An Astronomer's Guide to Falling Angels

Chapter 10

Astor stood in front of the mirror in Lukas's room, still in the outfit that had made him feel both powerful and vulnerable all at once. He didn't want to take it off, but he knew he had to. His parents could never see him like this, dressed in a way that defied their expectations. The evening had been so wonderful, but now, reality was creeping back in.

He fumbled with the zipper at the back of his outfit, but it wouldn't budge. He tried again, tugging with more force, but still, nothing. A frustrated sigh escaped his lips. Outside the door, he could hear Arty pacing lightly, waiting for him. Her presence made him feel both at ease and a little nervous.

Meanwhile, Arty stands outside Lukas's bedroom door, her hands in her pockets, waiting for Astor to finish changing. The house is alive with the sounds of laughter and conversation downstairs as Oda, Lukas, and Louis unwind after the chaotic events of the dance. The living room is a mess of discarded jackets, leftover snacks, and the remnants of their earlier antics.

In spite of how loud her friends downstairs were being, the echo of their voices that carry up the stairway is muffled here, and the only light comes from the small lamp Lukas keeps on his nightstand, casting a warm glow around the room. Arty leans against the door frame, one foot tapping idly against the hardwood floor as she glances at her phone, trying to distract herself from the thoughts swirling in her mind.

But the minutes tick by, and she starts to grow concerned. After a while, she gently knocks on the door.

Feeling a beat of honest concern she isn't used to, Arty softly asked. "Hey, Astor... you alright in there?"

There's a pause before she hears his voice, hesitant, muffled and a little embarrassed.

"Um... the zipper on my outfit is stuck. I can't get it down."

Arty lets out a light laugh, the sound easing the tension in her own chest as well. "Need a hand, Juliet?"

There's a moment of silence, and then she hears his reply, a little quieter this time. "Yes... if you don't mind."

Arty's smile softened, and she pushed the door open gently, stepping into the room. Astor is standing near the mirror, his back to her, his hands fidgeting with the zipper that refuses to budge. He's still in the outfit he wore to the dance, a look that had left her utterly speechless when she first saw him. Even now, the sight of him dressed like this, so confident yet so vulnerable, sends a warm flutter through her chest.

She walks over to him, their eyes meeting in the reflection of the mirror as she approaches. His cheeks are flushed, a soft pink that spreads across his face, and he quickly looks away, clearly embarrassed. Arty chuckles, her voice playful as she reaches for the zipper.

"You're blushing so much, Astor. I thought you'd gotten used to me by now."

Astor laughed nervously, still feeling the heat on his cheeks. "I don't think I ever could."

She chuckled, her teasing gaze softening as she looked at him. They stood there for a moment, the atmosphere light but with an undeniable undercurrent of something deeper, something unspoken between them. Arty's expression shifted slightly, her playful demeanour giving way to something more serious.

"Can I kiss you?" she asked quietly, her voice filled with both confidence and a gentle tenderness that made Astor's heart race.

He blinked, his breath catching in his throat. Slowly, he nodded, unable to find the words but knowing exactly what he wanted. "Yeah," he whispered.

Arty moved closer, her hand resting gently on his waist as she leaned in. Their lips met, gently at first. Arty was hesitant, afraid of hurting him in any way at all. But as Astor tugged at her shirt collar, slipping his arms around her neck, the kiss spiralled into something far more intense than either of them had expected. Arty pressed closer, one hand moving to cup the back of Astor's neck as she deepened the kiss.