When the Stars Align

Chapter 13

"How old are you?" Luke asked with curious eyes.

"I'm 16, how about you?" Diana answered with equal curiosity.

"Hey, you know that technically counts as your question," Luke teased her.

"Nuh-uh! You always have to answer the same question you asked along with your true question!" Diana whined as she narrowed her eyes.

"Okay, okay, we will play it your way. I am 19," Luke conceded, "What is your favorite color?"

"Easy, purple! Wait, it was my turn! You don't play fair!" Diana whined softly as her shoulders hunched forward.

"Hahaha, okay my bad. You can ask two questions next. Oh, and my favorite color is light blue like the sky," Luke chuckled at how cute she was acting.

"Hmmm, where did you grow up? Do you have any siblings?" Diana wondered as memories of her father came to the front of her mind. 'I miss my Daddy.'

"I grew up in Charleston, South Carolina and I do have a younger half-brother, along with 13 best friends I more consider as brothers," Luke revealed while his eyes became a little distant.

"That's so cool! I always wished I had a sibling. Oh, I actually used to have friends in South Carolina!" Diana couldn't control her enthusiasm.

"Really? What happened?" Luke mused as he was trying to see if it truly was her.

"Well, okay, don't make fun of me.."

"Never!" Luke affirmed.

"Okay, so my father is an interpreter and is constantly traveling for his job. We had a place in Denver, Colorado as our main house along with a vacation house in Clearwater, Florida. I would sometimes tag along with my father to see the world and not be away from him for too long of periods. It was soo much fun yet I was feeling lonely not having any friends close to my age. My father recommended this program to be pen pals with kids who were saved for one reason or another. At first, I was apprehensive of the idea since I didn't think anyone would actually respond. I went ahead and wrote a letter and mailed it," Diana said as she looked above Luke to not get a full read on his reaction.

"Oh yeah? Did someone reply?" Luke asked though he had a feeling he already knew the answer.

"Heh, yes I did and I was so happy. Surprisingly, it wasn't just one person though, there were 14 messages apart from one mailing. We continued to write for a couple of years which helped get rid of the loneliness I felt. Though, I don't think I can consider them my friends anymore," Diana admitted with a solemn look at the end.

"What? Why would you think that?" Luke was flabbergasted at her thinking. 'Why the hell wouldn't we still be friends?'

"I haven't written to them in over five years. They most likely thought I just got on with my life and did the same thing themselves. Even if I got out.....I don't think I would have the courage to write them. Maybe a final goodbye letter. I'm more worried about my dad.....I was all he had and I've been gone for so long. I don't even know how he is. I was kidnapped one day from the park my nanny had taken me to. The last time I saw him.....I told him to have a safe trip and I would be waiting at home for him. I wasn't able to keep my promise," Diana sadly said before breaking down. She laid down and covered her head with her paws.

"Oh, my dear Cupcake. I promise we are going to get out of here. You know your father is out there somewhere looking for you. He knows it wasn't your fault you couldn't keep your promise," Luke consoled as he leaned against the bars keeping him away from the girl they had missed for so long.

"Yeah, you're right, it isn't like me to get down like this. I can't let my emotions go right now," Diana nodded as she tried to reinforce her walls.'We can't be weak right now! The moment they see weakness I will be a goner.'

"Oh and about your mystery pen pals. I have a secret, you wanna hear it?" Luke tried lighting her spirits up a bit though it didn't seem to faze her. Diana peeked out from under her paws and nodded.

"Heh, well me and my 13 brothers were saved and were a part of a program where we would receive letters from strangers. One day we got a letter, it was in a lime-green envelope with the cutest handwriting. The paper was a light purple and it was from a young girl we could tell. She stated how she felt lonely and her father recommended she try writing to this group under the King. We were happy to hear from someone with such a bubbly personality we all had to put our own thoughts into the letter. From then on we would receive a letter at least once a week with the most amazing drawings! Until one day the letter just stopped. We had tried in previous letters to find out who she was but she always refused. Since we didn't know who she was we couldn't even try to locate her though we did try. She was just gone and we all were heartbroken," Luke softly told his story as he watched Diana slowly come out of her hiding. Her emerald eyes were blown wide as she realized he was one of her pen pals.

"Y.yy..you..yourrr...," Diana couldn't even say anything coherent. She was so shocked. "You..."