NOTE: ARGH! This chapter is so annoying! And I'm three pages in right now! I had no idea what to do for their date, so please, please tell me what you think of it. I asked my mom for help on it, that's how annoying it was. My. MOM. I love her, but I don't ask her for writing help.

Five pages in what drove me crazy was La Reine de Saba. I've made it before, but I never got the chance to eat any. It's called a room full of inconsiderate underclassmen. Love 'em! So, seeing as how it is St. Valentine's Day, the day with no authentic value anymore, I decided to make it. If anyone has the opportunity or time, try it out. It's an amazing cake if made properly. Thank you Julia Child!

Oddly enough I was okay with coq au vin and ratatouille, though I did convince my mom to make coq au vin for the lovely day (haha). Why the French base, you ask? I was in the mood. As it is French language, food and some music make me happy. And my French professor drives me up a wall, so French is consequently constantly on my mind (she has the weirdest accent in the history of the world. She apparently learned to speak in New Orleans so she has this American twang to it. I dunno. It's just weird).

And thanks to my best friend for taking astrology! Have I given this chapter away? A little.

In the end, I had fun with this chapter. Skye will be in the story much more now.

Anyway, babbling aside, here's the next chapter.

The next day passed productively for both of the women living on the farm. Chores were done in a timely manner, the kitchen was used, gifts were deliver, men were flirted with and although this did slow time for a few moments it was quickly regained through a short jog to the mines where minerals were collected and, upon returning, more flirting was done. Claire decided to stay behind a while at Vesta's farm, leaning over the fence and talking with Marlin and Vesta instead of taking her friend home. Lillian insisted that it was alright, and went on ahead, loosing herself to her clothing. She had the outfit planned by the time she was at the front door.

Black-and-white-plaid skinny jeans tucked into a pair of lace-up leather boots with a sturdy heel, a generic black tunic with the simple red Moschino cardigan that Cecil had bought her. Out of her work clothes in a matter of seconds Lillian fled to the bathroom, where she spent the better part of the next hour. Claire called to her when she finally got home, but by that time Lillian was already out, dressed, and well on her way to the Goddess' pond.

Legs kicking quickly behind her, Lillian tucked her hands into her pockets. It was getting colder every day, she noticed. She acknowledged the date, but the middle of autumn had sprung upon her more quickly than she liked. It seemed she had only left the summer parties of her bohemian friends days ago, and in fact, it had been little more than two weeks. A small shiver tickled her spine as she realized that she should have worn more than just the cardigan.

One narrow hand popped out of its cozy pocket to pluck one of her intentionally jumbled hairs from her mouth when a long, echoing shout burst forth from behind her, rolling through the air like hot laughter. The voice was unfamiliar but she turned to face it anyway. Once she had she regretted it.

Bouncing up the road was a slender blond boy, beaming up at her with his closed eyes. She wondered how he could run without seeing anything. He waved at her enthusiastically until he was close enough to talk. He stopped a few steps away, greeting her with over eagerness.

'Rock,' Lillian said with her fake smile clinging desperately to her lips, 'What a pleasant surprise.'

'Hello Lilly!' he shouted, his voice reminding her of a small child, 'You look nice today!'

'Thanks,' she snuffed, scritching her thigh with her index finger. 'Is there something you want Rock?'

The exuberant blond tossed his dangling bangs from his amber eyes, letting them twinkle a moment before nodding his head and explaining that she had ignored him the other day. 'I was wondering if you would want to do something today.'

Lillian's eyes hardened and her lips pursed together. The boy had awful timing. She lifted her hand from her leg and bent it against her mouth, resting the arm atop the other. 'Rock,' she began, waving her hand away, 'as nice as I'm sure that would be it's getting a little late,' she threw her hand around to show that it was, indeed, quite dark before setting it against her high cheekbone.

