When I go to the bathroom to clean myself up, I see a two inch gash on my cheek. I'm not sure if I need any stitches, but I just find some gauze bandages and apply them on my cuts. How will I explain this to Kian? He'll probably be extremely worried.

Won't he? Why should I assume he cares for me that deeply? He doesn't even care enough to tell me his secrets.

But of course, I haven't done that either.

---------------------------------------------

I was right. The next day at school, Kian flips out.

"How did this happen?" He seems much more confused than the time my head was bagged by that strange man.

"I...I don't know."

"You don't?"

"It doesn't make any sense! It sure didn't look like The Red!"

"How would you know what they look like?"

"I don't. I'm just saying the thing that caused this was very open and not disguised at all."

He analyzes me. "Natalie, tell me what happened."

I shiver at the way he says my name. He's so serious right now.

I simply tell him that I met a crazy group of people. He wants to know more, but I just say, "Kian, clearly I don't feel like sharing. Let it go."

And the conversation ends there.

✯ ✯ ✯

It's Friday night. I'm meeting Kian at the park at 11:00. After I told him to let it go, he just went back to normal, except a little on edge. I'm still excited to see him.

When it's fifteen minutes until eleven, I can't wait any longer, just like last time. So I head to the park early. And sure enough, he's there, lying on the grass, looking at the stars.

I don't even need him to tell me to lay down. I'm already headed toward him, much more gracefully than when I had my crutches.

When I'm laying down, I realize that I sat down a little too close to Kian, because my arm is pressed against his. But I don't move it.

"I've been looking at this star," Kian says without even greeting me. "See that bright one up there that's kind of a golden color? It reminds me of your eyes."

I blush, thankful for the darkness that hides the pigment in my skin. I search the sky, and then point at a star. "See that light blue one? It doesn't even compare to your eyes." I say it plainly, not even making it sound special. Just obvious.

I look at Kian's face. He's smiling bigger than he normally does, and he's trying to hold back laughter. Then he says, "You realize we chose the two brightest stars in the sky?"

"Maybe we just shine brighter than the others," I say.

Silence. I'm surprised at this conversation we just had. Maybe he is too.

After a while of silence and staring at the stars, I say, "You almost smiled."

"Did I?"

"Are you any closer to achieving your goals?"

"Well, there's one I'm focusing on."

"What is it?"

"You don't get to know."

"Why?"

"You'll just have to wait until you see me smile. Then you'll know."

"I don't know what kind of goal you could achieve that could make your stubborn face actually smile."

He chuckles. "It'll make sense when it happens."

"What if it doesn't happen?"

"Then...then things will just stay the same."

I put a puzzled look on my face. "How long until it happens?"

"I don't know.... Could be today. Could be some other day."

"Today's almost over, though."

"Yes it is."

"So it's a simple goal?"

"Not entirely simple, just nerve wracking."

"Could you hurry, though? I really want to see you smile."

"You want me to smile right now?" he asks in resignation.

"Oh...well.... I guess."

"Okay, then."

I clap my hand over his mouth. Yes, his mouth. Not normal.

"Don't," I say. "I want to see you smile when you've accomplished this goal. I want it to be special."

Kian is shaking from trying not to laugh. So I laugh with him, and move my hand back to where it started.

"So can you hurry with this goal, please?" I say.

"It depends on if I feel like it or not. I'll wait until I get a chance."

What could that mean? I suppose I'll find out.

"Can you tell me more about yourself?" I ask.

"What's there to tell?" he says.

"Lots. Just tell me anything."

"No, I'd rather not. I already told you you'd find out eventually. Just be patient. I need more time. For the goal and for telling you my secrets."

"Fine."

"We can talk about something else, like how Hayden almost asked you to the dance."

"Ugh! Don't remind me!"

Kian chuckles.

"Can you believe he called me beautiful?" I say.

"Yes, I can."

I turn my head towed him. "Why?"

"Because whether you like it or not, it's true."

I'm at a loss for words. But, he keeps talking.

"You're extraordinary, Natalie. You don't need to dye your hair or put on makeup and you still look how every girl wants to look. They'll change to get hair like yours, or skin like yours, but you have it naturally."

I shake my head. "Why would anyone want to look like me?"

"I can't believe you don't see it." He looks directly at me, his gaze unmoving. "From the moment I first saw you, I was in awe."

I look away from him. "I could say the same about you."

Neither of us speak for a while after that. We just stare at the stars. I stare at the beautiful golden one Kian pointed out. It does look like the color of my eyes.

Why did he have to say these things about me? He compared my eyes to stars and he called me beautiful. Why would he just say that?

"Natalie," Kian says. "Why don't you want Hayden to ask you to the dance?"

"Why do you keep bringing that up?"

"I'm genuinely wondering."

I sigh. "I don't know.... Maybe it's that I don't want to go. I...I kind of feel like I should be going with someone else, but I.... I just don't know."

After a minute, he says, "How long were you planning on staying out here?"

"You're letting me decide?"

"I guess."

"I don't know. I could stay out here forever."

"But we can't do that. We'd get caught for sure."

"Kian.... The Red seem to try to kill me when I'm walking around. Why don't they ever try to kill me when I'm out here with you?"

He tenses. I can feel it against my arm. "I don't know," he says. "But I hate them."

"Yes, me too." My face heats up as I think of my parents, and a tear threatens to fall from my eye.

"Natalie?" Kian says. Dang it. He sees the tear. "Are you okay?"

I wipe my eye. "Yeah."

"Maybe we should leave now," he suggests. "Maybe you'll feel better."

No it won't. I'd rather be out here with him, but I just nod.

Kian stands, and I follow. Kian hesitates to speak, and I can sense uneasiness in his demeanor.

"What's wrong, Kian?"

"Nothing...I...."

"Kian, what is it?"

"Natalie, will you go to the dance with me?"

I cover my mouth with my hand (yes, it was my mouth this time). Tears keep trying to fall, only for me to blink them back. Kian's looking at me expectantly, and very nervously.

"Yes," I say, but it comes out as a whisper.

Kian looks relieved.

"Were you worried I'd say no?" I ask.

"Something like that," he says. "Honestly, I'm embarrassed. I don't deserve to court a girl like you."

"Yes you do," I say.

He looks at me sadly. I wrap my arms around him.

"Believe me," I say, "I'm happy you asked."

"I meant what I said," he whispers into my ear. "You're beautiful, Natalie."

And then he let's go of me, turns around, and walks away.

I don't know what just happened. I don't know what I'm supposed to feel. But I know he made me feel beautiful.

__________________________

Author's Note:

I've decided to do some story shout outs. Shout outs will go to the peeps who have really cool stories. You're more likely to get a shoutout if you support my stories. :)

First shoutout:

Worth A Thousand Words by @kimThylove

And all of her other stories of course!! She writes just enough in each chapter to keep me interested and I love them so much!