LOST STARS By: Alithiel

Disclaimer: Hey all! Sorry it's taken so very long for me to get this out but Arlyssa 'napped my laptop and dad said I couldn't use the family computer to write (what a meanie). Anyway here's the next! As usual, nothing is mine except for the girls. Oh, and I don't own the song in here, either. R&R, please!

Enjoy!

Alithiel

Chapter 4: The Way

Lorelai had been relaxing in the room she and her friends shared. She was by herself, since Jade and Kento were involved in a very loud video game tournament downstairs, and she had no idea where Phoebe and Celesta were. Knowing them, they found the nearest gym equipment. Nonetheless, she was thankful for the quiet.

Perfect for alone time.

The book she was reading failed to hold her interest for more than a few lines. It wasn't that it was a bad book, instead it was that too many worries in her mind prevented her from concentrating on the story.

What if I fail? What if I am unable to protect the ones I care about? What if because of me this whole world is plunged into darkness?

She sighed as she dropped 'Rhapsody' on the bedspread.

No time for what ifs now, she thought as her stomach rumbled. She popped up of her bed and headed for the door. As she walked down the hall, she heard loud, guitar heavy, wall rattling music coming from the room diagonally from hers, along with equally loud singing. The door was cracked slightly, so she peeked inside.

And nearly busted up laughing.

Rowen was sitting at his desk, his CD player on the top of it, singing at the top of his lungs. He was writing in something at the same time, probably a journal, and his fan was on full blast. Lorelai grinned. This guy was pretty cute, even when he didn't mean to be.

And he had a really great voice.

Rowen reached over to his radio and punched the skip button a couple times, starting a new song, which he began to sing.

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Tell me why we're all gluttons for pain The girl is totally insane She doesn't know the meaning of tame Still I can't put out the flame

Hey hey, I wanna play For the team that you despise

Every day a new disguise Every night a Halloween She says 'Keep the motor runnin' man' Like I was some machine

You can talk talk But I'm keepin' her stock I wouldn't even change a thing

Why fight You've got me roped and tied I've hit your baited line I'm so diggin' your scene I said You're playing with my head I could split instead I'm so diggin your scene

On you like a hungry tick Like a junkie knows he oughta kick But I don't wanna be dope sick So I scramble for a fix

Voodoo And sorcery too I can't shake your freaky spell

Why fight You've got me roped and tied I've hit your baited line I'm so diggin' your scene I said You're playing with my head I could split instead I'm so diggin your scene

Can anybody tell me why we're Springer bound Why we feel so up when we're kept down On a short leash behind a barbed wire fence With no chance of parole on a life sentence

Why fight You've got me roped and tied I've hit your baited line I'm so diggin' your scene I said You're playing with my head I could split instead I'm so diggin' your scene

Don't change I love that you're deranged You've got me trapped and caged I'm so diggin' your scene I said You're playing with my head I could split instead I'm so diggin' your scene

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Lorelai grinned widely as she listened to him. He did sing really well. The music ended abruptly, then she heard the desk chair creak, and then footsteps. Alarm filled her, and she backed up as quickly as she could. She had only backed up a second before Rowen opened the door open all the way.

"Lorelai!" He said with some surprise.

Lorelai felt the heat rise in her cheeks. "Um, hi Rowen."

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Rowen stamped down his surprise. Lorelai looked uncomfortable. He looked her over quickly, expecting something to be wrong. She was wearing a long sleeved yellow shirt and a pair of jean cutoff shorts. Her hair wasn't in her normal ponytail, so it curled wildly around her face. And she was BLUSHING. He smiled to himself. She looked like a fairy child left behind.

"You ok? Did I startle you?"

"No.I mean, I'm fine. Just surprised."

"So.what's up?" He asked nervously.

"I was just about to go and get a snack."

He grinned. "I have some chips in here, if you want to share." As soon as he said it, he felt like smacking himself.

"Sorry, I."

"Sure."

Rowen stopped in mid sentence. "Really?"

"Sure. Why not? I was bored anyway." Lorelai walked into the room he shared with Sage. While Rowen got the chips from the shelf beside his desk, she plopped down on his bed.

"Hey, Rowen, can I ask you something?"

He nodded, sitting on the floor facing her and offering her the bag. "Yeah. I have a question for you too."

"Well, go ahead." She said, taking a handful.

"Nah, you first."

Lorelai shrugged. "Ok, then. I heard you singing earlier."

Rowen flushed red.

"No! Don't be embarrassed! I thought it was great. That last song you sang, it almost sounded like you were singing to someone." She smiled wickedly. "So, I was wondering who you were singing to."

Rowen smiled a little sadly, but he could feel his ears get redder. "I was singing to someone who'll never notice me. That's it."

