Stars Aligned

Chapter 9

Sebastian has been avoiding me the following week. I didn't see him in the Dining Hall or at the Library. Laura thought it would be best if I stayed clear of Virgo House. I talked it through with everyone, I'm sure he loved me. Why did he react that way? The scene haunted my thoughts day and night. I didn't pay attention in class, I didn't eat, and I would stay up late at night. He didn't even apologize for running away. In 6th hour Roman Literature, Sebastian didn't raise his head once. He focused on his copy of Amores and didn't even talk to his friends in our class. I asked Nicole if she knew why Sebastian was acting so distant. She said that he didn't tell her anything. I decided not to get her involved with the details. I just told her that he's ignoring me. "Well, you are the first girlfriend he's ever had. He's just new at this." She said before she took off with Dan. I couldn't let these unexplained situations occupy my thoughts. Moonley assigned us a paper to write which I spent long hours in the Library researching a thesis. The last couple weeks were taking a dive on my grades, this paper was all I had to raise it back up. I had my laptop in an isolated area of the library and I listened to music while I researched a topic. One evening, while I worked away, I noticed a familiar figure sit in front of me. It was Arya, holding two styrofoam coffee cups. "I come bearing gifts." He pointed towards the cups. He pushed one towards me. I've learned to come to tolerate Arya over the last month; Yallannie assured me that there was nothing sketchy about him. After all, he was the only guy who actually tried making me feel better after the "I-love-you" mishap. Juan said something pessimistic which reminded me yet again why I almost never told him anything unfortunate about my life. Arya, although as much as a Capricorn like Juan, took matters in a more positive point of view. He'd make me laugh and smile, and for a moment when I would look into his blue-green irises, I'd forget about my current misfortunes. "Oh, gods, Arya. Thank you." I was grateful; a cup of caffeine was exactly what I was craving at the moment. "Is it a cinnamon chai with soy?" "With three sugars and sweet cream." He smiled. "Hey, how are you holding up with everything?" I felt him place his hand on mine, and I finally let him. Usually, he would try to touch me in some way; whether it was to place an arm around my shoulder or if he was laughing he'd nudge my side, and usually, I would get uncomfortable with his overly friendly actions. This time, I let him hold my hand, I even smiled. I took the cup and placed it to my lips. The aroma of the drink smelled heavenly, a smell you could surely fall in love with. It tasted creamy and warm, sweet like vanilla and tangy from the cinnamon. I closed my eyes and let the taste of it dance on my tastebuds. Honestly, the coffee was the best part of my week. I took a few more sips and looked at Arya once again. I was so thankful to have him, I mean how many girls are blessed to have such handsome, charismatic, loyal guys around? "Listen, I think I'll go. You look pretty busy here with your paper." I grabbed his hand as he rose from his chair. "No, please don't go." He looked delighted, as if my dramatic plea was what he wanted to hear. "You want me to stay?" "I mean...only if you want to." I shyly smiled. I wanted Arya to stay, I wanted to hear his voice and talk to me like he always did. "No, I'll stay. I like it that you request for me." I abandoned the paper for the evening. If anything, I would have just finished it in the morning. Arya and I left the Library and headed back to Libra House. We linked arms and walked close together, our steps correlating one another. Arya cracked jokes the whole time and may have even slipped in some sexual yet intelligent innuendos here and there. For what felt like a long time, I had a very wonderful evening and was dejected when he finally walked me to the iron doors of Libra House. "Why must the evening end so quickly? I feel like it has only begun!" I exclaimed. I had the sudden urge to twirl and let loose, however I kept myself poised and proper. "The gods would want you to catch up on your beauty sleep." Arya inched closer to my ear, as he placed a peck on my cheek. "Like you need it, however." I blushed. I liked that Arya made my cheeks feel warm like no one else could. I bid him goodnight and went straight to my room. Once inside, I saw Yallannie and Samuel scattered about the room. Lannie was asking his opinion on a dress. "...Burgundy or maroon? She asked, placing each dress in front of her body for him to imagine her in it. "What's the difference?" He exclaimed. "They look the same." "No, they're not! One has a blue undertone and another has a brown." She explained, clearly flustered with her boyfriend. "Libras." Samuel muttered under his breath as he scrolled through social media on his phone. "Hey, mom, I think you should go with the burgundy. It suits your dark complexion better." I piped in. I would call Yallannie "mom" at certain times because she takes care of me like a mother, despite the fact that I am older than her. "You think so?" She examined the burgundy dress once more to her naked eye. She placed the dress in front of her body once more and checked how she looked like in the mirror. "Yeah, I'll go with the burgundy." "Whatever you say, babe. You know I prefer you a la nude." Samuel smirked at Lannie. She ignored his little comment. "Hey, it's late. Where have you been?" I sighed. "Only with Arya." She snorted. "Why?" "Why not?" I defended. I didn't understand why she so rudely had to talk about my Arya. "So, where does that leave you and Sebastian?" Samuel interfered. "Sebastian who?" I asked. I didn't understand, I never had a thing with any Sebastians. Gods, I only knew one in my Roman Literature class but we never talked. Yallannie and Samuel exchanged