Starstruck: Chapter Two

Kaleigh: Hello again! I would like to say hi to my readers because they are amazing (even if they don't review). So... here's chapter two!

When I first saw him, I was... well, starstruck. Haha. I'm so good with puns.

My thought when I looked at him was, "He's cute." Then, "And nice." Which lead to, "BFFLS!"

Only five at the time, I could still sense everything about him. He was lonely. He was cold. He wanted to have fun. He needed a friend.

I was lonely. I was cold. I wanted to have fun. I needed a friend.

We fit each other perfectly. Even at five I knew we'd be friends for a long, long time.

That night at home was brutal. My stepdad had a bad day at work, Franny failed a test, Daniel got into a fight, and Mum wasn't home so she couldn't see me. Comfort me.

By the end of the night, I'd lost two teeth. One punched out by Daniel, one by my stepdad. I don't even know why Mum married him.

Despite everything, I still was hopeful. The two blood covered teeth clutched into my hand were my way to see her.

But wait, oh no. I didn't have a pillow to put them under.

'Jack is nice,' I reminded myself, 'so his friends will be nice, too. Which means the Tooth Fairy will come, pillow or no pillow.' That was the one thought that kept me going towards the cellar, where I was locked for the night. One hundred and twenty-four locks. Even at that time I knew a minute was sixty seconds and not one hundred, but I figured it would be easier to remember.

I curled up on the hard, cold floor. Jack was cold, but not like this floor. This floor reminded you or darkness and loneliness and fear. Jack reminded you of pure fun and joy.

And snow.

'And cuteness,' One part of me thought.

'Shut up, you're five. He doesn't like five year olds,' another part of me argued.

'I won't stay five forever,' the first part pointed out.

The second part had nothing to say.

It got later and later. My wounds ached. I wanted more than anything else to just... fall... aslee-

No. No no no no no. I will stay awake all night if the Tooth Fairy might come. I need to give her my teeth. She needs them. She needs them.

And THAT thought kept me awake until a soft fluttering of wings was heard. "Wha..? Oh, no..." A silky smooth, feminine voice whispered, "Oh, no..."

I tried to say something, but my jaw ached. "Tooth," I was pretty sure I'd managed.

"Someone! Are you in there?" She whispered urgently.

Tears rolled down my cheeks from the effort of speaking, "Here. Have teeth."

I heard one hundred and twenty-five clicks, including opening the door. A very pretty fairy flew in. She looked like she had pink, purple, and blue feathers. Her face masked one of utter concern. "Where are you?" she whispered.

She couldn't even see me.

"Here," I winced with the pain in my jaw, "No pillow. Sorry. Have teeth." That was all I could say for that moment, as my jaw kept telling the rest if me to die a painful death.

"Oh, you poor girl." As the Tooth fairy got closer, I saw the tears roll down her cheeks. Slowly, I unclenched the fist with my teeth in it. She put her thin hands around my small one and tears slipped off her face onto our hands.

"No cry pretty lady," I rasped.

That set her off. She was sobbing now, but keeping it quiet very well. She took the teeth and slid them into a box. The Tooth fairy then pressed four shiny quarters into my hand and re-closed the fist.

But she didn't let go of my hand. She held onto it. I felt the strangest sensation fall over me, as if all my broken bones and other wounds were healing. But it didn't hurt.

"Thank you Tooth," I couldn't get the 'fairy' part out.

The Tooth fairy didn't seem to mind, "My name is Toothiana, Tooth if you want," she whispered, "If you ever need me..." She placed a small bell shaped like a tooth on the floor next to me. I grabbed it with my other hand. "Jingle it. I'll come."

Tears of gratitude rolled down my face and into my ears, "Thank you. Tooth," My voice didn't feel raspy but I was still tired.

And she left.

I peacefully fell asleep that night, and dreamed of Jack and Tooth. And Mum. And everyone else in that dingy house went to the deepest darkest pit on Earth and never came back.

Star: Thank you thank you and good night!