"I don't feel anything for you anymore," her crystal blue eyes tried to avoid his stare.
"What do you mean?"
"What we had was just for fun. It meant nothing."
"Clare, you're the first girl I've ever had genuine feelings for."
"I'm sorry."
He rubbed his hands over his eyes, "this is about Eli, isn't it?"
"No."
"Then, what is it, Clare? What did I do wrong?"
"Jake, you did nothing wrong. I just have feelings for somebody else."
"If it's not Eli, then who is it?"
"Fitz."
Jake's eyes widened, "My cousin?"
"I knew him before you moved here. I honestly didn't know you were related until a few weeks ago."
"Of all people, Clare, why Fitz?"
"I don't know."
Jake raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, it's a long story."
"I have time," said Jake in the most apathetic voice.
"He and Eli were enemies. Fitz brought a knife to school and was sent to juvie. When he came back, he told me he changed and was a Christian. He also said he had feelings for me. But, back then, I was in love with Eli. Then, you came along and I forgot about either Fitz or Eli. But then, when I went to the Dot, I saw Fitz again."
"Did you feel something?"
"We just stared into each other's eyes not saying a word."
"How romantic," Jake rolled his eyes.
"It felt like I was in some sort of hypnotic trance. An undeniable force pulled me to him."
Jake stood up and punched the wall. Clare, shocked, rushed to his side.
"Jake, I'm sorry."
A single tear fell from Jake's left eye, "Did you ever love me at all?"
A flashback of herself yelling at Eli rushed through Clare's memory, "No."
Jake stomped out of the room and shut the door, loudly, on his way out.
.
.
.
Clare entered The Dot and spotted Fitz cleaning the counter.
"Hey, Fitz."
He smiled, "hey."
Their blue eyes stayed locked on one another.
"Do you want anything to drink?" Asked Fitz.
"Huh? No. I was just," she paused.
"Clare, are you alright?"
"Fitz, do you still have feelings for me?"
He stepped closer to her and, acting on her instincts, she stepped back. He held her arms and pulled her in for a kiss.
"Does that answer your question, Clare?"
She giggled sheepishly and nodded.
"We're closing pretty soon, you want to hang out after?"
"I don't know, it's close to my curfew."
Fitz looked out the window, "it's dark outside. Why don't I walk you home?"
"Sure, I'd like that."
.
.
They walked together, side by side, in the darkness under the full moon.
"Stop!" Fitz abruptly yelled.
"What?"
"Look up at the sky, it's the first star I've seen all night."
"So?"
"Let's make a wish."
"Aren't wishes supposed to be made in secrecy?"
"Let's break tradition. Maybe the wish will be stronger if we make it together."
They chanted together:
"Starlight
Star bright
First star I see tonight
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight"
"What do you wish for, Clare?"
She held his hands and in a soft whisper, she uttered, "I wish that we were meant to be."
.
.
.
They arrived at her front door and, once again, stared mindlessly at one another.
"I guess this is it," said Clare.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you think it's possible for us to ever be together?"
"What and who is going to stop us?"
"We're not exactly the typical couple."
He held her in his arms, "Clare, it doesn't matter what people think or say. We control our own destiny. Our connection is too strong for us not to be together. I love you Clare, I always have."
"I love you too."
Clare walked into her house and shut her door gently. Fitz took out a cigarette from his pocket and smoked under the moonlight, in front of the Edward's house.