Class Clowns We Used To Be

part 1 - Melodies Untold

The Café

Luna Edkins woke up to the sound of her alarm blaring like an emergency siren. Her eyes snapped open, still heavy with sleep, as the fragmented pieces of her dream lingered in her mind—laughing with friends, an unfamiliar place, and a deep, unsettling feeling of loss. For a few seconds, she stared blankly at the ceiling, trying to shake off the fog of sleep.

The blurry red numbers on her clock blinked 7:30 AM.

"Oh no..." she muttered under her breath, her heart skipping a beat. "I'm late!"

Luna bolted upright, her feet hitting the cold wooden floor with a dull thud. She dashed around her small bedroom, grabbing clothes in a frantic attempt to dress herself for the day. Her long black hair was a wild mess from tossing and turning all night, and her glasses were still perched awkwardly on the edge of her nose from when she'd fallen asleep while studying the night before. She caught a quick glimpse of herself in the mirror, her green eyes wide with panic.

"No time for vanity!" she mumbled, pulling her dark sweater over her head. She grabbed her phone, her backpack, and—without a second thought—sprinted out of her room, nearly tripping over the shoes scattered in the hallway.

The faint smell of coffee and baked goods drifted up the stairs as she raced down. It was comforting, familiar—her parents' café was always alive with the delicious aromas of breakfast. As she rushed into the warm, inviting space, her parents, Mina and Joon Edkins, were already in full swing behind the counter.

"Luna, you're running late again, sweetheart!" her mother called out, her voice cheerful despite the mild scolding.

"I know, I know, Mom!" Luna huffed, tugging her backpack onto her shoulder. She rushed over to the counter, where her father was pulling a fresh batch of croissants out of the oven. The smell was heavenly, buttery, and sweet, instantly making her stomach growl.

"Here, you're going to need this," Joon said with a warm smile, handing her a perfectly golden chocolate croissant.

"You're the best, Dad!" Luna grinned as she grabbed the pastry, breaking off a piece and popping it into her mouth. It melted instantly, and for a moment, the stress of running late vanished.

Mina gave her a quick once-over, her hands on her hips. "You should take better care of yourself, honey. You always look so tired in the morning. What were you doing last night? Studying again?"

Luna blushed, chewing on her croissant and avoiding her mother's gaze. "Yeah, I guess I stayed up a little late," she admitted sheepishly.

"A little?" Mina raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "It's not healthy, Luna. You have to find a balance."

"I will, Mom, I promise!" Luna said with a grin, though the reminder felt more like background noise she'd heard a thousand times before. She checked her phone quickly—if she left now, she might just make it to school on time.

But just as she was about to take another bite of her croissant, the door to the café swung open with a soft jingle, and Adam MacWilliam strolled in. The sunlight spilling through the large windows seemed to catch his features just right, making his black hair shine and casting a warm glow on his easy, confident smile. His hazel eyes gleamed with mischief as he spotted Luna at the counter.

"Well, well, look who's already raiding the breakfast stash," he teased, his deep voice filling the cozy café as he approached.

Luna's heart did an involuntary flip at the sound of his voice. She tried to play it cool, but the warmth creeping up her neck betrayed her. "You're just jealous because I get to eat all the good stuff before you," she shot back, her tone light but her eyes twinkling.