Chapter 5.4: The second semester

 <-- Previous Chapter

From Cassy's diary


Steve: Erm, let's see...
Cassy: Are you alright? You seem a little... distracted.
Steve: What? No, what makes you think that?


Cassy: Well, for example, didn't you notice that you're giving me a perfect chance to say... Checkmate!



Steve: what the heck...

Cassy: Venus wrote to me saying that tonight's training isn't going to finish anytime soon, and that she can't join us to finish the assignments. Alright, we can at least start writing the essay for...
Steve: ... I'm sorry, but tonight I prefer to go back to the dormitory and study a little on my own. See you.

Having said that he said goodbye to me and left, he almost looks... sad. He's had that face for days, did something happen to him?

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From Venus' diary

Today I've remained at the soccer training until late, even if I'm already dead tired and I still have homework to do. It's not like I'm trying to avoid the others, but...


Venus: What... Steve? What are you doing here?


Steve: I'm sorry to bother you, but you haven't shown up for days... I mean, we are starting to worry about you.

Well, that's true, I haven't studied with Cassy and Steve since the beginning of the semester, half of the people at the campus must have noticed by now...

Steve: Also, I wanted to tell you that you can also forget about what I told you…um…last time, I obviously just screwed up… There's a lot to do this semester, and both Cassy and I would appreciate it if you come back to study with us, as before.

He sounded so sad as he spoke, I didn't know what to answer. In any case, I don't think the situation will go back to what it was last semester...
But I can't keep avoiding everyone like this either, can I?


Venus: ... tomorrow's training should be a little shorter, maybe this time I can join you in the library.
Steve: Great!
Venus: See you then.

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From Cassy's diary


Cassy: That robot back there isn't doing too well.
Steve: Judging by all those sparks, it looks like an overvoltage of the batteries... For sure the owner will have to spend a lot to find a replacement for that piece.
Cassy: True, the lithium shortage is a real drag.

At that moment I also noticed my sister rushing into the library, surprising many people who were no longer used to seeing her there.


Cassy: Hey, so you made it today!
Venus: Uh.
Cassy: So, what subject do you want to start from? We have to hand in the lab report in less than one weel, maybe we should start from that.
Steve: Um, okay.
Venus: Okay.

Both Venus and Steve usually are much more chatty than me, but out of the blue they started talking in monosyllables. I don't get it, they'd both been pretty weird since the beginning of the semester, to be honest.

Cassy: (perplexed) At least for the report, try to articulate a few complete sentences, though.

I don't get it, did something happen? I think I'll have to investigate a little...

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From Venus' diary

Classes this semester are really tough, before realising it I fell behind with studying, homework, assignments... Everything, in short.


Cassy: Are you okay, Venus? You've seemed terribly distracted for a while now, and exams are approaching!
Venus: Ahm...


Venus: I just have to finish this demonstration, then...
Cassy: Venus, what's going on?
Venus: I'm just a little tired, nothing serious.
Cassy: (not convinced) Uhm. I didn't want to go that far, but you forced me to!


Cassy: That...explains a lot.

Aunt Lyra had taught us mind reading years ago as a joke, and Cassy has always been much better at it than I am. So it didn't take long before she saw all that had happened and that we had kept hidden from her, as well as what was going through my head and worrying me so much at that moment.


Cassy: Oh my, I'm really bad at this stuff... I didn't realize Steve had a crush on you!

Cassy then shook her head, her expression somewhere between amused and exasperated. For sure she had clearly seen how I had repeated to myself for all those weeks that dating Steve would have been a bad idea, because then neither of us would have had time for her and she would have risked remaining alone. She knows how much I care about her, so at least she shouldn't be too surprised.

But what seemed to amuse her the most was my suspicion of what the relationship between her and Steve really was, because the first thing she added was:

Cassy: (amused) I assure you that Steve and I are friends and that's it. I mean, you saw that beard too, right?
Venus: ...
Cassy: So stop making excuses and do what you want to do for once, okay?
Venus: But...

Cassy: However, I think you should postpone all of this stuff until after the exams. There are only a few days to go and you still have so much to do! C'mon, let's go study!

Cassy is a little unpredictable at times, but she's a really good person. I don't know exactly what I'm going to do yet, but I already feel much more relieved than before. 

I mean, apart from the approaching exams part, about that I'm seriously starting to panic, I still have so much to study... I would probably be better to follow her and accept her help.