'You're a handsome fellow, Rock.' The innkeeper's son smiled at this. He knew that he was attractive and never tired of hearing it said. Lillian wasn't lying when she had said it either. With his large resin eyes set into his boyish face, naturally dark but outlined with a halo of golden hair, his finely toned body with what was, Lillian could tell when a gust passed by, a set of strong abs, and his flattering choice of clothing, Rock was an striking man. She also had noticed his flirtatious nature that would have made him an incompatible partner for herself and his childish mannerism. 'I think being your friend would be quite nice,' His face fell at this, 'I did have plans for tonight. And Lillian tells me you have a girl, Miss Lumina from the hill, who I'm sure would not want you to be off flirting with another woman.'

The boy stuttered and blushed when she mentioned of the rich pianist. After an awkward moment Rock pledged himself to finding the time to speak with Lillian further before he rushed off into the ever increasing darkness that blanketed the road.

With a satisfied smile Lillian turned toward the Goddess' pond once more, feeling her normal joviality smothering the small nerves that had bundled together at the tips of her fingers. They fell from her hands now and her steps became great, powerful strides. Now she knew that she was prepared for whatever the mysterious Skye had in mind for her.

When Lillian arrived at the pond she resumed the stance that she had taken several nights before, folding her arms across her chest, sticking one leg a little bit further away from her than the other and staring with childish mystification out across the glowing waters. It still fascinated her, the luminescent water, and although she knew the reason behind the light she could not help but wonder if there truly was something mystical going on. She let a small laugh roll from her lips and in response came a light mate. Lillian turned around, and there, wearing much the same outfit that he had been several nights before, stood the mysterious Skye. His pants were black, she noted, and his shirt a light blue.

'Hello,' she said with a simple smile and nod of the head. 'I see you came early.'

Skye smiled at her slyly, peering past her body and into the florescent waters. 'I did,' he said, his eyes rushing up to capture hers, 'I knew that there was a beautiful woman waiting for me. I couldn't leave you waiting.'

'I was early too. Did you plan on upstaging me?'

The elegant man shook his head, his smile still glistening through the heavy darkness. 'No. You struck me as punctual, so I left earlier than usual. I wasn't quite sure when you would get here, but I knew that it would be before I arrived.'

Lillian tilted her head back, staring across the darkness and at his regal languor. She wondered if he could see her smiling at him through the darkness, and stepped through the night until she was inches from him.

'Shall we be going?' she asked, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

The fair haired mischievian sent her a glimmering smile, dipping into her. Lillian raised her eyebrows with a roguish grin, thinking that her newest suitor meant to kiss her, but he ducked back, standing off to her side, his arm laid across the darkness a guide for the blind, and nodded with his head, leading her. 'After you,' he said with his thin lipped smile.

Gentlemen had never been quite Lillian's breed. Something about the courteousness of their courtship had always been too slow and had never held the passion that Lillian had grown accustomed to. Despite this she smiled, bowing her head with a small, debating laugh, and began the walk down the road. Skye was at her side in a step, and soon the conversation began to ease her into a softer uncertainty. Skye was a very charming man. He could weave a witty anecdote, tell a terrible tale and swing her softly back to normality. They laughed quietly, lost in their own private world, where the city would not have let them alone.

During the short, isolated stroll Lillian learned that Skye was a chef for a rich man who sometimes came through town, though he would not tell her who the man was.

'The mystery,' he insisted, brushing his hand across the air, 'is the key to everything.'

'Too mysterious and you make a girl wonder what it is you're hiding,' Lillian quipped.

Skye smiled at this, his sanguine eyes alight, and offered her his arm. Lillian snickered at the gesture, but took his arm none the less, adding quietly as she looked across at him, 'Such a gentleman.'

'Some women like it,' he chuckled. 'What has metropolis done to its young ladies, Lillian?'

