June 3, Summer 1545
Flora Marksmanship Academy
0730
Wake up! You have got to get out of bed, Abby. Didn't you hear the alarm clock? It's 0730 and we need to be in class but still eat by 8 o'clock, or who knows what is going to happen. We can't be let go or sent to the front lines while I am training. The worst can happen. I am bearing my soul here. You gotta listen to me. I need a little bit of help."
Luna huffed as she pushes one more time and Abby started to stir.
"Ha. What are you talking about? Academy!" Abby wipes slobber off her lip as she looks up at Luna with dazed eyes.
"It's time for us to get ready. Look over the uniform summation. I went downstairs and got you an apple and a banana, we need to get to class soon.
At least 15 minutes early to make a good impression. I don't want to start the day off badly. I'm already nervous. I put lotion on my face so my skin is immaculate. We need to get going now, can you do this for me? Can't you tell I'm stressed out?" Luna squeaks.
"You got my clothes out for me? Oh, that is so sweet." Abby shot up, wiping her mouth and grabbing Luna for a big hug. "What would I do without you, Luna? You're like the scientific, nerdy friend I never had. All your calculations and analytical powerlessness cannot be matched."
"Well, when you put it that way." Luna blushes and rubs her right cheek, trying to massage it as if to make the scarlet go away.
Abby looks over to see the blue uniform with a short blue skirt and black leggings already laid out. There was even a pink bow to go on the hem of her uniform for a bit of fashion. I know Lt. Col. is going to be mad at me when I show up like this but I have to be me. My grandfather always told me to be myself. "Where did you get this ribbon?"
"My mom gave it to me when I was young and it does not fit my personality. I figured with a personality like yours you like to stand out a little bit so that's why. Now hurry up and get dressed because I don't want to be late." Luna sat down, pulling out a very small ring which she fiddled with.
Getting out of her pajamas, Abby looks over and noticed that Luna was in a bit of a tizzy. "Is there any special connection with you and that ring?"
"No, nothing really," Luna sighed. "I just call it my goober because it helps me feel safe. My mom told me because of all the anxiety I had growing up, I would pass out just by doing daily activities. So she gave me this ring she found at a flea market to help me kind of push distress out of my fingers. So sometimes I just take it, because the ring is two sizes too small, and I put it on my finger and I pull it off really fast. It helps to sometimes relieve that stress building up by my fingertips and let it go into the world. Today there is a lot of stress!"
"Don't worry, everything is going to be okay," Abby says. At least, I hope. For the first time in a long time, I feel my joy is slipping away. This war, and what I saw yesterday. I'm just a girl from the country and it feels like my whole life is falling apart. Abby pulled up her black leggings and neatly fastened her skirt up, buttoning it to the right side of her hip. She placed a bright pink bow on the side of her hip, tying it into the belt.
"You are very free with your emotions," Luna states. "I," she started as Abby interrupted her.
"How do I look? Do I look like I'm ready to seize the day or go find some bad guys? Or maybe I can slit someone's throat? Maybe that will help me feel better about yesterday." Abby put her hands out as if she was surprised by friends and looks urgently at Luna who was puzzled across the room.
"I think you look great and honestly… I don't think you need to slit someone's throat unless you really want to kill somebody. I think a bullet would do just fine. Luna twirled her goober in her hand as she stood up. "Let's get going, shall we?"
The duo left the room with Abby casting a quick glance back at her revolver sitting on the shelf in its case. Walking down the stairs past the ocean blue walls once again, they came to be greeted by partly cloudy weather and the morning sun not shining as brightly as before.
"I am so happy that it is not as hot as it was yesterday. I thought I was going to turn four shades darker. Do you drink coffee?" Abby glances over at Luna, who is still looking at the ground and fidgeting a little.
"I'm more of a tea person," Luna replied. "My granddad loved coffee and my father worked on a coffee plantation. I loved the smell, but as far as taste it's not for me. So I usually drink green tea, or what we like to call cinnamon tea, before bed with a nice book."
"Oh, so you go more for relaxation and for medical reasons. This is very interesting. I love coffee, and specifically hazelnut coffee with heavy cream. Just naming flavors makes my nose go to a frenzy."
"You're funny." Luna giggled as she felt her goober in her hand slow down some of her anxiety. Pulling out her paperwork, she noticed a large circle on the top right corner of the map. "Um. Building 435. It seems it's about five minutes out."
"You really planned all of this out, didn't you?" Abby put her hands behind her head, stretching back and looking over at Luna.
"You were asleep, so I took the liberty of planning this part of our morning." Luna leaned over closer to Abby, showing her the red circle on the map. "See!" She pointed at the circle. Abby peered at the map beneath them.