in earning an invitation to the Academy. Obviously, we can’t help you with their entrance test—not even I know what it involves,” he said with a strange little chuckle. “But the invites are reserved for our top students, and—when you turn eighteen—we can offer you one in exchange for your co-operation. Though I am sure Madame Lefevre will demand you at least make an effort to tone down your insubordination.”

Beside him, Madame Lefevre nodded in agreement.

Kayla’s mind reeled. Nothing mattered to her more than reaching the Academy, and finding a way to save her fellow colonists. But Rose was her friend. She wasn’t like the other stuck up Helvets, and seemed to enjoy Kayla’s company.

Besides, every girl in the school dreamed of earning one of the coveted invites, but the headmistress was prepared to send her there just to keep her away from Rose? Kayla sensed accepting their offer meant betraying her friend, and no matter what promises they made, she couldn’t stomach that idea.

“Why can’t we be friends?” she demanded, as her cheeks flushed with heat.

“Unfortunately, there is more to life than fun and games, young lady,” Mr. Djallen said. “The Helvetic world expects a certain decorum from its rising stars, and you do not measure up. Whilst I’m sure you will adapt to our culture in time, for the moment, you and my daughter are simply… incompatible.”

Kayla balled her fists, as she felt the tightness in her chest. As she so often did, she let the despair, sadness, and shame of failure disappear in a hot flare of anger. It hurt, but, though she hated such moments, it was all she knew.

“I won’t stop being friends with Rose, and I’ll get the invite anyway,” she insisted as she felt her self-control slip.

“And what if we threaten to bar you from going?”

A storm raged through Kayla’s mind, but she struggled to control her anger and find a way out of the trap.

She thought quickly. “Then I’ll tell everyone you tried to bribe me,” she said. “I bet… I bet that will cause just as much damage to your reputation score. It’ll prove you hate colonists. And Rose will confirm it,” she added, with total conviction.

They stared at her in silence, then exchanged glances.

“Go to your dormitory please,” Madam Lefevre ordered.

Kayla didn’t see Rose for several days. She noticed the other girls becoming colder, even hostile, toward her. Before, they had avoided her, but now they laughed whenever she passed them in the corridor, and they made crude references to farm animals. Eventually, Kayla caught sight of Rose as she was hurrying to class. They locked eyes across the hall, but Rose turned to retreat in the other direction.

Kayla ran to catch up with her. “What’s going on?” she demanded. “Are you avoiding me?”

“Oh… Kayla,” Rose said, not looking her in the eye. “I can’t talk now. I have to get to class—”

“You are avoiding me. What’s wrong with you? And why is everyone being so mean?”

“Well…” Rose’s face turned bright red as she crossed her arms.

“Just tell me. I thought we were friends.”

“I thought so too, but then I found out that you lied to me.”

“I never lie! If I got caught lying…” Kayla tried to blink back tears as memories of her father surfaced.

“That story you told me—about the attacks and how your father died—you made it up.”

Kayla lost control. She leaped forward, shoving Rose, who shrieked as she fell to the ground. Tears sprang from her eyes.

“How dare you say that?” Kayla yelled. “How dare you say I lied about my father!” Her hands shook as tears ran down her own cheeks. How could her new friend betray her like this?

One of the upperclassmen appeared around the corner, followed by more girls.

“What’s going on?” she demanded. The group surrounded them, and someone grabbed Kayla’s arms.

“It’s true,” Rose yelled through her sobs. “They showed me proof. Your father died when a drunk hit his truck—they showed me the arrest reports. Those animal attacks were faked to make people hate Helvets, and you went along with it!”

“That’s a pack of lies!” Kayla cried as she struggled to escape her captor’s grip. “Everything about you people is fake. Colonists are dying every day, and instead of helping you call us liars. Your family and your friends are so rich, they could do something about those creatures. But they won’t, because the attacks might make the colonists give up and join the League, and that’s the only thing any of your care about!”

“I tried to help you,” Rose shot back as she was helped to her feet. “But you just run around and do whatever you want. You’re childish and vicious, and you don’t care about anyone but yourself!”

“You hate anyone you can’t control!” Kayla shouted. “You’re all just as evil as my dad said!”

“See? I knew you hated us!”

“I thought you were different!”

Rose wiped her eyes and tilted her head in a condescending look. “I don’t need to be different. You’re nothing but an ignorant farm girl, and I was mistaken to try to help you.”

Kayla elbowed her captor hard in the ribs and felt a dark rush of joy as she heard the scream. Squirming free, she ran to escape from the corridor, and the nest of vipers she had fallen into.

“Stupid colonist!” a girl called behind her.