Chapter Nine: A Penny for Your Thoughts
I dreamed in swirls of emerald and green, and recalled buttons, pale skin, and soft hands. Lysander Larkin haunted me like an annoying apparition with unfinished business, hanging over my bed and rattling chains just to keep me from sleeping. Fanatical, unwanted thoughts of him clung to the walls of my mind, hammering their stakes in deep and setting up camp for good and no matter how hard I tried to distract myself from thinking of him, his impression was one that stuck.
On Saturday, I started my painting. Birds were my favorite, and painting every feather with the tiniest strokes I managed to get a few done, capturing the image of them in flight all around the border of my bedroom amidst pink and orange clouds, swirls and ribbons of solid pastels, and stars.
A green and yellow lark sprang from my paintbrush and once I realized what I had painted, I was ashamed. My mind was weaving little symbols and acting on them and after thoughtful consideration of painting over the lark, I decided to keep him there. Whether I liked it or not, Lysander was a part of my life. He wasn't a big part, and I didn't love him nor was I obsessed with him, but he did mean something to me. He was the first person in the world that I couldn't read…that I could pretend I was normal around. Maybe it was a blessing, but no matter how hard I tried to embrace it, the sensation of his mystique still drove me mad.
I wasn't obsessed with Lysander...I was fascinated by him.
Sunday was quiet. I managed to finish a book and write a poem and father and I watched reruns of Doctor Who, which I concluded was quite possibly the strangest television show of all time. I couldn't bear to watch anymore after three episodes but father tempted me to stay with coconut-covered marshmallows for just a few more hours which I felt was a fair compromise.
On Monday the nervousness was back in full swing the moment I woke to a baying alarm clock; the same anxiety that had besieged me right before seeing Lysander at the concert. After becoming comfortable with him that Friday night, were we friends, or still awkward acquaintances? I had no idea how to suitably treat my nervous, foolish thoughts of him and my hands shook as I struggled to pull thin, white tights over my wobbly legs. Although the freezing weather had subsided due to a cold front that had come and gone, I still opted to wear cotton, knitted leg warmers under my beige boots and with that I decided on a willowy blue button-up dress and a grey cardigan. I fixed my blonde hair back into a long, straight pony-tail and tied a white ribbon into a bow to hold it in place of a plain hair-tie, letting my bangs sweep across my forehead, and with that I figured I was ready as I'd ever be to face the subject of my fixated apprehension.
Father left a note for me, even though I already knew that he was by now at work, having been called in early this morning.
"Have a great day today, Luna! It should only be a fifteen-minute walk at the most, but be sure to bundle up and keep a look out for trouble. Look both ways when crossing the road and don't take rides from strangers! See you at three, XOXO."
With it he left a paper bag containing my lunch and some cash, for what I had no idea. My orange canvas knapsack lay opened on the kitchen island and I shoved my things back inside before draping it over my shoulders and heading out the door.
The air was cold, but not 'Lysander's jacket' cold, and I pulled the sleeves of my cardigan up and over my palms as I rolled my shoulders like a bird bathing in cool water. The morning smelt sweet and instantly aided in opening my weary eyes for the day even though the bitter wind made them tear and run. I kept my pace slow and enjoyed the scenery of the neighborhood for the first time being sure to watch for 'suspicious characters', as Lysander would have suggested.
The red stop sign at the end of Hydrangea Drive stood tall and proud, protecting the roads for what I could assume was centuries judging by the ivy vines that snaked and swirled around the pole and up to the hexagon symbol. Some of the red paint had since been chipped and weathered away, and the word 'STOP' was almost unrecognizable, covered by years of rust and erosion. I lingered patiently by the sign for an approaching jet-black Mustang GT to make its way across the intersection but instead of speeding by in a hurry, it inched towards me and then stopped along the sidewalk. I suspiciously stood, bracing myself for telling the driver that I was new to the area and wouldn't have any directions as the tinted windows slowly rolled down.
"Luna, hey!" I swallowed bile when I saw that Leigh Larkin was behind the wheel, and instinctively looked behind him to his passenger seat, which was empty.
"Oh, hey Leigh!" I waved back, glancing down at the watch around my wrist. I was definitely going to show up late…again.
"Hop in! It's freezing outside, plus I pass the high school on my way to the shop." He offered. I remembered father's note, '-and don't take rides from strangers!'…Leigh wasn't a stranger, though, right?
