The Little Lightning Girl

60- Unplanned Visit to the Upper East Side

Adrian's POV

I woke up the next morning in a place I never wanted to leave: Alana's arms. She was curled up against my chest, her small, scarred hands gripping my shirt. I took a moment to admire her tanned face, the star-shaped scar at her temple, and the beautiful honey-streaked hair spread across her pillows. Her lips slightly parted as she breathed, and though her cheeks were slightly puffy from crying last night... she was stunning. It was hard to remember that she was only sixteen. She had been through so much and acted much older. Her beauty was on the inside as well as the surface. I was sure she was an angel. I was especially convinced here, in the early morning light as I looked at her face that was much more relaxed in sleep. I was proved right as she opened her eyes and smiled at me. Her eyes had always entranced me, electric blue with sparks of gold and green. Like lightning had been seized and put in a bottle, in her eyes. I'd tried to draw them again and again but failed. Some beauty just refused to be captured.

"Thank goodness you're still here, I thought it was a dream," she said quietly, her voice tired.

I chuckled, "Only you, Alana. I don't think-"

This time it was her who cut me off with a kiss. Both her hands cupped my face and mine soon wrapped around her back to wind into her long, curly hair. When she pulled away she wore a sweet smile that would have knocked me on my ass had I been standing. She laughed at my slightly confused expression, "Sorry, I just wanted to make sure."

"Of what?"

She hesitated, but eventually responded, "That last night was real, and that you're still falling in love with me."

"I could never stop. But let's take it slow for now."

She nodded, "Okay."

Yep, she was an angel.

...................

Alana's POV

I ducked as a sword slashed through the air just where my head would've been a moment earlier. Adrian cursed as the momentum of his swing caused him to lose control of his footing. I laughed and allowed him a heartbeat to regain his stance before going on the offensive. 

Despite the fact that we'd kissed, and professed some more-than-friendly feelings towards each other, my relationship with Adrian remained shockingly... simple. Neither of us were touchy-feely types, and neither of us loved the idea of PDA, so to the eyes of anyone around us it likely seemed like we were still just friends. 

It had been four days since the night we'd kissed, and so today was the day Maya was supposed to return. As much as I'd been able to act normal around everyone else, I knew Maya would see right through me and the subterfuge wouldn't last. Plus, she already knew that I liked Adrian, so it would only take one slip up for her to figure it out. 

Adrian swiped one sword at my ankles but I managed to jump over it. With the momentary advantage of one of his swords near the ground, I stomped on it hard, yanking it out of his hand. I laughed as he cursed again, but it cost me. Quick as lightning, he knocked my right sword away. The fight ended with both of us holding one sword at the other's throat. 

I sheathed my sword and leaned down to pick up the fallen one. As I was standing back up, a familiar cry reached my ears. I looked up to see Astra swooping down towards me, a letter clutched in her beak. She swooped down to land on my shoulder and dropped the letter in my waiting hands. 

Confused at the lack of an address on the front, I tore it open. 

Manhattan