Cassy: So, who remembers the first postulate of quantum mechanics?
Venus: Erm, wait, I know I read it at some point...


That last week we studied like crazy, there wasn't any way we could worry about anything else. I also had to skip soccer training for days, something I'd never done before.


The final exam had been a real liberation, I was so tired that I didn't care about the final grades, but only about the fact that it was finally over.


Venus: Hey, what are you doing over there?


Cassy: Get ready, it's time for...


Cassy: A water balloon battle!
Venus: Ouch!


Cassy: I bet you can't catch me!
Venus: Are you challenging my aim?



Steve: (laughing) hey, it was Cassy's idea, not mine!


Venus: And now it's Cassy's turn!

It feels like it has been forever since the last time we had so much fun, I've really missed spending time with them like this.


But if on the one hand everything seemed to have returned to the way it was before, on the other hand I couldn't get a certain idea out of my head. So…


Venus: I think I still owe you that coffee, you know?

At first Steve seemed to have remained speechless, but soon enough he had answered me with a smile, saying:

Steve: Okay, whenever you want!


We talked all evening, without even really noticing how much time was passing.

Steve is the kind of person who gets easily overlooked, at first glance he may seem like one of the many students around the campus. But we just need to talk a little together to understand how he is funny, kind, sweet, intelligent... Okay, at this point I should probably stop denying that I've a crush for him.


Venus: It was fun, thanks for inviting me.
Steve: We should do it again sometime, if you want to.
Venus: Okay, that's fine for me!

Steve had still hesitated for a moment, uncertain about what to do, before looking straight into my eyes and...



Steve: Goodnight, then.
Venus: Goodnight to you too.

Well, surely this semester ended better than how it started...

Chapter 5.3: Summer vacation

 <-- Previous Chapter 

From Venus's diary

Finally the first semester is over, we are on vacation! There would be a lot to say about the exams we just faced or about next semester's courses, but at this moment I don't even want to hear about any of these things!

We're playing our last soccer match before everyone leaves for a short vacation, so I told Cassy and her friend Steve to join me at the pre-match party, just for some fun. It took me a while to convince my sister to come, while Steve accepted without thinking twice.


Venus: Why those long faces, it's time to have fun!

Cassy immediately rushed to the ping pong table for a real game, and not that juice pong we played a while back at the pub. 
She has always preferred board games over sports that include running, and she also tends to take this type of competition very seriously, so I was not surprised when she seemed to forget about us all already after the first serve.



Venus: This is so much like Cassy, have you seen how concentrated she is on that game?
Steve: She has the same face as when she plays chess...
Venus: (jokingly) How many times have you lost at chess already?
Steve: A dozen? I've already lost count.
Venus: She really doesn't like losing, maybe that's why she always puts so much effort into these things...


Steve: What about your match tonight instead? Do you think you'll win?
Venus: Hard to say, those silly dragons are top of the charts this year... We've trained a lot, but it's going to be tough to beat them.
Steve: I can't believe they trained more than you, that's impossible!

Having said that, he had raised his glass of juice again saying:

Steve: Go Foxbury!

The raised glass was not ignored by the revellers nearby, who didn't seem willing to miss any good chance for a drink. Regardless of whether we won or lose, that was a fun party!

The match started a little later, I joined the rest of the team while Cassy and Steve were in the stands cheering us on.


But, to put it in a nutshell, the other team was at least as strong as rumours suggested: we lost 4-0.


Venus: They weren't joking when saying they were strong...
Cassy: Well, statistically speaking, it's unlikely that you can lose again so badly...

Let's say this game it's the part of the semester I'm the least eager to remember at all costs. At that point, looking forward to the few days we planned to spend at our parents' place seemed way more interesting...


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From Cassy's diary

Venus and I also took advantage of those few vacation days before the beginning of a new semester to visit our parents, we hadn't seen them for quite a while.


Venus: Hi, how are you?
Luke: Nothing special happened here. Rather, tell us about you! How's college?


Cassy: Hi mom!

We even missed mum's birthday, it was the same day as our final exam and we just couldn't make it... But she doesn't seem to mind. In fact, she seems delighted to have us back home, and also about stellar grades we got in our final exams!


Venus: And hello to you too, little pest!
Luke: He's already destroyed three pots since when you moved, you know?


