Stars Waited Above Empty Streets by Lorin Wren 209

Posted by ADMINMMADMIN, ? Views, Released on January 19, 2026

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Finished

As Ava passed the guard post, she stole a quick glance inside. It wasn’t the same guy from that morning. She finally let out a breath.

Back in her dorm, she splashed cold water on her face. Then she leaned on the bed and grabbed one of the military handbooks from the nightstand to kill time.

Her walkie–talkie sat right beside it. She had barely flipped a page when a voice cracked through the speaker. “Ava, you back in the dorm?”

The sudden voice made her jump. Her book slipped out of her hands and hit the floor. She scooped it up fast and reached for the walkie–talkie. “Yeah, I just got in. What about you?”

“I’m still out. Won’t be back till tonight. So–how’d day one go?”

“It wasn’t bad. Honestly? Pretty easy. Cavalli went soft on us. We had it way better than Unit A!”

She heard him laugh through the static.

“Don’t get too comfy. It ramps up from here. You’ll be doing field survival later.”

Ava’s eyes lit up. That sounded real. And kind of awesome.

“Are we gonna shoot actual guns?”

Laurent chuckled. “Yup. Live rounds. Real targets.”

That made her sit up straighter. She said fast, “Instructor Cavalli made me squad captain today. Give me ten days and I’m gonna be top cadet.”

Another laugh followed. Then came a voice–low, rich, and way too smooth. “Squad captain? Nice. I’m proud of you, honey”

Ava jerked the walkie–talkie away from her ear like it had burned her. That voice. That line. It made her whole chest thump. Her cheeks flared. “Cut it out.”

“Cut what out?” Laurent teased. “You’re saying I’m not your husband?”

Ava nearly dropped the thing again. “Can you not? Don’t say stuff like that on the radio!”

“Oh? Worried someone might hear?”

“Laurent!” She said his name with full heat.

He cracked up. “Alright, alright. I’ll save it for when we’re alone. Just between us.”

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15:41 Mon, Jan 19

Chapter 209 Rest

934

“You keep talking like that, I’m blocking you.”

“Then take a nap, sweetheart. If you’d rather do it in my room, my door’s always open. Code’s

754263…”

She hung up on him instantly. The walkie–talkie hit the nightstand with a loud thud. That man had changed ever since they got close. He didn’t play by the rules anymore. She couldn’t keep

up.

And seriously–when had she ever said she wanted to nap in his room?

After her break, Ava headed downstairs ten minutes carly.

Noelle and Zoey showed up right on time, both still yawning.

Zoey looked surprised. “You’re early.”

Noelle stretched, groaning. “Guess that’s the captain life. Thank God it’s not mine.”

After the chaos that morning, no one wanted to push their luck. This time, the girls moved fast. Nobody dared slack.

The afternoon session was just a repeat of their earlier drills. Ivan watched Ava at the front of the squad and felt satisfied. Still got it. He’d picked someone reliable, focused, and sharp. She looked good, stayed calm, and actually cared about the drills. No regrets.

After spending the whole day together, the squad started clicking. Everyone respected Ava. She was easy to talk to, and she didn’t act stuck–up.

Q–1–B had great chemistry now. But over in Unit A, things looked grim. They’d pulled the short straw with their instructor. And to top it off, Malory had ended up as their squad captain.

Nobody had wanted the job, so Derrick just picked her on the spot. She tried to say no, but he cut her off. “Didn’t you tank your credits? Be a good squad captain. Earn model cadet. You might get some back.”

That hit hard. Rumor was, Malory went back to her room and cried her eyes out during lunch.

Ava overheard Noelle and Zoey gossiping about it. She actually felt a little bad.

Later in the afternoon, during a short break, Ava stood under the shaded awning by the hall. A group of soldiers passed by. She glanced up–and met eyes with the one who’d been at the guard post that morning.