I nodded my head, walking around to passenger's side as Leigh leaned over to pop the door open for me, and slid myself onto the spotless leather seat. Instantaneously the smell of fresh linen and lavender was all around me and I turned to Leigh as he pulled his car into drive and started on down the road.
"Thank you Leigh…I would've certainly been late if you hadn't come along." I giggled, glancing over to him as he kept his eyes on the road ahead.
"Of course! Anything for a friend of my brother's. Speaking of which, we live right down the road…I'm sure he'd have no problem picking you up in the mornings…it's going to be a cold winter."
I shook my head. The thought of imposing on Lysander like that was blush-worthy.
"My father usually drives me on his way to work; today he went in early, so I'll be okay!"
"Alright, but if you ever do need a ride I'm sure he'd be more than happy to come and get you..." He tossed his head back to me; his pin-straight locks of long, black hair fell with it around his face as he pursed his lips into the hint of a smile.
I couldn't help but to let my mind wander; daydreaming of rolling down the streets next to Lysander, the wind in my hair and his eyes on me. Leigh's deafness to my thoughts was a blessing in that moment and my own mind's ramblings set my cheeks on fire.
"Boots over the leg warmers…very nice. You've got the eye...ever consider becoming a designer?" Leigh asked me abruptly, looking down at my outfit and then back to my gaze. I shrugged and chewed it over. I guess I had considered it before, but never seriously. In truth, I'd not thought of my future in too much detail at all.
"Perhaps it's a possibility…"
"Well, you should definitely come down to the shop sometime…we can talk fashion and hang out, if you'd want to. Lysander has helped me lately with the register and stocking while I've been buried with the winter line, so he'll most likely be there too." He suggested with a detectable smirk. I tried to ignore the butterflies in my stomach, up in arms about the mention of his name, as I ran a restive finger through my hair.
"T-the shop?"
"Oh, you don't know? I own the clothing shop in town. Not trying to toot my own horn or anything…but I think you'd like it."
I snickered and nodded my head. "You're probably right; I'll certainly stop in one of these days!"
Two minutes and two lefts later we were pulling in to the school parking lot. Leigh parked his car at the curb and shifted it into neutral.
"Thanks again, it was so generous of you to give me a ride…you really saved the day." I snickered, unbuckling myself from the safety of the leather seat. Leigh turned and threw one arm around me in an attempt to give me a friendly half-hug and I awkwardly stiffened up, patting his back with my free hand.
"It was my pleasure! Tell Lysander hi for me. I'll see you soon!" He waved to me as I gave him the satisfaction of a grinning nod and shut the door.
Turning to head for the steps leading into school my eyes almost immediately bounced onto a chuckling Brooke, standing there with her hands on her hips, shaking her head and laughing to herself.
"I know he's a really, really sweet guy, but be careful. His relationship reputation isn't exactly squeaky clean…he's a charmer, so I don't blame you, but trust me."
I laughed nervously, looking back to where Leigh's car had been before shaking my head. "Oh, no…I'm not interested in Leigh at all. He drove past as I was walking to school and offered me a ride…" I tried to explain.
She seemed relived as she breathed out. "I should've figured…you're a smart girl, Luna. I wish I could have had your intuition when I first started here!" She didn't realize how much intuition I had; then again, my perception was probably something that would aid Brooke well. I'd since come to the conclusion that poor Brooke didn't have any special people-reading abilities whatsoever; most everything went straight over her head.
She harmonized my pace, walking through the double doors alongside me and into the now-empty hallways. We were on time, but just barely.
"I'll see you at lunch, girl!" Brooke expressed with a one-armed hug before running off to the student council room for first period. I shuffled myself to my classroom, pushing through the door and forcing myself not to blush when I felt Lysander's eyes on me.
"Good morning, Luna. How was your weekend?" Lysander asked me as soon as I settled into my seat beside him. The lump in my throat was itchy and vexing and I gulped it away before turning to him.
"Very quiet; nothing compared to Friday night. What about yours?" I multitasked by pulling out all of my English essentials before the bells rang out.
"I worked with Leigh at the clothes shop mostly, nothing too fascinating." He had no idea that his soft, gentle laughter was in itself fascinating.
"Leigh is very nice…he gave me a ride to school today."
