Guess who I love? Whoever is still reading this :)
Rory and I go back inside just as the sun settles itself down on the horizon. It seems that Aunt Sharon has left, as she said she would.
"I don't really like being alone," Rory admits, blushing slightly.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you!" I tell him. I smile reassuringly, and he brightens up a bit.
"Does this mean we can stay up late?" he asks.
"Yup!" I answer, excited. "We can stay up and see all the stars properly!"
"I've never gotten to stay up that late before..."
"Well, this is going to be great fun for you, then!" I say. "There's nothing like watching the stars in the night sky. It's one of my favourite things ever!"
"Do you wish on them?" Rory asks me abruptly.
"Pardon?"
"Do you wish on the stars? Like in fairy tales?" I pause momentarily, taken aback.
"Yes," I admit. "That's the strongest kind of wishing. Sometimes only the stars listen."
"I've always wanted to wish on a star. This is going to be my first chance," he whispers. I smile softly at him.
"I'm glad I get to be the one with you," I reply.
We go upstairs to my room, where Rory picks up his bag.
"I'll just go change in the bathroom..." he says shyly. He leaves the room, and I find myself smiling at his awkwardness. I also change, putting on my favourite nightie and a pair of bunny slippers. I take the pillows from my bed and place them beside the window, ready for our stargazing. I wonder absentmindedly if we'll be lucky enough to see a shooting star, the best kind to wish on. Rory returns a minute later, putting the 'Doctor' shirt back in my wardrobe before joining me by the window.
"Not long now," I tell him.
"I'm so excited!" he replies, grinning. "This is going to be great!"
"You can kind of see them already. It's getting darker," I say.
"It's kind of hard to see from here," Rory mutters, craning his neck in an attempt to see out the window more easily.
"Move this way, then," I sigh, pulling him closer to me.
"Much better!" he says happily, smiling at me.
"You know, I think I want a treehouse for Christmas," I murmur out of the blue. "I could see the stars more easily from it, and it would also be fun when you came for sleepovers. Like a secret clubhouse," I muse.
"Yeah! Treehouses are cool!" Rory replies.
"We could paint it, too," I say. "Any way we want, 'cause it's our place."
"What colour would it be?"
"Blue," I answer automatically. "Definitely blue."
"I like blue. And we could have cushions to sit on, and we can stick your drawings up on the walls!" he suggests.
"Yeah, that would be great! And we can put my telescope in, too, and teddies!"
"Then we can stay up till whatever time we want, 'cause nobody would know if we're awake!"
"And if we ever need somewhere to hide, we can go there, too," I say more quietly. Rory looks concerned.
"Why would we need somewhere to hide?" he asks, frowning.
"Sometimes I just want to be alone," I reply dejectedly.
"I wish we lived together, so I could always be there to cheer you up when you're feeling sad," he says quietly, looking me in the eyes.
"Maybe one day. Who knows what'll happen in the future?" He breaks the eye contact suddenly, his cheeks becoming rosy, and gazes out the window. I smile. We sit in silence for a few minutes, until Rory asks me another question.
"Do you think if two people wish on the same star at the same time, their wish will definitely come true?" he whispers. I take a moment to ponder this.
"Yeah, I think so," I answer.
"Better pick a star, then," he says, smiling gently. We both look out the window, searching for the right star to wish on. Just then, a shooting star travels past, leaving a trail of light behind it.
"That one?" he asks quietly.
"That one," I confirm, taking his hand. We shut our eyes tight and make our wish.