A Spark of Hope

Chapter 1- Stars Listen Better Than People

Layla jumped up, grinning from ear to ear as she stared at the night sky. It was like it was alive, almost like it was listening to her.

"There's Aquarius! And look there's Perseus, still as charming as ever. Aries... Andromeda... I can't forget about Cassiopeia, can I? Of course not! Just because it isn't easily found doesn't mean it should be forgotten. Everyone always seems to focus on the compass stars... Ursa major... Ursa minor..." she paused, considering what she had just said. "It's too much like my own life."

The words she spoke aloud were meaningless to everyone else, because no one was there. It was only her and the stars. Not that she minded, sometimes she enjoyed the silence. Sometimes it was nice to speak to something that would never speak back.

"How can something so beautiful be so far away? I've never understood why I'm so drawn to the stars. Perhaps it was the idea of them." she thought for a moment as another reason entered her mind. "Or maybe it was a means of escape." She shook her head, "But why would I want to escape?"

Layla stood still for a moment, allowing the wind to play with her long hair. It was ordinary, a light brown. Her eyes weren't much different, apart from having a small mix of green in them. Sometimes she wished to look different, to be something special. Something to be noticed. But even wishing on a star couldn't change that.

A voice took her from her thoughts. 

"Layla! Hurry up! It's cold out there!"

She groaned when she realized how long she had been out there. "You gave me twenty minutes!" she shouted back, hoping by some chance that she could stay out there longer.

"It's been thirty!"

Her eyes widened, she was late! She shook her head, still not understanding her brother. She glanced back at the stars. "Kylo doesn't approve of all this star talk. He's always saying to get my head out of the stars, to pay attention to the world around me. He even thinks my dream of becoming an artist is unrealistic. Classic Kylo, always being realistic. Too realistic if you ask me." she muttered to no one in particular. 

She began walking back inside before pausing. "Don't worry, I'll be back." she whispered into the wind. Sometimes she wondered if the stars heard her.

Layla entered the house, slipping off her shoes and moving to the kitchen. She wrapped her jacket closer around her, hoping to embrace the warmth it supplied.

A young blonde yelled from the living room, clearly upset. "That's not fair!"

"Of course it's fair! I'm older!" another voice groaned. 

"But how come you can play video games all day? Why do I have to have a limit?" the kid whined.

"I already told you! I'm older- so I can handle it!"

"I'm telling Mom!" The young kid raced out of the room, on the hunt for the person of power. Their mother.

Layla rolled her eyes playfully. They were always bickering, always looking for something to argue about. Layla was amazed that they still hadn't gotten bored of it. After all they did it all the time, nearly every second of the day.

Another boy entered the kitchen, much older than the young kid. A mop of brown hair covered his head, somehow neat despite it's little care. His blue eyes landed on his sister. "Layla, where have you been?"

Layla shrugged, "Outside."

The boy groaned, "Gawking at the stars again? Remind me why you don't spend that time studying?"

"Because Cameron, there are more important things than education." she sassed back.

Cameron smirked, mostly in disagreement. "Your grades certainly support that ridiculous claim."