Stars Waited Above Empty Streets by Lorin Wren 222

Chapter 222 Improvement. 

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Noelle gave her a confident thumbs–up. “You’ve definitely improved. You used to hesitate every time, but now you’re all in and decisive.” 

Naomi jumped in right after. “That’s not even the crazy part! When I saw you at the range earlier, you looked like the target pissed you off. Your whole face was cold–so not like you.” 

Ava secured her rifle and looked over at them. “If that counts as training, then yeah. It was a last–minute crash course.” 

Zoey cracked up. “Okay, Ava, are you trying to be funny how? What, did some ghost sniper show dream and give you tips?” 

up in your 

The three of them kept laughing, not even trying to hold back. Ava looked at them quietly, thinking to herself that someone really had given her guidance. 

On the way back, Ivan told the group they’d be issued their Holobands that night, but they’d need to return them first thing in the morning. 

After two straight weeks of isolation, everyone was about ready to lose their minds. The second he said it, they started shouting, singing, and freaking out. One girl even ran up and kissed Ivan on the cheek. 

That triggered even more laughter from the group. Ivan froze in place, touched his face, and looked completely horrified. 

Ava saw the chaos and couldn’t help laughing too. 

Later that night, after her shower, she powered on her Holoband. The notifications came in nonstop and filled the screen within seconds. 

Ryan had messaged her more than anyone else. He’d sent something nearly every day, not knowing if she could even read it. Ava scrolled through the flood of messages, smiling at how much he had rambled. 

Some of it was random daily stuff. Some were short updates about his life. She noticed he changed his profile photo–he looked way sharper and more serious than usual. 

Ava replied to the messages one at a time. After that, she dropped an update in the group chat about the last two weeks, adding that she’d been named model cadet. 

The responses came back fast. 

Ryan texted, ‘Ava! You finally got your Holoband! You actually replied! I’m so freaking happy!‘ 

Keith texted, ‘D*mn, Ava. Congrats on model cadet. That’s awesome.‘ 

Ethan texted, ‘I heard they made this year’s training a lot tougher. You hanging in there?‘ 

Mason texted, ‘Ava, send us a selfie. I wanna see if boot camp turned you into a stick.‘ 

Ava glanced down at her pajamas, got up quickly, and took a selfie at a decent angle before sending it. 

Ava texted, ‘It wasn’t easy at first, but I got used to it. The next part is survival training, and honestly, I’m excited for it.‘ 

Ryan asked, ‘Survival training?! Who the hell thought that was a good idea?‘ 

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Chapter 222 Improvement 

Ethan added, “That really sounds like full–on military academy material 

Keith texted, ‘Of course Ava’s actually looking forward to that crap. 

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Ava wrote, ‘It’s not that bad. They’re teaching us practical survival skills, which I think are worth learning. 

Mason answered, ‘You really have changed. Your eyes look sharper. I like it.’ 

Ryan added, ‘You’re not some thick–skinned guy. You’re gonna be starving, exhausted, and miserable. Seriously, who designed this nightmare?‘ 

Laurent answered, “That would be me, Ryan. Got a problem?‘ 

Ryan wrote, ‘You? I thought you were back on duty!‘ 

Laurent answered, ‘I’m the lead instructor this year.‘ 

Keith wrote, ‘I figured you ghosted because of deployment. You were setting this up behind the scenes?’ 

Mason added, ‘Figures. Quiet types always pull the biggest stunts. You planned this before the cycle even started, didn’t you?‘ 

Ryan added, ‘You knew Ava was in this group and you still made it this brutal? What’s wrong with you?‘ 

Ethan asked, ‘Wait–so you’ve been with Ava this whole time?‘ 

Ryan sent an angry emoji and flung a digital pile of crap at Laurent. 

Laurent answered, ‘Basically, yeah!‘ 

Ryan asked, ‘Are you two living together now?” 

Ava’s eyes widened the second she saw that message. She had hoped to stay out of this, especially once Laurent joined in, but now she couldn’t ignore it. 

Ava answered, ‘No! We’re not living together! He’s in 308! I’m in 307! Totally separate rooms!” 

Keith asked, ‘Hold up–307 and 308? You’re not in the women’s dorms?‘ 

Ava answered, “There weren’t enough rooms, so they put me in the officer building. That’s it. 

Mason texted, ‘Laurent, huh. Quiet guy. Big moves. Real sneaky.’ 

Nobody believed for a second that Laurent hadn’t arranged it himself. They had to spend a full month without seeing Ava, while he got to see her every single day. 

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