Lysander's face twisted into a look of pure disconnection as he cocked his head to the side. "Leigh did? I-I didn't realize you knew him so well…" He scratched at his neck, awaiting an explanation.
"Oh, I don't. Not at all, actually. He happened to be driving past on his way to work and saw me walking to school; I was cold and he offered me a ride." I shrugged my shoulders, suddenly feeling a little insecure for bringing it up at all. It was already my second time explaining that day…apparently accepting a ride from Leigh Larkin was a hot-button topic.
"Oh." Lysander recalled to himself. "I'm sorry, I can be very forgetful…it's a curse. I was only a little confused about the arrangement but seeing as you live just down the road from us, that makes perfect sense. That was kind of him." Lysander was now beat red and his eyes scanned the room for solace, but I wasn't sure why.
"Yeah…" I was a little put off by Lysander's strange, unreadable ambiance and found myself wishing, as I did during practically every conversation I had with him, that I could somehow find a way past the wall to his thoughts.
Lysander coughed and I glanced over for a split second, catching him with his head down and his eyes glued to the sides, watching me, before turning back to the front of the classroom for the budding lesson. Being around him in silence was quite possibly worse than torture and between tacky, rambling small talk and haphazard sideways glances, I found myself watching the clock, waiting patiently to clear my head away from Lysander.
With the new week came new seating arrangements in Calculus; irrelevant to me either way considering I didn't know a single soul in the classroom and no one made any effort to change that.
My new seat was directly beside whom I had begun to understand was queen-bee of the junior class, a perfect example of the typical 'mean girl' from the movies on television that I had studied before coming to high school. I had observed her the previous week as someone who spoke and was heard, no matter how subordinate her words were, and I hadn't the courage yet to get inside her head and see what she thought of the less-than-perfect new girl, but I had my assumptions.
As I settled in the seat next to her, she turned to get a look at me with an expressionless vacancy glazed across her overly made-up face. I could feel her stare as it made its way down my body, obviously examining me to make sure I wasn't a threat to her reign. Once I noticed her making a conclusion to herself, she tapped me on the shoulder and I turned to meet her perfectly manicured hand as it reached across to my desk.
"Hi! I don't think we've met yet- I'm Amber!" I took her soft, dainty hand in mine and shook it, surprised by her fluttering friendliness.
"I'm Luna, it's nice to meet you!"
"Cute boots, I have the same ones in white!" She tossed her thick, bouncy blonde hair as she breathed out, checking her nails for any chips.
"Thank you…they're really comfortable; I wear them all the time." I was now trying now to make normal, teenage small talk with someone I knew was of important social standing for my own sake.
Amber smiled to herself, seemingly churning something around in her mind before opening her mouth to speak it."I've seen you hanging around Brooke Taylor and her friends..." It was almost like a confession or an announcement and she sat motionless, still examining her hand in front of her face and never once looking over to me.
"Yeah, they're great!" I hoped that Amber might have been a mutual friend or something.
She snorted with laughter and rolled her eyes, giving me a look of pity and disbelief.
"Brooke is a psychotic bitch who thinks she's better than everyone else," She started. I shuffled uncomfortably in my seat, taken aback as my eyes widened by her sudden snap into the 'mean girl' I had been expecting all along.
"-And the rest of them are no better. Castiel is a pussy-whipped coward, Rosalya is a stupid skank, and I swear that freak Lysander is a serial killer or something; he thinks he's too good to talk to anyone. I'm just waiting for the day he brings a pipe bomb to school..."
Her cattiness was shocking and unsettling. How could anyone think those things about the people who showed me more kindness than anyone ever had? Her words were sour and malicious and I didn't have the stomach for it. Without much thought, I furrowed my brow in an attempt to look serious.
"None of that is true..." My quivering mouth muttered from behind my tongue and I bit onto my lower lip to keep it still. It was easily one of the scariest things I had ever had to say to anyone, but I couldn't let her spout such things and get away with it like I was so sure everyone else allowed her to do.
"Excuse me? I'm pretty sure I would know. You've been here what…a week? I've known them for years. Trust me, sweetie, they're all trash. You should sit with my girls and I at lunch instead!" She offered, her voice hinged with the slightest bit of annoyance. My mind was busy trying to find the right words and I frantically searched every corner of my body for a twinge of courage.