a look. Why were they acting so weird? What Sebastian did I have things to leave off of? "Hey, I'm...uhh... I'm gonna take off. It is pretty late." Samuel kissed Lannie and rushed out the door. "Lannie, what's the deal?" I asked spreading my arms out. "I should be asking you the same question. Just because what Sebastian did broke your heart, doesn't mean you go on with life pretending he doesn't exist. You love and you lose—that's how it works. And I mean, in front of his best friend, who does—" "Lannie, I am so freaking serious. Who in the living hell is Sebastian?" I was creeped out. Did I do something with a Sebastian? I genuinely had no flipping clue who she was talking about. And who was who's best friend? Her face dropped. "You really don't know who I'm talking about, do you?" I frantically shook my head and widened my eyes if it was more possible. "Well," she turned on her heel and climbed into bed. "This has been a rough night." The next morning, something felt different. I woke up alone; Yallannie probably went to eat breakfast without me. When I did join my friends, they seemed to quiet down and eyed each other. I felt left out, which I hated. "Guys, what's the problem?" I asked. I wanted to know what the awkwardness was about. I glanced around the table, everyone was there: Laura sat next to Ariel, Yallannie sat with Samuel, and Polina sat with Juan. Except it felt like something was missing, like someone was missing. "Natalie, are you feeling okay lately?" Polina asked quietly, distancing herself as if I was a wild beast that needs to be tamed. "I'm fine. I don't get why everyone is acting so weird." I replied, glancing at my friends once more. "You know, we're here for you. It's okay to show a broken heart than ignore the fact that you lost someone important." Laura added. "Yeah, we're family. If we see Sebastian, we'll jump him." Lannie patted me on the back. "No offense." She turned to Samuel. I was beginning to get outraged, why did I keep hearing about a Sebastian? Did they all know something I didn't? Did I get amnesia or something? I honestly and truthfully didn't remember anything about a Sebastian. I longed to join Arya, to wrap myself in his arms and hope for him to remove any unwanted distress that encompassed my mind. "You all need to stop, please. Please, just stop! I don't know who Sebastian is, or what Sebastian did. So can you all just drop it?" I grabbed my books from the table and stormed out of the Dining Hall. I didn't turn to see their reactions, I honestly wanted to just go to my room and stay there. I needed to go to Moonley before my 1st hour class so I can hand in my thesis for him to check it. I headed towards the Humanities Building and took the escalator all the way to the Law Department, on the third floor. Once outside Moonley's room, I noticed that his door was open to a certain degree. I heard noises coming from the room; he probably had a student in there. "...I just don't understand how." It was a young male, his voice was smooth and deep. It sounded strangely familiar but I couldn't exactly point my finger on it. "How did you know he was involved?" Moonley's low, calm voice reasoned. "I just know it. All my life, his family worked on ruining mine. A stupid man would even realize something isn't right. You think he just shows up at this school, no less, and then after spending an evening with her, she doesn't know who I am. I think that's a little suspicious.""Sebastian, please, calm down. You didn't activate the curse. You'll be fine." "I don't care about myself, I only care about her! I can't live my life knowing she's under some voodoo spell...Victor, you need to help me." "And I shall...after I take care of this." Moonley paused. I wanted to turn and leave, I shouldn't be eavesdropping on my teacher's conversation. "Ms. Signer, please, come in." Damn. I couldn't leave now, I mean, how on earth did he even know I was there? I barely peeped through the door, and when I was younger, I used to be the master of being sneaky. I walked into the cold room. Report in hand, I noticed Professor Moonley sitting at his desk, his arms properly crossed in front of him. Standing in front of him was a stranger. A tall, fair, beautiful stranger. In fact, I couldn't tear my eyes away from him. He had wavy black hair and a round nose. His eyebrows were wild and untamed but it fit his frame. He had round brown eyes and rosy cheeks. He reminded me of Arya in a way, but there was something about him I couldn't pin-point. "Professor Moonley, I brought my thesis." I handed him my report. Using my peripheral vision, I noticed the stranger was eyeing me down. I got uncomfortable and fixed my posture. "Hello," I heard the stranger speak. "I'm Sebastian Zaccardi, 3rd year Virgo." He extended his arm towards me. I swear if I hear this name one more time...I shook it firmly, and introduced myself in the same format. "So, Natalie Signer, how was your night?" Sebastian asked. I knew he was trying to make conversation, but I didn't know if Moonley minded us talking while he checked my work. I decided to just make the stranger happy and talk to him. "I was at the Library with my friend." I said. "He brought me coffee and I worked on my thesis." He looked interested. "What kind of coffee? I am an enthusiast of caffeinated drinks—forgive me." I laughed. He was utterly handsome; the way his eyes glistened but I didn't know what he was trying to do. "I think it was a vanilla chai with cinnamon. It was really creamy and delicious—in fact, now that I think about it, it tasted rather floral." "Floral?" Professor Moonley spoke up. I faced my teacher and laughed once again. "Forgive me, I have never heard something so peculiar. Floral coffee?" "I don't know, it tasted very delicious." "Very well," Moonley sighed. He handed me my work back. "Excellent job, Ms. Signer. Keep up the good work." I smiled and headed out the door to my 1st hour class.