The Apollo Academy Read Online Free

had looked at her, it was like he had truly seen the real her. In fact, they were probably the only two people at the club who had really seen each other.
    She should have just kissed him. It had probably been her last chance to be with someone who didn’t have an ulterior motive for kissing the Titon heiress. Aurora sighed. Now she’d never know.
    Beep. Beep.
    Aurora glanced at her techiwatch.
    Damn. She was daydreaming again.
    Aurora shoved thoughts of the boy away, cramming the last of her clothing into her already over-flowing suitcase. It so wasn’t going to close. She pushed the vacuum sealing bags down, pulled the sides of the suitcase together, squeezing.
    It still didn’t shut. Her arms strained as she tried to make the two pieces fit together.
    There was no other choice. She sat on top of the suitcase, pushing all of her weight down.
    The locks sealed closed.
    No, she probably didn’t need any of the old books or half the shoes she’d packed, but she couldn’t imagine leaving it all behind. Aurora grunted as she dragged the scuffed, metallic luggage into the living room. Leaving the suitcase by the door, Aurora padded barefoot around the condo, taking a few moments to say goodbye to the place she called home. At least, she hoped this was goodbye.
    With one last look, she slipped her lucky shoes on and moved toward the door, pulling her monstrosity of a suitcase behind her. To her surprise, her dad chose that time to come waltzing through the door. He was wearing a steel-gray business suit and matching striped tie, already dressed for the media storm to come. He pushed his gray hair off his forehead and moved for her bag.
    “You should have asked for help.” Frustration coated his words. “I’ll arrange for someone to get your bags.”
    “That’s okay. I’ve got it. Besides, I’d rather not draw any more attention to myself once I get there.”
    Her dad looked as if he wanted to argue but in the end must have known she wouldn’t change her mind. “I could at least get you a new piece of luggage. I can’t believe you’re still lugging this one around.”
    Aurora looked down at her bag. There was a sticker for every place she had traveled and now the bag was completely covered with flashing destination stickers. She traced her finger across the Bear Lake, Alaska, sticker. “No, I like my bag. I wouldn’t be able to replace all of my hard-earned stickers if I got a new one.”
    He shook his head. “All right, but I do have a departing gift for you.”
    “Dad, you didn’t have to get me anything.”
    Her dad waved away her protests. “You know I’d prefer you stay here and learn to run the company, but…” He shrugged, uncomfortable with expressing his feelings aloud. “It’s your choice. Besides, it’s not every day my little girl is accepted into an elite training academy.”
    “It’s not official—”
    “Aurora, you’ll pass the initiation.” He motioned for her to take a seat on the couch and pulled a black velvet bag from his pocket. “And if you don’t, well, you’ll be learning the family business.”
    If that didn’t motivate Aurora, she didn’t know what would. She’d rather die than be the Titon heiress for the rest of her life. Keeping those thoughts to herself, Aurora sat down on the couch.
    “I thought you should get something special to commemorate the day.” He pulled out a gold necklace and hesitantly handed it to her. “Here.”
    Aurora took the dainty gold chain from her father and saw that it was adorned with a vintage airplane, one surprisingly elegant and feminine. It reminded her of the Apollo Academy logo. “It’s beautiful, Dad. I love it.”
    He nodded and took the necklace from her, clasping it around her neck. “I had one of your mom’s gold rings melted down to make the airplane. This way you’ll have a little piece of her with you while you’re away.”
    Aurora was speechless. As little time as she and her father had spent together over the