An Astronomer's Guide to Falling Angels

Chapter 4

As they lingered in the cafeteria, Arty was determined to keep the mood light, especially after seeing the weight Astor had been carrying when they first sat down. She wasn't used to seeing him so down, and she wasn't about to let him stay that way. So, in true Arty fashion, she decided to make a mission of it.

It started small. After finishing her sandwich, she sat back and tossed the crumpled-up wrapper at Astor's head with a mischievous grin. He shot her a look, halfway between amused and exasperated, brushing it off his hair with a sigh.

"Really?" Astor said, though his lips twitched with the beginning of a smile.

"Oh, you'll see," Arty smirked, leaning forward with her elbows on the table. She grabbed one of the plastic forks and started balancing it precariously on her finger. When it toppled over, she huffed, then gave Astor a side glance. "Ever seen someone juggle with two hands tied behind their back?"

Astor blinked, then shook his head, bemused. "I don't think that's—"

Arty cut him off by dramatically clasping her hands behind her back, awkwardly knocking over her drink in the process. She yelped, almost falling out of her chair, but quickly tried to recover with a ridiculous display of attempting to juggle—using her elbows.

Astor couldn't help it. He laughed.

"There we go!" Arty said triumphantly, managing to knock half the food on the table onto the floor. She gave him a wide, triumphant grin. "It's working."

Astor rubbed his forehead, trying to suppress his growing smile, but Arty wasn't done.

Next, she picked up one of the cafeteria trays and began balancing it on her head as if it were a delicate crown. She stood up, wobbled dramatically, then made a great show of trying to walk a straight line across the cafeteria floor. She took one step, another, and then purposefully tripped over an invisible obstacle. The tray fell, clattering loudly onto the floor, and Arty landed in a ridiculous heap, groaning in mock pain.

Astor burst into laughter, his hands covering his mouth as he tried to stifle it. Other students in the cafeteria turned to look at the scene she was causing, but Arty didn't care. She just lay there for a moment, sprawled out on the floor, staring up at the ceiling with a satisfied smirk.

"Success," she muttered, lifting one arm in a weak victory pose.

Astor shook his head, still laughing. "You're going to get us in trouble," he said, though his voice was lighter now, the tension from earlier having melted away.

"That's what makes it fun," Arty shot back, still lying on the floor. She finally sat up and dusted herself off, completely unbothered by the spectacle she'd created. "Besides, trouble is kinda my thing, remember?"

Astor chuckled, watching as she scrambled back up to her feet. "I think you've made your point," he said, but there was a warmth in his tone. His eyes were brighter, the heavy clouds that had followed him all morning lifting just a little more.

Arty sauntered back to the table, plopping down next to him with a dramatic sigh. "Alright, I'm done. For now."

Astor raised an eyebrow. "For now?"

"Oh yeah," she grinned. "I've got plenty more where that came from."

He smiled, shaking his head. "I don't doubt it."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, but Arty wasn't content to let him sink back into his thoughts. She glanced around the cafeteria, eyes narrowing as she surveyed their surroundings, clearly plotting her next move. Astor noticed her scheming look and braced himself.