Lorelai patted his shoulder. "If she doesn't notice, she's a fool."

He smiled a little wider. "That helps." He stood. "Wait a sec while I get us some soda, ok?"

When he left the room, Lorelai felt her eyes drawn to the cluttered desk. The book he was writing in was on the desk, bound in dark blue cloth. Stealthily she slipped across the floor to it.

Ok, so it's wrong to look, but he'll never know, she though as she opened it to the last pages with writing and began to read.

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Journal,

She looked at me today. At breakfast, across the table. Kento was there too, and so were Sage and Phoebe and Jade and Celesta. I have no idea where Cye was, or Ryo, but Mia had errands to run in the city. But, even though they were there, I only saw her.

She must be some old goddess reborn, because she shines with light. Even though it's stormy out today, she's radiant.

I have no chance.

I hope one day soon that I can talk to her one on one. Maybe even tell her how I feel.

Wish me luck.

Rowen

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Lorelai closed the journal. She could feel tears running down her face. He had listed everyone that had been at breakfast.

Except for her.

She wiped her flushed cheeks as she put the book right where it had been.

Rowen said that he had been singing to someone who would never notice him, she thought as she sat back down on his bed. But he was wrong.

I notice him all too well.

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By the time he came back up, Lorelai was perusing his bookshelf.

"Sorry it took so long." He said apologetically.

"No prob." She grabbed the orange soda he offered.

"What was it you wanted to ask me, Rowen?"

"Well.I've noticed that you wear long shirts, even in summer." He pointed to the tank shirt he was wearing. "I was wondering why. I mean, if it's not to uncomfortable."

Lorelai hung her head. "I've never told anyone outside of my family and best friends about it."

"Well, I want to be your best friend, Lorelai. You can trust me."

"All right, but you'll probably be grossed out."

Lorelai started to pull up her shirt.

Rowen blushed brilliant red.

She grinned. "Don't worry. I have a tank under here." She peeled the shirt up and pulled it off. Her scars stood out starkly in the light from the lamp. Her arms and shoulders looked lumpy and deformed. Even so, she stared straight into Rowen's dark eyes without flinching.

"See, here's the deal. When I was thirteen, my house caught on fire. My parents and older sister were burned to death, but I escaped with second and third degree burns. My grandmother decided the best thing would be to send me to the United States and see a specialist there. I was placed in a hospital for severe cases and I stayed there for six months. I've been in the USA for four years and have just decided to come back here. Even though I was treated extensively, I'm scarred so severely I don't feel so comfortable in short sleeved shirts. That's my story."

To her surprise, Rowen did not look disgusted. He didn't even look like he pitied her, which she hated. He looked sad instead, like he shared her pain.

"That's a horrible thing to go through. But hiding from your scars isn't good either. It's almost like denying your past."

He placed his hand on her shoulder, gently feeling her scars. Lorelai's heart skipped. He was right of course. She wasn't one to run from her troubles, and this one was just another one she needed to face down.

"Besides," He said, " I still think you're beautiful."

Lorelai couldn't help but smile. "Thanks, Rowen. That means a lot." She squoze his hand, then turned toward the door.

"Wait a minute!"

"Huh?"

"Your shirt." He held the yellow cloth out to her.

Lorelai smiled. "Keep it. Because of you, I don't think I need it anymore." With that, she left the room. As she did, the storm clouds outside began to dissipate, and thin beams of evening sunlight broke through, slanting through his window.

Rowen held the shirt for a moment longer. After a moment of thought, he folded it and tucked it under his pillow, inside the pillowcase. He sat on his bed, grinning stupidly.

"I'm so diggin' her scene." He sang.

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There is a whole other world that many humans don't know about. It exists between day and night, one moment to the next, under beds and in drawers.

He grinned evilly. The little kids and their closet monsters.

No one knew how right they were.

While humans called this place a myth, the inhabitants knew that 'tween was a very real place. Iveinstrand was its ruler.

He was a genius.

After all, he was the one who gave Stephen King all his ideas.

"Tommyknockers, tommyknockers, knocking on the door."

That was his favorite.

Iveinstrand opened the secret door in his room. Many other shadow demons were in this secret meeting place already, and many more were coming in, from other doors or through the ceiling and floor. He sat in the large chair at the end of the table, settling his robes about him, watching for a moment as images from the human world, an intersection in lower Manhattan or a protest in Istanbul, flicker across the walls. Such was the mercurial nature of this place.

"Let the Council of Black Star come to order. Our objective."

Iveinstrand smiled.

"The invasion of Earth."

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Alithiel~ Wow! That was a really long chapter. Next chapter coming soon, so Read and Review, please!

Love ya!