Sky. There were four separate squads in her year at Redwood. She knew Caroline was exempt from Tactical HK's because stress brought on her asthma. Instead, she stayed at base learning the complex supply chain logistics for large and small Home Guard bases. Just as vital as going out and shooting things if you look at the big picture.
For today's photo safari, she borrowed the car from Eloise since her aunt didn't have to go to the Power Plant today. School got out at two, which meant there were still at least four hours of good shooting light left. A hiking trail around the outskirts of the University campus that wound through the grasslands and black oaks should bring her within camera range. She'd seen the impala, some zebras and even an eland or two near that area before. They used to bring Alex on this trail every weekend. He loved to run ahead of them, scouting the way.
“Hello.”
Sky jumped. Her mind had been on those days when Alex was more than a ghostly figment of her imagination. She didn't even notice Hugo walk over.
“Don't sneak up on people!”
He made his fingers into claws. “I cannot help myself. I am silent and stealthy as a big cat in the jungle.”
She pulled her brown fleece-lined hoodie out of the locker and tied it around her waist. The trail could get chilly in the late afternoon. She came to school dressed for the outing in a vintage long-sleeved gray Hollister shirt, jeans, her sturdy walking boots with two pairs of socks, and a muffler thrown in her backpack for good measure. Sky did not like to be cold.
“Is that what they taught you at the Responsibility Academy?” she asked.
He looked at her blankly for a moment before his face broke into a grin.“Right. The Responsibility Academy for Royals.”
“No,” she corrected him shaking her finger. “The Royal Ascot Responsibility Academy. It's your alma mater. Keep it straight.”
“Of course, of course. And yes. Sneaking silently was a required subject.”
“How does sneaking make you responsible?”
He rolled his eyes to the side as though thinking. “Let's see. Sneaking is invaluable.... in case you have to avoid someone in your social circle behaving badly. Yes, that's it. That way they won't know you've seen them and no one need be embarrassed. We British hate to be embarrassed.”
“Invaluable skill, I'm sure.”
“'Tis. We are all about not embarrassing our peers. It goes without saying; however, the lower classes are fair game. So. Miss Christensen. Why aren't you at Tactical? I saw the van drive away with Rickey and the others.”
“I got in trouble with my Squad Leader. Mandatory dressing down. Out all week as punishment.”
His phone buzzed and he shifted his book bag to pull it out of his back pocket. He was wearing the same jeans she'd seen him in at the hospital minus the blood stains, a gray T-shirt and navy hoodie with “Royal Navy' in faded letters across the front. They were good jeans, not too tight, not too baggy and he filled them out very nicely.
“Doesn't sound like punishment to me.” His eyes flicked rapidly over the screen, scrolling through and tapping a reply. “Seems like you and your friends never have a minute of downtime.”
“So true. I have to run to keep up with myself. Every day is too tight. School, training, and then HK's until nine, four nights a week. Time off is nice. The downside is, I now have a demerit on my record.”
“Ten points from Gryffindor!”
She looked at him blankly.
“Harry Potter?” He prompted.
“Oh. Right. I've heard of it. The first movie is coming this Christmas.”
“Sorry, British exuberance.”
“And nuance.”
He gave her a crooked grin. “You're good, Skylar. You look rather quiet. Pretty, as well, I must add. All that brown hair and those gray eyes peeking out from under your bangs. Not that different from your intelligent, well-bred classmates. Inside that head, though. Watch out. You are going non-stop, aren't you? What are you
For today's photo safari, she borrowed the car from Eloise since her aunt didn't have to go to the Power Plant today. School got out at two, which meant there were still at least four hours of good shooting light left. A hiking trail around the outskirts of the University campus that wound through the grasslands and black oaks should bring her within camera range. She'd seen the impala, some zebras and even an eland or two near that area before. They used to bring Alex on this trail every weekend. He loved to run ahead of them, scouting the way.
“Hello.”
Sky jumped. Her mind had been on those days when Alex was more than a ghostly figment of her imagination. She didn't even notice Hugo walk over.
“Don't sneak up on people!”
He made his fingers into claws. “I cannot help myself. I am silent and stealthy as a big cat in the jungle.”
She pulled her brown fleece-lined hoodie out of the locker and tied it around her waist. The trail could get chilly in the late afternoon. She came to school dressed for the outing in a vintage long-sleeved gray Hollister shirt, jeans, her sturdy walking boots with two pairs of socks, and a muffler thrown in her backpack for good measure. Sky did not like to be cold.
“Is that what they taught you at the Responsibility Academy?” she asked.
He looked at her blankly for a moment before his face broke into a grin.“Right. The Responsibility Academy for Royals.”
“No,” she corrected him shaking her finger. “The Royal Ascot Responsibility Academy. It's your alma mater. Keep it straight.”
“Of course, of course. And yes. Sneaking silently was a required subject.”
“How does sneaking make you responsible?”
He rolled his eyes to the side as though thinking. “Let's see. Sneaking is invaluable.... in case you have to avoid someone in your social circle behaving badly. Yes, that's it. That way they won't know you've seen them and no one need be embarrassed. We British hate to be embarrassed.”
“Invaluable skill, I'm sure.”
“'Tis. We are all about not embarrassing our peers. It goes without saying; however, the lower classes are fair game. So. Miss Christensen. Why aren't you at Tactical? I saw the van drive away with Rickey and the others.”
“I got in trouble with my Squad Leader. Mandatory dressing down. Out all week as punishment.”
His phone buzzed and he shifted his book bag to pull it out of his back pocket. He was wearing the same jeans she'd seen him in at the hospital minus the blood stains, a gray T-shirt and navy hoodie with “Royal Navy' in faded letters across the front. They were good jeans, not too tight, not too baggy and he filled them out very nicely.
“Doesn't sound like punishment to me.” His eyes flicked rapidly over the screen, scrolling through and tapping a reply. “Seems like you and your friends never have a minute of downtime.”
“So true. I have to run to keep up with myself. Every day is too tight. School, training, and then HK's until nine, four nights a week. Time off is nice. The downside is, I now have a demerit on my record.”
“Ten points from Gryffindor!”
She looked at him blankly.
“Harry Potter?” He prompted.
“Oh. Right. I've heard of it. The first movie is coming this Christmas.”
“Sorry, British exuberance.”
“And nuance.”
He gave her a crooked grin. “You're good, Skylar. You look rather quiet. Pretty, as well, I must add. All that brown hair and those gray eyes peeking out from under your bangs. Not that different from your intelligent, well-bred classmates. Inside that head, though. Watch out. You are going non-stop, aren't you? What are you
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