Thankfully before my search ran cold Mr. Shoemaker clapped his hands to gather our attention and began his lesson without delay. I didn't pay much attention; instead, I crept quietly into Amber's mind, where I was more than certain no one had ever been before. Living my entire life as a telepath, I had noticed a pattern in the meanest people; they were often secretly the most miserable.
'She's so much prettier than me...naturally straight platinum hair, perfect body...it's not fair. It's not fair that she can make friends within a week while I have to practically blackmail Li and Charlotte into staying around. No one really likes me...no one. She seems nice. Maybe if I can get her away from Miss Perfect and her friends she'd hang out with me instead...I hate Brooke. She took everything from me.'
Exactly as I had presumed, Amber was insecure and suffering inside. As bad as I felt for her, I couldn't fix her by dumping my real friends to offer her companionship. The best I could do was let her know that I could see right through her. Maybe if I told her what no one else could it would aid her in her search for herself.
Mr. Shoemaker passed out a difficult assignment and allowed us to work on it at our own pace for the rest of the class. I counted down from five and as I reached one, as if on cue, Amber tapped my shoulder.
"Luna, you should really drop those losers and sit with us today..." She whispered. I looked over at her and saw the pain and hope in her eyes. She was desperate for a friend, but she needed to know that this was NOT the way to make one.
Drawing in a breath of fresh air and assembling every last ounce of courage I had left in me, it was time to make a difference in Amber's life; even if she didn't appreciate it right away, which I feared is what would happen.
"Amber…" I breathed out, the familiar exasperation of sweat pooling up between my fingers as I balled my hands together. "You seem like a sweet girl…" It was a start, and the words were slow as molasses.
"Aw, thanks Luna!" She flung her hair as she smiled a bright, toothy crocodile grin.
"-But…you shouldn't have to talk down about people…it shows weakness on your part. You're a beautiful girl and talking badly about my friends won't make your better than them. It only makes you bitter."
This time, Amber's smile had flushed and her tan skin was a shade of ghostly white. She stared at me, her mouth agape and slowly tilted her head. I knew she was considering my words and I could only hope she'd embrace them instead of getting defensive.
Instead, she laughed to herself, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. "I don't know who you think you are but you fit in well with your group of freaks. You're just as weird as the rest of them…" And with a 'hmpf!' of attitude, she turned her head and ignored me for the rest of the class. I couldn't help but overhear her thinking about my words and hoped that she'd mull them over for a while.
My next period class was dubbed 'study hall'; apparently every other Monday everyone was awarded a free block to 'study', or do whatever they wanted, instead of going to class. It was strange, but since I had nothing to compare it to, I'd embrace it just the same.
The library at the far end of the school had been calling my name since I'd arrived at Sweet Amoris High, and I found it the perfect opportunity to go and check out the collection of books without any distractions. As I walked through the doors, the library seemed to beckon me to every corner of its circumference. The familiar, refreshing scent of brand new paperback and worn, aged hardcover swirled together to create the unique perfume worn by libraries everywhere and I savored it.
The main level seemed to target the majority of the school as teen romance, magazines, records, DVDs, and computers surrounded me. The second floor; more accurately described as a loft, was accessed only by a black cast iron spiral staircase and I felt it was a perfect touch to the theme of the loft, which was definitely a little more my style.
Classic literature, adult fiction and nonfiction, biographies, and philosophy books lined the walls and countless encyclopedias stood tall on an old mahogany bookshelf. This part of the library was almost vacant, and as I walked through the rows of shelves I stopped at a globe that sat perched on a table and spun it with my fingers, watching the geographic colors swirl together as one. Touching it again to halt its dizzy spinning, I tapped my fingertip to California and dragged it across the United States to New Jersey- proof of just how far away I was from my seagulls.
Behind me sat a glass display case of dozens of taxidermized birds. Fixing my attention on it I studied each feathered corpse; their vigor for life frozen inside the dead shell of a body and their voices and songs silenced. What good was a bird if it couldn't fly or sing? The things that made them birds were gone and I wondered why the school library felt the need to display their little formaldehyde-dried bodies here at all.
"I'm certain they all died of natural causes...if it makes you feel any better." I heard from behind me. Jolting back to reality and glancing in the direction of the voice I watched Lysander as he walked to my side and looked down. After sharing a brief moment of recognizing eye contact, I turned my attention back to the birds.
