10:36pm UTC
The four of us sit - or float, rather - inside my quarters, with Barry and I on the bed, Hugh in a small chair, and Betsy stationed on the floor. It's Hugh's birthday today and, without cake or candles, we're making do with freeze-dried ice cream bars.
"Think you're the first person to celebrate a birthday in space, Cap?" Barry asks.
"Nah, that was Pete Conrad a couple years ago," Hugh replies, swallowing a bite of crumbling ice cream, "First black man, though-"
He flashes a wide grin.
"Now that's all me."
We share a collective chuckle. The past six months have only served to increase our camaraderie, our hearts as light as our bodies within the shuttle. It feels like just yesterday we were slingshot past the moon to set on our course towards Galileo-25b. Mission Control has kept in steady contact with us so far, checking in on our health and the shuttle multiple times per day. Launch Day feels like a simple bad dream at this point.
"I think everyone here is the first somethin'-or-other in space," I remark, "I don't think a zoologist has been to space before."
"Hasn't been an anthropologist, either." Barry says with a smirk.
I turn to Betsy, who's now pouting rather dramatically.
"No fair! The damn Soviets beat me to being the first woman!"
Another laugh bubbles throughout the room. She scoffs and shakes her head.
"'The First Chemist in Space' isn't nearly as cool of a title."
"'The First Female Chemist in Space,'" Hugh corrects, "Plus, you're the first American woman in space!"
She scoffs once again and shrugs.
"Fine, fine. I guess that's not so bad."
"Can't win 'em all, hon." I say playfully.
1:45am UTC
Hugh and Betsy have since gone to bed, leaving Barry and I alone. He's still in my bed and the intimacy isn't lost on me; I'm certain the feeling is one-sided. Barry is looking out of the viewport with an unreadable expression. His hair drifts weightlessly around his shoulders and his irises flicker aimlessly around the inky void.
"Y'alright?" I ask.
He simply hums in confirmation, turning to look at me with a somber smile.
"You miss it?" He asks, "Home?"
Of course I miss it. I've missed home since the day we launched. Homesickness comes in waves and threatens to swallow me whole daily if I think about it hard enough. I long for my family, friends, and colleagues. I long for quiet mornings spent with a cup of coffee and cigarettes shared with strangers. Everything I've ever known is thousands of miles from my fingertips.
"Sometimes."
Barry laughs. He must've seen the look on my face.
"You don't have to lie to me, Maxie," He says, "It's just us."
I wave him off. The nickname hits me in the chest and heat begins to creep up my neck.
"Whatever, man," I murmur, glancing away, "I miss home every second of the day."
He nods, turning his attention to the viewport once more.
"Me too."
We sit in silence for what feels like ages, Barry staring into the void and me staring at him. I'm sure he's noticed my staring, but doesn't care to mention it. The silence is only interrupted by intermittent whirring and beeping from various machinery in the shuttle.
"Take a picture, It'll last longer." Barry mumbles, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.
I'm snapped out of my stupor and look away bashfully.
"Shut up."
Barry chuckles and reaches out, cupping my chin and squeezing my cheeks between his fingers. The contact makes my heart race immediately.
"Quit staring at me," He replies, a teasing lilt in his tone, "You're making me nervous."
A laugh bubbles from my lips and I attempt to swat his hand away.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop!"
"You better!"
With a playful jostle of my head, Barry finally relents and releases my face. He laughs, assumedly at the flush dominating my face, and lifts himself from my bed.
"I'm gonna hit the sack," He says, "Thanks for putting up with me."
I have half a mind to ask him to stay, but the words stick in my throat.
"G'night, Barry."
"Night, Maxie."
As the door slides shut behind my colleague, a sense of longing falls over me. I kick off the side of my bed towards the door, calling out to Barry as quietly and calmly as I can.
"Barry, c'mere!"
He turns to look at me, quirking a brow. I flash the pack a cigarettes in my pocket, offering a lopsided smile. Strictly forbidden - and Hugh would have our heads if he found out - but I'd do just about anything to keep Barry around for just a bit longer.