Lillian. She liked it when he called her that. As they reached the head of the trail she set her hand down atop his, patting it with a patronizing coo. 'I don't think that cities breed young ladies anymore. So, Skye,' her voice came quickly enough to stop the gourmet before he could force upon her his own opinion, 'what was it you had in mind?'

His jovial smile flickered back into his doubtful eyes, whipping about like a flame in a gust. He herded her to their left, and soon they were pattering noiselessly across the foot bridge. It was rather odd, Lillian noticed, that as they did cross Skye hardly made a noise. In fact, the whole walk she could not remember hearing the squish of more than one pair of shoes through the dirty road. True, she had not devoted her time to listening to their footsteps through the night, but now that she had realized it she could not stop listening for a sound. All there seemed to be was the click of her boots across the wood and then the patter of soles to dirt.

After a few short minutes of walking, Skye stopped, dragging Lillian to a halt beside him. 'Here,' he said, looking at her with a smile.

'Vesta's farm?'

The angelic man smiled at her with a bashful yet coy smile. 'I hope you don't mind. They don't know we're here though, so we'll have to keep it a secret.'

'Another secret?' she chuckled disbelievingly as he took her hand, pulling her quickly into the pitch-blackness of the storage room. 'We just meet, and now you're stealing me away, trespassing, and asking me to keep secrets? You really must love mystery!'

Skye chuckled softly, twirling the girl around as he snapped the door into its place. Alone in the overwhelming emptiness of night Lillian circled until she hit something solid at her thigh. A table perhaps? The void soon became more familiar, more comfortable. She could hear Skye shuffling about, looking for something, and on the other side of the wall, the low, guttering snores of the inhabitants of the house that was only a hop away.

'I'll admit,' Lillian said as she patted her hands blindly, 'I haven't broken into anyone's house since I was seventeen. It's a little bit exciting actually.'

Without warning a match struck and a delicate light enveloped the face of the white haired gentleman. His face was much closer than Lillian had thought, and a small smile flickered across her face. Skye returned the gesture before straightening up, for they were both crouched to find the table, and said, 'Please. Have your seat.'

Lillian quickly stepped to the chair that Skye held his hand to and proceeded to fold her dress under her, realizing that her initial impressions of the man were not entirely true. He was indeed polite, even overly so, but his smirk was not unwarranted: there was a trickery to the man that may have been stronger even than his pleasant manner and curiosity.

Once she was seated she tore her eyes from the face of her host and let them instead ravage the table, taking in every slight detail. It was of simple wood, but not the one from where Vesta normally sold her product: this one was round and showcased a pair of shimmery white plates with a full silverware set, napkins and glasses. The candelabrum was a nice touch, she thought, watching as Skye's nimble fingers curled around the stubbly black wicks that jetted proudly from their bodies.

'Dinner in someone else's house? I give you points, but I've done this before.'

'You're quite hard to please, aren't you?' Skye chuckled, waving the match out before folding into the shadows that the tiny, gold bodies cast. He emerged from the hazy blackness quickly, two silver domes staring at the red-capped girl from each of his hands. One he placed before Lillian and the other where he would sit. Then he fetched a bottle of wine, popping the cork quickly and pouring the wine with expert flare, which needless to say impressed the vinophile.

'You're quite good at that.'

'You sound surprised,' he said softly, keeping his eyes on the deep red wine that flashed its golden eyes with each stirring movement. 'Being a sommelier comes with my trade. If you're a high-end chef you ought to know what wine to serve with your meals. How do you like rooster?'

'You mean chicken?' she giggled, though her brow drew together with confusion.

'No, rooster. Traditionally coq au vin is made with rooster, hence the word coq instead of poule or cocotte. I like to preserve parts of the original taste, so instead of using a hen, as in common now, I use a fresh rooster. A hen doesn't have quite the same flavour, though it is only a subtle difference. Rather like a preference for a black or yellow legged chicken in France.' His eyes flashed up at her, sparkling like the Mediterranean under a full moon. 'You've never had rooster?'