Misty: Lunch is ready. Oh, and we invited Lyra and Nick as well, they were so curious to hear from you, and...

With aunt Lyra and uncle Nick joining us, it almost felt like a party. It had been quite a while since we had spent the day together like this, in fact.


We really had a lot of fun, even if we don't want to admit it because we're grown up by now we had missed our family and our home a lot. It will be nice to spend a few days here again for the summer holidays.

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From Cassy's diary

Our vacation was over in no time, and we had to return back to the campus. We would have been happy to spend a few more days with our family, but the beginning of a new semester seemed so thrilling as well! There were just a few days before the beginning of the lectures, and there were so many preparations we could focus on already in order to reach the first day at our best!


Steve: So, did you have a good time back at home?
Venus: Fabolous.
Steve: Cool! And what about...
Cassy: (determined) Stop thinking about vacations, it's time to take a look at the new programmes, c'mon!

Saying this I was already walking towards the student areas of Foxbury, I couldn't wait to get back to work! With a shrug, the other two also hurried to follow me, continuing to chat about something I couldn't hear well.


Steve: Hey dude, I wouldn't eat that thing if I were you. It looks like it's spoiled.
??? : C'mon, I think it's still perfectly edible! (Starts eating)  Well, okay, maybe you're right.

Cassy: This semester we start studying quantum mechanics, isn't that cool?
Venus: Well, it looks very complicated, but...
Cassy: (continuing to read the programs) ... and by the end of the semester they'll also explain how the matter recomposers works!
Steve: That really sounds interesting, yes.

During the first semester we studied the basics, never going beyond the boring physics that even humans had known for decades now. 
But things were about to change drastically, finally we would have started to study the principles behind all the technology that arrived from Sixam. We have heard about teleport devices and matter recomposers every other day, but learning how they worked was all another story!

Cassy: I'm going to the computers over there, I want to print the other course's programs too.



From Venu's diary

Steve: The semester is not even started yet, but she's already so focused on studying! 


Venus: That's normal, she always does this when there's something new to study. Sometimes keeping up with her is the real challenge!
Steve: I had no doubts about this!

I'm glad my sister made some friends here at the university. I'm sorry I can't spend more time with her, but if she was spending all that time alone I'd feel even more guilty... Besides, Steve is a really nice guy, it's impossible not to get along with him.


Steve: (embarrassed) Listen... by any chance, would you like to go out for a coffee, or something like that?
Venus: (astonished) ... what? With me?
Stephen: Well, if you'd like to, I mean...

I didn't know what to say, it was the last thing I expected him to tell me. I mean, he's always with Cassy, what should I've thought? 

But I couldn't stay silent forever, I had to find something to say, anything... I mean, Steve was a very nice guy, under other circumstances I could also have said yes. But he seemed important to my sister, that was the first time I see her getting so close to someone outside of the family. Also, what if she's getting a crush on him?

No, I couldn't do it, I couldn't risk taking such an important person away from her. I'm sorry for Steve, surely it wasn't easy for him to ask me out, but I really had no alternative but to tell him...


Venus: I'm sorry, but I'm quite busy at the moment. I mean, with all the training, homework...

I don't know what Steve could have thought at that moment, he seemed quite sadly disappointed. But he limited himself to answering me anyway:

Steve: I understand, don't worry.


This situation is becoming quite awkward, maybe I should study on my own for a while...

Chapter 5.2: The first semester

 <-- Previous Chapter

From Cassy's diary


Venus: Hey, what do you think I could put in here, after the relativistic correction to the orbit of extrasolar planets?
Cassy: Uhm, I don't know, I was asked to write an essay on Sixam's atmosphere... but I think there are some useful books in the library, they have everything we could ever need over there!
Venus: The library, you say? Well, it could be interesting... 
Cassy: It's a quiet place, I really like studying there. We could also go there now, if you're curious!


Venus: (in a low voice) You were absolutely right, here in the library we can study so much better! I'll have to remember this, with soccer practice, classes and everything else it's a real grind to get everything done!
Cassy: I know you got the athletic scholarship, but don't you think that, maybe, the training could be a bit too m...
Venus:  And now let's write that essay!

Venus has always been the type of person who tries to fill every free moment in our day with something to do, but this tendency of hers here at the university is really reaching worrisome levels...



Classes, assignments, training and soccer matches, going out at night... Honestly, I don't know how she can still find any time to sleep at night.

