Breaking the story

Modern dating

The moon cast an eerie glow on the school as I stepped outside. The sun was barely down, but the place was almost empty. I almost turned back, expecting Rowan to be right behind me. But I knew he wasn't. That was...another life. Maybe another me. And the person stuck in this story was going on a casual date with maybe her only true friend.Even if I did feel a bit...alone. 

I walked slowly towards the main gate, my head tilted backwards, just in case there was someone behind me. But I could only hear the faint twitter of birds under the silvery sky. I went right, heading down the road towards the tacky café. Where I was sure Nathan would be waiting. 

"Don't you want to promenade?" he asked, a faint smile on his lips. 

I whirled around, my fists clenched. 

"I warned you about using that silly word! Just say 'go for a walk'. What's so hard about that, Nathan?"  I scowled at him. We began strolling through the gardens of Lord Lucas, surrounded by his annoying aristocratic guests. I could see Miss Nightshade smiling as Lord Lucas gifted her a beautiful shining rose. A faint glow clung to her, the benefit of being the heroine. Nathan ran a hand through his long brown hair and a few ladies glanced his way. 

"You would think all the glowing would be a dead giveaway," I said, shaking my head. "Since when was that normal? Even in a story?" 

Nathan chuckled. 

"Why do you always analyse it, Beatrice?" he asked. "There's no point. But I know you too well to think you'll stop." 

"You know me too well? We've only known each other a short time." 

Lady Iris brushed past Miss Nightshade, marring the lovely rose in her hand. A perfect tear formed as the petals were crushed. But Nathan's words drew my attention more than the pain of the heroine. He was staring at me, his dark eyes piercing deep. 

"Have we? But I've met you before. I met you in a city," he said, smiling. 

"What city?" I whispered. There was a commotion in front of us but I no longer cared what was happening. What was he talking about? 

"I met you in a place you weren't meant to be," he replied. "But that isn't so surprising. You're always doing things you shouldn't." 

I stared at him, fear infecting me. He was still smiling, his dark eyes pinned to me. Despite the shouting coming from Lord Lucas in the distance, he held out his hand. 

"Do you want to dance with me over there?" 

"I....." I didn't know. My senses screamed that something was wrong, that this wasn't right, that I did know him. That he was...danger. But as I hesitated, his smile began to die. And he was my friend. I knew him well, I only really had him. "Alright. But I want to know about this city." 

His smile returned. 

"Let's dance."  And we moved away to the dancers on the other side of the gardens, even as Miss Nightshade fled the party in tears. 

I blinked, coming back to myself as I stumbled towards the café. So, Nathan was keeping secrets after all. I wondered if he ever did tell me about this city. I felt almost nervous about seeing him. The way he'd looked at me in that memory...it was so intense. It made me feel uncomfortable. I walked up to the café doors, half expecting to be whooshed away into another scene. But it didn't happen. I opened the door, expecting no one to be inside, and was met with....a crowd of people. 

The inside of the smallish café was filled with young men and women around our age chatting and shooting glances at each other. There were many tables set out where no one was sitting. Except for...