'I… I don't believe I have. I've never had coq au vin, you said?'

He nodded.

'I've never had coq au vin, either.'

Once he lifted the lid on their respective dinners he sat down, placing them atop a basket that he had set on the floor. He folded his hands beneath his chin, watching Lillian react to the meal he had labored over.

The smell was overpowering, rushing over her with euphoric waves. Warm but heavy with herbs and butter, a very thick, homey smell. The tart flavour of wine carried through the musty scent and hit her heavily across the bridge. She could feel a rush of saliva pooling around her gums as the warm, earthy smell of a classical broth overtook her. But she wasn't about to give in to the ebullient face across the table.

'It looks like gumbo,' she muttered, picking up her fork and knife delicately. Skye chuckled at this and sat up, lifting his utensils and carefully starting on his meal. Lillian followed suite once he had taken a bite of his and immediately closed her eyes.

'Oh my god,' she moaned as she swallowed the first bite, 'I can't believe… did you really make this?'

Her eyes were settled on the smiling shade, though they were only partially in the world. They fluttered closed then open, watching him delicately.

'I did. I'm glad that you enjoy it.'

'You have no idea,' she whispered, ravishing the meal greedily. He told her to make sure she ate the mushrooms and onions as well, for they were not as potent as they might be naturally and brought out the flavour of the dish. Lillian's fork twitched in her hand, but she controlled the impulse to dive into the dinner, taking a sole bite before setting down her fork and reaching for the wine. But as she did this her senses were once more taken over. Although she had not yet sipped the wine the smell was strong and musty like an old cabin, sharp but delicate.

'What wine is this?' she asked, forcing the wine from her nose. 'I've never smelled anything quite like it.'

'Oh, it doesn't matter,' Skye said as he cut into a piece of the seared bird. 'It's good to have a healthy knowledge,' he said, locking his eyes onto hers, 'but you haven't even tasted it. Go ahead.'

Interest flashed like a small storm inside her eyes and she stared for a long moment into the wine. It was too dark for her to see the real colour of the wine, but it must have been a very deep, scarlet, for the refractions of light from Skye's glass showed brightly across the table. She raised her glass above her head, watching it deepen, and then pulled it to her once more. She twirled the stem, letting the alcohol breath before she inhaled once more. It was powerful. But just as she raised the glass to her lips Skye called for a toast.

'A toast?' she asked, bringing the glass hesitantly near her chest.

'It's only right.' He lifted his round-bottomed glass until it was almost above the candelabrum, and then said, 'A toast to the beautiful Lillian and her impeccable taste… in wine. I'm sorry I didn't say it earlier, but I wanted to know what you thought. Bon appétit, Lillian.'

The wine was resting delicately on his lips a moment before he drank, waiting for Lillian to do the same. She did with curious anticipation but immediately drew back. A small gasp fell across the table before her eyes began to search his face.

'This wine… Skye… I've never… how did you…?'

'My employer enjoys fine wines. Sometimes I take one or two home with me. I'm just glad to have shared it with you.'

'What is it?'

'There's no label. It's a homebrew from a couple in France that have been dead for several decades now. My employer was friends with their great-grandchildren and convinced them to give him a number of their bottles. I wish I could tell you more.'

'Oh,' she whimpered, taking another sip, 'So do I. I didn't even know wine could taste so… rich. It's magnificent.' She placed the glass on the table once more, looking across it before catching Skye's gaze. She smiled at him with simple wonder, unable to comprehend the man. A mumbled 'thank you,' passed over her plump lip before she resumed her meal.

The night passed more pleasantly than Lillian had ever imagined. Skye was truly a connoisseur of the culinary arts, for his meal was one beyond anything Lillian had ever tasted, much less thought existed. Although the dinner was not of conventional course, there was more than one plate to be served. After the coq au vin ( which was served with a side of toasted bread to catch the thick sauce that remained) came a small dish of ratatouille that was simple and eased the descent from the flavorful principal dish. Next Skye brought out a plate of various cheeses to cleanse the palate.