I shrugged and nodded my head, uncertain of how to voice my disagreement. I was certain these birds had all been hunted for their beauty and it was a shame.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Lysander looked down to me again and I smirked and giggled to myself. I'd pay him a lot more than that for his.
"I was just thinking about how idiotic these birds look here. They aren't even birds anymore. It's not my idea of decorative, is all."
Lysander snickered to himself. "I agree. I've never liked the bird case but it would seem as though the school thinks it adds a little bit of life to the second floor. If that isn't irony..." he shook his head as he set his stack of books on the table and pulled out a chair.
"Were you planning on sitting?" he asked, offering me the seat. Even though I had initially planned to look at books I felt drawn to his company and thanked him as he pulled out the chair adjacent to mine. I glanced at his stack of literature and lit up when I read the first title.
'Les Miserables' sat at the top of the pile and I reached for it, taking it in my hands.
"One of my favorites..." I muttered, turning it over in my hands before glancing down to the next book that lay face up, 'The Way We Live Now'. I placed the one I was holding back down on the table to pick the next one up as Lysander watched on with a smile.
"Such a good one...took me forever to finish though. I'm sure you like this one a lot..." I was speaking exuberantly now. It was the first time I had ever shared my interests in literature with anyone else.
Lysander looked intent, his arms folded on the table. "I've read it a few times. I like to flip through my favorites when I need a little inspiration." he told me.
'The Count of Monte Cristo', 'Watership Down', 'The Fountainhead', and 'Great Expectations' were among the titles in his stack and I opened each worn copy and flipped the pages with my index finger, the fantasy of each story touching my memories once again. As I tossed the sharp, razor-edged papers, a feisty rim dug itself just a little deeper into my fingertip, slicing the skin and delivering a twinge of sharp, stinging pain. I pulled my finger away and pressed it to my lips before shaking it aggressively.
"Oh, did you get a paper cut?" Lysander watched as I tried to stop the bleeding with pressure from my thumb. I sheepishly nodded my head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Lysander dug through the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a handkerchief, gently reaching for my wrist and bringing it to his range of vision. He carefully dabbed at the blood before wrapping the small piece of cloth around my finger and tying it into a little bow. I snickered, looking down at the ridiculously large makeshift bandage that weighed my tiny finger down and then up to Lysander. He stared eagerly into my eyes and I tried to quell my nervous blushing to no avail.
"T-thanks…" My mouth skewed itself into a perverse, hangdog smile.
"Wouldn't want to get any blood on the pages now, would we?" He snickered, running a hand through his mop of silver hair in a huff.
I shook my head, keeping specific words on the tip of my tongue safely behind my teeth. We made comfortable small talk for the rest of study hall, my eyes never once leaving his gaze as we talked of arbitrary things that held no real significance; mostly books, birds and television shows. Lysander's ambiance was a perplexing one; one that made me relaxed and anxious at the same time, and when the bells rang out across the school I was left wanting more but instead gave him back his handkerchief and made my way quickly down the spiral staircase behind him and in the opposite direction once we reached the hallways.
After saying goodbye to Lysander, I quickened my pace on an endeavor to avoid any awkward hallway contact with Amber and was thankful that the people who were blocking my path as I turned a corner were not to be feared, although their sneaky, chary grins were a little unsettling.
"Hello Luna…" Castiel's lips curled into a smile as he threw his arm around my shoulder. Brooke followed at his side.
"Hi Castiel, Brooke…" I smiled suspiciously, my face scrunching with apprehension. Although I knew they were up to something I decided against reading their minds just yet, allowing the element of surprise to be a reality for me, just like it was for everyone else.
"Wanna go get a drink at the cafeteria before class? We're buying!" Brooke chirped happily grabbing onto Castiel's drifting hand. My shoulders shrugged on their own, serving as a subconscious answer to the request.
"Sure!" I found myself walking directly in between Brooke and Castiel, keeping my arms in to evade getting too close to either of them.
"So…do you like tattoos?" Castiel turned to me to ask.
"Hmm, tattoos? Um, I suppose. I don't have any…but I like art, and if someone is passionate enough about it to forever display in on their body I can definitely respect that."
"On a scale of one to ten how many guys have you kissed? Just curious…" Brooke jumped forward to ask.
"Uh…that doesn't make any sense, little girl…" Castiel snickered, shaking his head. "My special girl…" He laughed to himself. I twisted my face as I mulled about what she was really asking me.
