† 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 † Angels Love

Chapter 8

Star's POV

The afternoon light streamed through the tall windows of the Celestial College library, casting warm golden patches across the stone floor. The smell of old books and parchment filled the air, a comforting scent that always made me feel at home. 

I sat at a table near the back, surrounded by stacks of books, trying to lose myself in stories of ancient battles and long-forgotten kingdoms. I was reading about a heroic angel who had led a rebellion against a tyrant, her bravery inspiring others to stand up for what was right.

Lily, my cousin and best friend, was sitting across from me, flipping through a massive tome filled with spells and incantations. Her wings were tucked neatly behind her, the soft glow of her halo making her look like she belonged in one of the old paintings hanging on the library walls. Every now and then, she'd look up and give me a knowing smile, like she could see right through me.

"Okay, spill," she said suddenly, closing her book with a soft thud. "You've been distracted ever since you got here. What's going on?"

I blinked, pulled out of my thoughts. "What do you mean? I'm just reading," I said, gesturing to the book in front of me.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Please, I know you better than that. You've been staring at the same page for the past ten minutes. Your mind's somewhere else. So, is it about Julian?"

I sighed, knowing there was no point in hiding it. Lily always knew when something was bothering me. 

"Yeah, I guess," I admitted. "He asked me to the Winter Ball."

Her eyes widened with excitement. "Really? That's great! Julian's sweet, and you two get along so well. Why do you look like someone just told you the ball's canceled?"

"Because I didn't say yes," I said, closing my book. "I told him I wasn't sure if I wanted to go with a date. I don't know, Lily, it just didn't feel right. Julian's nice and all, but when he asked, it felt... wrong."

Lily leaned back in her chair, studying me with a thoughtful expression. "And by 'wrong,' do you mean because of a certain devil who keeps finding his way into your thoughts?"

I looked away, feeling my cheeks flush. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Come on, Star," she said gently. "You don't have to hide it from me. I've seen the way you look at Christopher, the way you two talk to each other. It's different. There's something there."

"It's not that simple," I protested. "The Codex says angels and devils can't touch, blah blah blah. We're not supposed to get close. It's against everything we've been taught. Besides... I don't like him. He's quite annoying... " I rolled my eyes, opening the book again.

Lily reached across the table, taking my hand. "Star, the Codex is just a set of rules. It doesn't control how you feel. I'm not saying you should run off with Christopher, but maybe you need to figure out what you really want. If it's Julian, then great. If it's not, that's okay too. But don't make decisions based on what you think you're supposed to do. Do what feels right."

I looked down at our hands, my mind racing. "I don't even know what I feel," I admitted quietly. "Christopher drives me crazy. One minute he's taunting me, the next he's... I don't know, different. Like he's not just playing games. And I can't stop thinking about him. It's confusing. It's annoying. I hate it."

Lily squeezed my hand. "It's okay to be confused. Just give yourself time. Maybe the Winter Ball will help you figure things out. It's a chance to see him outside of all this rivalry and tension. Who knows, maybe you'll find the answers you're looking for." I closed the book again, as I heard to her advice.

I nodded, feeling a small wave of relief. Lily always knew how to make me feel better, to put things in perspective. "Thanks, Lily. You're right. I guess I just have to see how things go."

We sat in comfortable silence for a while, the only sounds the soft rustling of pages and the distant murmurs of other students in the library. Despite my confusion, being here with Lily, surrounded by books and the promise of answers, made me feel like maybe everything would turn out okay.

I picked up my book once again, letting my eyes drift over the words, but my mind was still on Christopher. I wondered what he was doing right now, if he was thinking about the ball, too. If he was thinking about me. I'd never seen him show much interest in events like this. He always acted like he was above it all, like none of it mattered. But I couldn't shake the feeling that this time was different.

Whatever happened at the Winter Ball, I knew one thing for sure: Christopher would be there. And whether I liked it or not, I would be there, too, waiting to see what the night would bring.