'And for dessert,' he said once they had finished sampling the cheese, 'I brought something special. My mother,' he began, reaching behind him to grab a small covered plate that he had set out when he had gotten the cheese, 'when I was little, would use a recipe that she had learned from a young Frenchman on her travels. He had told her that the recipe was one that had had been named after the ravishing Queen of Sheba, Makeda, who was seduced by King Solomon. The young queen was rich and beautiful, the envy of many, and so, the Frenchman said, it was only right that my mother had the recipe that suited her description.'

'So this Frenchman gave your mother a recipe because she was rich and beautiful?'

'Beautiful,' Skye smiled, shrugging his shoulder as Lillian leaned over the table, eyeing him humorously. 'La Reine de Saba: the Queen of Sheba. It's one of my favorite cakes. But I'm afraid,' he said, finally lifting the cap over his creation, 'That I've hardly brought enough for two.'

Lying royally across a golden plate was a single, thin slice of chocolate cake. Lillian could see the curves across its top where individual slabs of chocolate met and overlapped, each body sprinkled with cocoa powder, a single raspberry to hold in the dark. There were fine black lines running across the plate, and Lillian wondered what they were.

'If your first four courses are any indication this must be divine.'

'Do you mind sharing?'

'Sharing?' she whispered incredulously, quickly casting a glance at the beautiful young creature splayed out across the plate like a woman. Her eyes caught his playfully. 'Of course I don't. Can I have a fork?'

'Of course,' he grinned, turning quickly to get a fork. In the small time gap he took for his search Lillian pulled her chair around the table so that she could sit with him. He wasn't surprised when he turned around, but his smile flourished in the flames as he looked at her only a lean away. 'I have two,' he smirked, handing her one. She took it carefully, and, once he had indicated that she would get the first bite, cut a small slice of the cake. Instead of eating it as Skye had expected her to she offered the fork to him, asking quietly, 'Would it be too awkward if I fed you?' The man just chuckled, plucked the fork from her and held it a short distance from her lips. She leaned in, taking the bite, and rolled her eyes in ecstasy. Raspberry purée, chocolate and a hint of salt.

'Again,' she groaned, placing her hand to her chest. 'I can't believe that you made all of this. It's incredible Skye, really. I've never had anything so wonderful.'

Skye laughed, taking a forkful of the cake for himself, and smiling contentedly at her as she picked up her own fork and continued to eat. She felt a bit of a glutton, but she was so impressed with the cake that she did not think too much of her behavior. And even if she had, Skye's obvious entertainment would have dissuaded her unease. They chatted quietly as they ate, as they had all night long, and when at last the last piece was left they smiled at each other, wondering who would get the last bit.

'I think I've had more than you,' Lillian said with a guilty smile.

'Oh, I don't mind. I can make it any time. I think you should have it.'

'But what do you get from it? I have nothing to give to you.'

'Oh?' Skye laughed, rolling back in his chair. 'I think you've given me plenty. You warmed up to me, you love my food, and you're a beautiful woman. I couldn't think of anything better.'

Lillian snorted at this sitting back with her arms crossed across the blue lips that glimmered on her shirt. She had taken the cardigan off a while back, and had stopped caring if she crossed her legs or not.

'Is that all you need, Skye? Please, take the last piece. I don't think I could handle anything else. It's all too extravagant for a country girl.'

'You're not from the country, Lilly.'

At the sound of her shortened name she startled, her head cocking and her lips parting slightly. Lilly. It sounded different when Skye said it. There was almost something sensual about it. She leaned in, folding her elbows on her knee and propping her head up with the back of her hand. She smiled at Skye, who automatically smiled back, and then said, 'I suppose not. But I feel like I am right now. Take it. If I feel desperate for more I might ask you to bake me a whole cake.'