"Um, zero?" I hoped that my answer to suffice to what she was trying to ask me.
"You've never kissed a boy before?" Castiel asked, a smile still spread across his face.
"Not one. Ex-homeschooled-recluse, remember?" I giggled pointing to myself.
"You talk like Lysander…" Brooke giggled.
My questioners shared a giddy glance as we came to the cafeteria and Castiel ran over to grab three drinks. Brooke turned to me. "Sorry about the weird questions…we just want to get to know you better." She shrugged. I waved it off; it didn't bother me but I hoped I wouldn't have to resort to reading their minds for an explanation.
Castiel handed me a bottle of carbonated orange juice and I took it with an appreciative grin. "Thanks!"
"Don't mention it. Now, can I ask you just one more question?" He spoke up as Brooke looked to him with wondering eyes.
"Sure thing, ask away." It felt nice knowing that they wanted to know about me, even if there wasn't much to tell.
"What do you think about my best friend, Lysander? Do you like him?"
I choked abruptly on the first sip of fiery, quenching carbonation and looked up. "W-well, I mean…he's a very polite, i-interesting person…" I tried to explain. Now was the moment I needed to get into their heads, even though I already had an idea of what I'd find.
'Hopefully we'll be able to set them up since it's pretty obvious Lysander isn't going to make the first move...and I highly doubt we can talk Luna into pushing him up against the wall in the staircase and attacking his mouth with her lips…'
'She's totally into him…why won't they admit it? They're perfect for each other!'
'Maybe we can get them to come on a double date with us!'
'Lys needs to take his own advice and admit to himself how he feels about her…'
'No girl is perfect for my best friend but if I had to pick, it would be Luna…she's so sweet and quiet, just like Lys!'
For the first time in a long time, the thoughts I heard were pounding, loud and agonizing. I rubbed my temples and grinded my teeth as a strong telepathy-induced migraine came on and rocked my entire body.
"Luna? You okay?" Brooke placed a soft hand on my shoulder and her grin fell into a tugging frown of concern.
"Yeah…just a headache…" I muttered, trying not to make eye contact.
"Want some Ibuprofen? I have some in my locker…Lysander gets headaches all the time so I keep it on me because he's so forgetful." Castiel offered. I breathed out with the mention of his name. For the first time since I met him, I was sick and tired of hearing about Lysander.
I wasn't 'into' Lysander. I didn't even know him! There wasn't a single thing I really knew for sure about him and there wasn't any way I could ever trust him when all I ever knew was using my gift to trust people. My head reeled with fluster, overwhelmed by the entire situation.
I had to figure him out…there was something paranormal about him and I couldn't rest until I knew what it was. I didn't know how and I didn't know when, but I'd find his secrets, or I'd die trying.
If I didn't, he would surely drive me insane.
A/N: You guys are SO awesome. I love each and every one of you and your reviews never fail to make my day. The next chapter will be a big one, so brace yourselves for a wild ride, because it'll only get crazier! :D
On another note, I thought I'd rephrase this and clear up any confusion:
This story, while following its very own plot line, is a spin-off from my previous story, What You Do to Me, which means that the characters from that story are featured in this one, as well as a few very minor plot points.
For those of you that never read and don't want to waste any time reading WYDTM, let me clear just a few things up right here!
WARNING: This next paragraph contains MAJOR SPOILERS from my story, What You Do to Me. If you are ever planning to read it, PLEASE SKIM RIGHT OVER THE ITALICS! If not, these points should clear up any confusion!
-The story centered on my OC Brooke and Castiel's road to love. Castiel went through some major changes (such as dying his hair back to black) in WYTDM and although he is still his same, sarcastic and snarky bad boy self, he's grown up a lot and is VERY sweet on Brooke. Brooke and Castiel have been through a lot together, and small references/inside-jokes from their past will be very occasionally brought up for fans of WYDTM to appreciate.
-Leigh and Brooke have an extensive past as well, having dated for a brief time. Leigh cheated on Rosalya with Brooke (unknowingly to Brooke, of course), so that explains why Rosalya x Leigh isn't a thing.
-Nathaniel and Castiel are friends due to reconciliation over past conflicts concerning Castiel's ex-girlfriend.
-Nathaniel and Melody = shipped.
Keep in mind this is Luna and Lysander's story. None of the plot points from WYDTM really matter at all, and are only included for fans to enjoy.