SE:TA

"Uh, your marshmallow is burning."

Noah says, tapping her marshmallow with his. His words not a lie , Tulip looks at her marshmallow seeing the side Noah turned burnt.

"Oops."

She says, embarrassed. Noah laughed, telling her to keep watch properly. So Tulip does, watching the marshmallow that she flips when it melts go a golden brown.

"Were you looking at the fireflies?"

Noah then says.

Fireflies? That's right. Flustered at the sudden conversation when she thought things were awkward between them, Tulip nods quickly.

"Yeah."

"I remember when you thought they were stars."

Noah laughed, not as hard as he did at that time but still a hearty one. Tulip loves how when Noah laughed whether loud or not so loud, as long as it was a genuine laugh he'd tear up as if it was natural to do so.

It had Tulip laughing too, his laugh is contagious to her.

"I still don't get it, they don't resemble stars at all?"

"They really do."

Noah questions and Tulip would retort back.

"If they were up in the sky then I guess they'd be as small as stars, probably even smaller."

"That's right, but can't stars be as a big as fireflies when in the sky?"

The stars in Tulip's world were usually bigger than fireflies, even though they were up in the sky. There were some as small as fireflies, but those were never yellow, they looked like the stars of this world, bigger but white and bright.

"I've never seen it, or heard of it. Have you heard of SE:TA?"

SE:TA is a abbreviation that stands for 'space exploration research administration.' A government organisation. A independent agency.

Tulip has heard of it, is interested in fact, not only because it is an group where people research and explore space, but also because there is a similar group in her world.

When she lived in her world, 9 and young, Tulip didn't really care of it. However she got the basis of it that they revealed to the public. It was a organisation managed by the governors of her world, it's existence was to explore and discover more of the world we live in.

Tulip doesn't remember any more, whether they did discover anything or not. Anyway, similar to her world, SE:TA is a organisation where people explore the world and research into the information they discover, to find out more of this world they live in and what that knowledge can do for them in this world that's in a fatal condition with it's storms that wreck havoc.

"Mmhm, I have."

"They're the people that would know of that stuff. Oh, did you know Lincoln and I are planning to be part of SE:TA?"

Tulip was pulling out her marshmallow that's finally melted to perfection, biting into it but choking when Noah said those words. Flipping her head of hair facing Noah that said it as if it was nothing.

"Joining SE:TA??"

"That's right. It's a far fetch plan, the organisation is tough to enroll to, let alone join. But we're at a good age you know? I don't have horrible grades, Lincoln's could be better, but as I said, we're at the a good age to get started."

"No, no. Not SE:TA."

The stick that was about to slip from Tulip hands are clutched tightly, her head that went stiff with her body shakes vigorously, rigidly expressing her refusal.

Tulip didn't include it in her train of thoughts, but not only is SE:TA that is a incredible organisation with it's purpose, but it's danger. Depending on your position, the danger levels differ, but the point is that you will be in a position where you are in danger.

Knowing Noah and Lincoln, Tulip already knows of what position they are aiming for. The people that explore space itself.

So Tulip is adamant with her refusal, no chance will they be living their life troubled like that.

"Oh come on Tulip, it's only an option for now, but can't you see the dream?"

"All I'm seeing is a vision of you dying. Don't do it, Noah."

Tulip normally holds these thoughts back before Noah, but before she could control them they spill out. With a low voice but clear speech, Tulip uttered those words.

"..Tulip."

"…"

Tulip doesn't answer to his call, biting part of the marshmallow instead with a frown. She hears Noah sighing beside her then eats as well.

"What's this? You two are eating the marshmallows already?"

Predictably, Noah's Mum comes out and caught the two eating the marshmallows she told Noah not to even touch. Tulip still dazed with the fact that Noah wanting to risk his life by joining SE;TA, doesn't reply, having Noah one man against his Mum.

"Wait, wait,-!"

Their marshmallows snatched out their hands and into the fire pit that blaze and roar louder by the additional fuel, spew it's sparks out towards them.

Flinching, Tulip steps back and sees Noah getting smacked and scolded by his Mum.

"You had Tulip follow you right? She looks far more innocent than you who claims to be."

"Uhm."

Noah's Mum stopped smacking him and questioned, Noah avoided her eyes instead turning to Tulip signalling for help, but she is upset at him too. Noticing that he is cornered, he had no other option left.

"Yeah, it was my idea. Sorry-"

"Is sorry just a word to you? Usually you learn from your mistakes but you don't do so!"

Noah admitting that it was his idea, was smacked until his Mum calmed down and accepted his apology, then smiling at the two and giving their dinner.

"Let us eat well."

The three of them said over their meals and before the fire. The rest of the time was spent talking about their week, and the meal.

Noah's Mum tells them a story of how she wanted to bring in a cat that has the blues eyes she has ever seen, how it really liked bread dipped in the jam she bought, it followed her but ran away when Tulip and Noah approached.