The albino-esque man leaned back in his tottery old chair, holding his knee with his long, crossed fingers. 'I'll take the last piece, but only if you give it to me. Otherwise I'll feel like I'm cheating you; stealing something. I don't know if I could live with myself.'

A long, hushed laugh rolled from the back of Lillian's throat, cascade across the table and landing happily on Skye's ears. She just smiled, waiting to see what the handsome woman would do next.

'Well,' she scoffed, uncurling her body and throwing back her arms. She peaked at him as she exposed her chest, wondering just what the gentleman would do. His expression did not waver, and she respected him for it. 'Alright, Skye. You win.' Lillian picked up the fork delicately, and then leaned forward until she was almost on top of him. 'Enjoy.'

Skye opened his mouth, leaning in to take the small bit of chocolate cake from her. The sweet sting of raspberry purée stuck to the top of his mouth before melting in with the chocolate. He let his lips linger on the fork, staring at her the whole time, before at last drawing away.

'Are you too tired to do anything else?' he inquired, not letting his date linger too long in her happiness.

'I don't think so. Here, let me help you.'

'No, sit, please. I made it, I'll clean it up. Just sit there. Let me watch you while I work.'

'I feel like I should help you even more now.'

'Why?' he asked as he stacked the plates that he had brought into a padded plastic tub.

'Because you sound so terribly sexist. I'm not a princess who needs to be saved from the dreaded dishes, Skye. I've lived on my own for years.'

'All the more reason to pamper you.'

'Ah, ha.'

It only took a few minutes for Skye to have all his things packed away, snugly and safely for the night, and soon they were once more on the road. He had stashed the basket in-between a number of barrels, saying he would return and collect them on the way back up the path.

'Where do you live, anyway?' Lillian asked after he explained his methods.

'It's a secret.'

'Isn't everything with you?'

'Not everything. Now… the waterfall or the hilltop?'

When they had left the farm they headed south, having decided that the mist from the waterfall would chill them both far too much for enjoyment. They walked quietly and slowly through the fragile illumination of the night, chittering like children, and as happy as could be. They spoke of Lillian mostly, of her life and her childhood, and of course of the time that she had broken into the abandoned house in the suburbs that her boyfriend had taken her to when she was seventeen. 'He was an awful cook,' she admitted, 'So he had bought Thai and we ate it in the grand foyer until a group of gangbangers came in and scared us out. I thought I was dead for sure when they saw what I was wearing, but they let us be. I think it had something to do with Vlad, but he never said anything about it.'

'What were you wearing,' Skye inquired, his look of bemused interest, but with a hint of sexual interest lingering behind his eyes. She couldn't tell if he had looked down her shirt just then or not.

'Oh, a short button-up dress that was partially unbuttoned and a bright white bra. I was young and with my boyfriend in a very romantic setting. He was much more forward than you, Skye. Not the gentleman that you are.' She elbowed him playfully, giggling at him as they turned the corner that lead up the hill. 'Isn't this where that elderly couple lives?' she asked, finally realizing where they were.

'Maybe,' he admitted. But he would not let the subject go. 'Are you sure the problem is man and not you? I'm not terribly forward, as you said, but you didn't stop him.'

'We're not going to talk about my ex-boyfriend. I've done that, and I know it never ends well.'

'Alright,' Skye snickered as he squeezed her arm a little tighter, 'But I am glad I'm a better chef.'

They laughed together until they reached the top of the hill, where a lone blanket had been laid across the crest, just to the side of a large, lichen-spotted boulder. They sat quietly on the blanket, continuing their conversation until Lillian lay down.

'One of the things I don't miss about the city,' Lillian sighed as she folded her arms across her stomach and pulled her legs in, 'is the night sky. Where I lived you could see a star of two if you were lucky, but they seemed opaque, like there was always something holding them back.'

'Not here,' Skye grunted softly as he lay down next to her. 'I could tell you every star in the night sky.'

