Bound by Stars (GirlxGirl)

Chapter 6: Saturday Surprises

I was jolted awake by the blaring sound of my alarm, followed by an excited Natalie shaking my shoulder. "Get up, sleepyhead! You've got a big day today!"

I blinked, groggy and confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Your date with Percy, duh!" Natalie said, grinning. "Remember?"

"Oh, right," I said, trying to muster some enthusiasm. "I almost forgot."

Natalie frowned slightly. "You don't seem very excited. What's up?"

"I am excited," I lied, forcing a smile. "Just a bit nervous, I guess."

"Don't worry, you'll be fine," Natalie said, still looking a bit puzzled. "Now get dressed. You don't want to be late."

I got out of bed and headed to my closet, picking out an outfit for the day. I decided on a casual but cute look—a light blue blouse with delicate lace trim, paired with skinny jeans and my favorite pair of ankle boots. I glanced at myself in the mirror, noting how the morning light softened my features.

After brushing my hair and applying a touch of makeup, I felt ready to face the day. I took a deep breath and headed out the door, waving goodbye to Natalie.

As I walked toward the local pizza place in town, I saw Nico with an unfamiliar person. The person had an androgynous look, with short, tousled hair and clothing that could belong to either gender. They seemed very comfortable with each other, laughing and talking animatedly.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to spy on them from a distance. I watched as Nico and the person shared what looked like an intimate moment, their heads close together as they spoke. They seemed almost... romantic.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice Percy until he was right in front of me. "Hey, Aurora!"

I jumped, startled. "Oh, hi, Percy."

"What are you doing out here?" he asked, his eyes filled with genuine curiosity.

"I, um, was just taking a walk before meeting you," I said quickly, trying to cover my tracks.

He smiled, seemingly satisfied with my answer. "Great. Ready to grab some pizza?"

"Yeah, let's go," I said, casting one last glance at Nico and the mysterious person before following Percy into the pizza place.

Inside, the smell of freshly baked pizza filled the air, making my stomach growl. Percy and I found a cozy booth near the window, and we sat down, perusing the menu.

"So, what do you feel like having?" Percy asked, his eyes twinkling.

"Anything with lots of cheese," I said, smiling.

As we waited for our order, Percy chatted about his classes and plans for the weekend. I tried to stay engaged, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Nico and the person he was with. Who were they?

"So, have you tried fencing before?" Percy asked, pulling me back to the conversation.

"Actually, no," I replied, curious. "But I've heard a bit about it. Are you into fencing?"

"Yeah, I've been fencing for a couple of years now. It's a great way to stay in shape and focus. Elise is actually really good at it too," he said, his tone admiring.

Hearing Elise's name made my heart flutter. "Really? How long has she been fencing?"

"For quite a while," Percy said. "She's pretty dedicated. Even with her injury, she's still trying to stay involved."

"That sounds like her," I said, smiling softly. "She's pretty determined."

The pizza arrived, and the conversation flowed more easily as we ate. The cheese was perfectly melted, the crust crispy, and the tomato sauce tangy. As I took a bite, some sauce dripped onto my chin. I laughed, reaching for a napkin, but Percy beat me to it, gently wiping the sauce off my face.