After the service, Aster and Fallon went out on an impromptu date for brunch. They both might have skipped breakfast because of how nervous each of them were about going to church together. Aster was a bit more relieved by the time she had food in her empty stomach, but Fallon's gut was still in knots. The pastor's words echoed in the deepest and darkest parts of his mind. Saved? Grace? Repentance? Those foreign words sounded familiar, but certain parts of Fallon's mind convinced him he wasn't worth saving, more than undeserving of grace, and too far gone to repent. Those were areas he wished to keep hidden for as long as possible.

Aster noticed the almost distant look on his face as they ate together. He was there with her, of course, but mentally she was sure he was somewhere else.

"Hey, you there, Fal?" Aster inquired and set a hand on top of his. Her eyes searched his for an answer she hoped would be honest and transparent. She could already feel something was off.

The feeling of her hand on his felt like electricity to Fallon. It was a shock he needed to be rescued from his own mind before he went too far. The look of concern on Aster's face drew him back in a millisecond. No. She didn't need to worry. No worrying. Worry meant getting close, too close for comfort.

"Hmm?" Fallon initially hummed in response. He took a quick sip of water to quench his parched throat before he answered her. It gave him enough time to use an excuse from Fallon's Book of Excuses. Very original. There were several volumes reflective of the times in his life where he needed excuses, believable ones, and fast. This was one of those times. The newest edition was written just for dealing with a girlfriend.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Just thinking about school and stuff. Were you saying something?" He turned his hand over to wrap his around Aster's. It was chilly outside, but she was somehow so warm and comforting.

Aster shook her head and sank her teeth into her bagel. That strawberry cream cheese was exactly what she needed for comfort in this rather awkward setting. Fallon was hiding something, but she wasn't sure what. He had that look in her eyes. It was a look she saw in her parents' eyes when they wanted to keep the news of them separating away from her. She discovered the truth the hard way.

"I'm sorry, Azzy," Fallon sighed and pulled his hand away to cover his face. It wasn't in shame. It was out of guilt for lying. Well, it wasn't lying in his eyes. He was withholding the complete truth. He was thinking about stuff... stuff he heard in church.

"Azzy?" That was new. Aster's eyes flicked up from her second half-eaten bagel and landed on him again. She could stare at him all day if she could, but she didn't want to go down any unnecessary rabbit holes in her mind.

Perfect distraction, Fallon thought to himself.

"Yes, Azzy. Trying out nicknames for you." Bingo. Another perfect excuse. He might have conducted online searches of nicknames for her name the day they officially became a couple. Yes, he could be sappy when he wanted to be. Or at least tried to be.

His attempt at nicknames earns him nothing but laughter from the girl before him. The way she laughed sent chills down Fallon's spine, causing him to sit up straighter in his seat. The smile on her face reached her eyes and made him join in the laughter.

"What? It wasn't cute? I think it was..." Fallon snickered and reached for her hand again. It was soft and delicate. He gently held it in fear of breaking her. In response to him holding her hand, Aster interlaced their fingers and they fit like two puzzle pieces.

"Well, Fal... it was really cute. My mom used to call me Starry when I was little, so I think Azzy is a bit of an improvement."

"Starry?" Fallon studied her face for a moment and nodded firmly. "I can see why. What's the story behind that one?"

"My mom... asked God for a baby girl. The day she found out I was a girl, she saw her first shooting star. I'm surprised she didn't name me Astrid or something. Astrid is close to asteroid, right?"

God. The big guy upstairs. Of course...

"Hmm... not quite that close, but cute story," he chuckled. "But I think I'll call you Azzy."

Aster tossed the idea around in her mind. It wasn't much of a hard decision to reach since Fallon made her heart do tricks in her chest.

"I like it. Sounds like a deal, Fal." She more than liked it. She couldn't help but wonder what other names he would call her.

Fallon was about to answer when his phone chimed with a notification of a text. It was his friend Evan.

Evan: Dude are you home? It's urgent.

Fallon sighed and shoved his phone in her pocket again. What was it this time? He told Evan he would be out with Aster.

"Something wrong?" Aster asked as she tried to decipher the look on his face.

"A friend needs me. I—"

"Oh! We can get going. I know friendships are important."

Fallon wasn't expecting her to oblige so quickly, but it was less explaining to deal with.

"You sure? I'll make it up to you."
————
The ride to Fallon's house felt too quick for Aster, but she valued friendships. If Fallon's friend needed him, she would get him home as soon as possible.

She pulled up in his driveway so he didn't have to walk too much with his healing leg.

The two looked at each other at the same time, more specifically each other's lips. It was almost as if a magnet was pulling them closer to each other, but they didn't dare give in. Not yet.

"Um... thanks for coming to church with me," Aster almost whispered. She forced herself to look at his eyes. Goodness. Those eyes had summer in them.

Fallon was a bit late to the party, so his eyes lingered on her lips a moment longer. "Y-Yeah. Brunch was good, too..."

The couple sat in an awkward silence just looking at each other. It was only for a few seconds, but Aster felt as if it were much longer. The way the moment played out, Fallon slowly leaned in and then his lips were on her cheek. Before she could really register what happened, he was getting out of the car.

"See ya later, Azzy," he said with a wink as he stood outside the car. How did he get there so quickly? Aster had no idea. She was too stunned to process it all.

All she could do was nod in reply. He kissed her cheek. She could still feel his lips there. If the heater didn't make the car warm, that chaste kiss sure did make the air around Aster warm up a couple degrees. Fallon watched her with a triumphant grin on his face.

"I'll take that as a goodbye," he teased her before closing the door and heading into his house. So things ended on a sweet note. No mention of church. No prying for info. None of that. Things were good in Fallon's mind...

....until he got up to his room where Evan was. He was sitting at Fallon's desk with a few items spread across its surface.

When Fallon saw what they were, his heart dropped to his feet and leapt up to his chest again. What his friend had was the very thing he was trying to run away from. Fallon shut his bedroom door and leaned his back against it.

"You'll never believe who I ran into!" Evan laughed almost hysterically. Fallon knew there was a possibility his friend already had his fill and came to share the temporary happiness.