'And I could tell you every story behind it.'

'Oh?' laughed the shade, his eyes reflecting the stars as though they were lost in the sea, 'What about constellations? How do you feel about Orion?'

'Well... he's made of seven stars: Betelgeuse, one of my favorite, Rigel, Bellatrix, Mintaka, Alnilam, Alnitak, and Saiph, but that's so technical. I prefer the myth behind it. Orion, in the most common mythological association, was a Greek hunter, the killer of giant scorpions . But Scorpio,' Lillian rolled into Skye so that she could get a better view of the star, 'is in the sky too, because he was part of the story and the gods felt the need to raise him up alongside the fighting Orion. I bet you know about his belt though.'

'I do,' laughed Skye. 'I didn't think I would be unleashing a solar titan when I brought you here. Tell me about Betelgeuse,' he said, the laugh still floating through his melodious voice.

'Well, I don't know quite what to say about it. It's one of my favorites for his name. Betelgeuse. He's a red supergiant and someday, he'll go supernova, lighting the sky with his power. He's a powerhouse who's been hiding behind his beauty. I'm not sure though... there are a few different theories about him and his name.'

'He's a handsome star though.'

Lillian laughed and agreed, rolling onto her side so that she might lord over him. 'What's next,' she whispered, hanging above his chest with wild eyes holding his face.

'How about that one,' he said pointing at a small star in the diminishing summer sky.

'Aldebaran. It's a beautiful star. I always feel bad for it though.'

'Oh,' chuckled the phantom, 'And why is that? If it's so beautiful?'

'Aldebaran is a star that is taught as a normal star, not really of any notice.' The pout on her face disappeared as Lillian turned to stare at Skye, her eyes open and mellow. 'I'm glad you noticed it. You must do this quite often to have chosen Alddebaran. It's not normally a star someone would choose.'

'I took a year off from school to travel the world and watch the stars with one of my professors. He was a genius when he looked into the sky. Could tell you just about anything.' Skye was lost in the expanses of space, reminiscing dreamily. 'He was one of my favorite professors.'

'Hm...'

'What about Sirius?'

'The dog who behaves oddly in the heat of summer.'

'Regulus?'

'One of the brightest stars in the sky. Even in the blackest nights Sirius will watch from the heavens and over the world.'

'Poetic.'

'My professor.'

'Ah.'

A lazy hour passed curled under the heavenly gaze, but nothing could have made the pair happier. Lillian had never had the chance to truly look into the sky. She had known the names, the constellations, the placement, but she had never had the chance to test her skills. She confused some stars with others, but Skye would correct her kindly, telling her the stories of his stars and constellations, the bodies of the log dead warriors and the eternal loves of the immortalized heroes of ancient. Sagittarius, Ursa Major, Vega, Deneb, Altair, the fading faces of summer.

But the season was not right for star gazing and soon the two decide that the time and the month were not in their favor, and giggled their way down the hill. Skye guided her back to her home, and soon they were standing at her door.

'I haven't had that much fun in a long time,' Lillian chuckled, holding her elbows as she stared down at the ground. She felt as though she was being given her childhood back when she was with Skye. The innocence was refreshing.

'Neither have I,' admitted the boy, 'but I'm glad I did. I hope I see you soon, Lilly.'

Lillian tilted her head back, star gazing in his aurora borealis eyes, and letting a slow, tender smile fall onto her lips. 'So do I.'

The moment that followed was not that of the awkward first date goodbye, but a more serene adieu, the parting of two close friends. Lillian rocked back and forth in her boots before catching Skye's eye. He gave her his mischievous smirk and leaned in, placing one tender peck upon her cheek before stepping back with a dulled goodbye, and set off down the path. Lillian smiled into the darkness before she fell through the door, twirling round to her bed with intentional clumsiness. Her body was free. It was the first time she had ever been truly alive in the small town. Nothing was holding her back.