Some time ago she also asked me to play together in the soccer team, to be teammates just like during our high school years. However, I had to tell her clearly that it would have been too much for me. After all, I came here to study and learn new things, if I have any free time left I should spend it improving my assignments and studying for my exams, right?

Given this difference of opinion about how to best use our time, Venus and I are spending more time apart than we ever have in our entire lives.

As you may have already guessed, dear diary, I often find myself in the library to study. And I'm also starting to make friends with some classmates.


Cassy: (in a low voice) While for the last part of the exercise it's enough to consider the momentum conservation principle, it's much easier than it seems!
???: (in a low voice) Yeah, that's right! I felt it was getting too complicated after the third page of calculations on potential energy!

His name, for example, is Steve, he studies physics like me. Unlike me and my sister, however, he's not particularly versed in anything concerning astrophysics and spaceships, and prefers to focus on circuits and mechanics instead.


Steve: How is the mechatronics essay going instead?
Cassy: I think I understood what mistake I was making, even according to the teacher now what I wrote seems right.
Steve: Great!

We soon found that we made a great study team, putting together what we know we can cover the bulk of this semester's program without too much effort. It's a super efficient way to study, isn't it?


From Venus's diary

After training, I rushed to the library, where I knew I'd find my sister. I still had so many assignments to finish, for sure some of her help would have been useful.


Venus: Hi Cassy, I'm sorry for being so late but the coach forgot to take a look at his watch and we finished our training half an hour later than usual.
Cassy: No problem, I figured that out. And we haven't finished studying the second chapter yet, so...

I realized only then that the other guy sitting at the table was studying with Cassy. The poor fellow seemed undecided about whether to introduce himself on his own or to wait for Cassy to do it for him, and he stared at me and at my sister unsure about what to do. I must have been really tired for not having noticed before, yet I still had so much to do that evening...
To try to make up for it, I then said to him:

Venus: Hi, I'm Venus, her twin sister, nice to meet you! Have we already met in class, by any chance?
Steve: (relieved) Steve, it's my pleasure!

Cassy: So Venus, what do you think you're going to do with that essay about...

I promised Cassy days earlier that we should have worked together on that project, but just at that moment the librarian started waving her arms, saying that closing time had arrived. That was so unfortunate, why did they have to close just when I managed to arrive?

Venus: ... maybe we should move to the bar in front of the library then.
Cassy: (resigned) Anyway it's 9 in the evening, we've probably studied enough for today...


Venus: So, any plans for the evening?
Cassy: No, no idea.
Steve: (Thinking) Upstairs there's a ping pong table, we could play some games.
Venus: Why not?


Cassy: Don't you think it's a bit of an idiotic game?
Venus: It's more difficult than it seems, you need good aim!

So I threw the first ball, hitting one of the juice glasses on the other side.


Steve: Cheers!
Cassy: It still seems like a stupid game to me, bah...

That evening we went home at around midnight, and only because classes were going to start early the next morning. Cassy went to sleep without a second thought, but I still had most of my homework to do...


University is a real grind, but I can't slack off already in the first semester!

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From Cassy's diary

The semester proceeds calmly, without great news. Steve and I continue to study together after the lessons, now that summer is approaching we often sit on park benches instead of staying at the library. We are progressing well with the program, I'm sure we'll do well in the final exam.



Steve: Is Venus at training again?
Cassy: like every evening. But she wrote she's going to join us to do some homework.
Steve: Great. (Ironic) At least here the librarian shouldn't kick us out, right?


Venus: (Tired) Hi, how are you?
Steve: We're fine... How about you, instead? You look exhausted!
Venus: They made us run in a circle for hours today, I'm destroyed...
Cassy: Do you need any help with today's homework?
Venus: But...
Cassy: I didn't say I'll let you copy them, I just want to give you a hand. It's not like cheating this way, isn't it?
Steve: I can lend a hand too, if needed.
Venus: ... thank you, really.

We really studied a lot that night, making more and more difficult exercises to prepare in time to the exams. The first day of the exams session was just a few days away, after all.


That first exams week was exhausting. A part of us would have wanted just to sleep for days, while the other part was anxiously waiting for the results to be published. And, eventually...



... we probably didn't really have a reason to worry about it, don't you agree, my dear diary? C'mon, look at those marks, we are among the best students in our year! I'm very proud of the results we obtained, and I can't wait to replicate them in the next one!