The Stars in the Sky [Love is a Journey- Book 1]

It Must be Now!

{Karma POV}
Wow... I think I like Kayano now even more than before I kissed her... And that's saying something. She's a really good kisser, too, even though it was against her will. Hopefully she changes her mind about Nagisa. All school year, I've kept my distance, pretending to like Okuda, letting Kayano have her fantasies... But I've waited long enough. My feelings are out there now, and if she doesn't accept them... Well, I'm certainly a master of force.

{Kayano POV}
Uh oh. I think that Karma really likes me now. We've been helping out at this daycare for a week already, and Karma's stuck as close to me as he can manage the entire time. I volunteered to put on a play for the kids this morning... And Karma wants a part.

"Come on, Kayano," Karma laughs. "You'd obviously make a great princess... You're doing that already, right?" Hoping that he's only talking about the play, I nod. "Well, I'm the strongest, bravest kid in the class. I'll be your knight in shining armor."

The rest of the class laughs, thinking that he's just teasing me, but I know how much he wants this. Oh, this is bad, this is really bad...

"Sure," I agree, and his eyes light up. "But this is a little kid audience, Karma. All you're going to do is fight a dragon with Okuda, who's going to be the witch. With. Okuda." I say that last part with a teasing tone of my own; Okuda blushes.

"Yeah, you two have basically been a couple all year!" Terasaka calls out. "Just do something together already!"

Karma glares at me. This obviously isn't what he intended, but he has to play along. "Shut up, Terasaka," he snaps, allowing a slight blush of the cheeks. "Let's put on a play, huh? Oh, and let's have someone else write a script this time; this isn't a horror film."

As the play crew bursts out laughing, I sneak away. I have to find Nagisa! I have to tell him how I feel before Karma does something awful again! Where is that blue-haired boy anyway...?

I turn the corner and enter the study, where Nagisa, Nakamura, and a few others are tutoring the day care kids. Nagisa sits at a table with Sakura, the oldest and hardest to deal with. I'm about to speak out, but I stop when I hear Sakura snap,

"Shut your trap, Nagisa! You wouldn't understand what I feel! Stupid bullies! Stupid school!" Something tells me that I should leave, so I head outside. I happen to glance up and see that a kitten is stuck in a tree.

"See, Nagisa?" I jump as I hear Sakura's voice again; they must have come outside, too. "This is what happens when you gather the strength to climb! What's so wrong about staying here on the ground?"

I don't know what Sakura's referencing with that metaphor, but it hits close to home. I want to climb, to tell Nagisa what I feel. But what if I fall? What if I get so injured that I can't climb again? Surely Sakura is thinking the same thing..

"Sakura, we all found our footing here on the ground," the voice that I've fallen in love with speaks reassuringly. I can't help it; I turn to look. His blue eyes shine as he continues, "but eventually, we all have to make the climb. And when we do, the view is so great that we never want to come down. We may fall a few times, but when that happens, we always have people to help us back up."

I don't hear the rest of their conversation. I'm too busy gulping down sobs, too emotional to care about people seeing me. That's it. I have to do it. No matter how scared I may be, I have to confess my feelings. Only then will any real progress be made...

Finally, everyone heads inside. Before Nagisa can step towards the door, however, I grab his arm, dragging him aside. He seems surprised, but he doesn't protest as I lead him to the garage, where no one can see us.

"Uh, Kayano...?" Those blue eyes shimmer with wonder. "What are you–?"

Before I can change my mind, I bring my lips to his. Unlike the one that Karma forced upon me, this kiss is soft and sweet, guided by love alone. It only lasts for a few moments, then I pull away, blushing.

"I really like you, Nagisa," I confess, staring into sparkling blue depths.

Nagisa's mouth is slightly parted, maybe from shock. He lightly touches his lips, as if he can still feel the kiss. Then his gaze meets my own, and I see everything all at once: the confusion, the wonder, the awe... And then, finally, it all melts into one emotion...

"Yeah. I think I really like you, too."

Love.

{Karma POV}
I watch them from the shadows as they kiss. I'm supposed to be at the play practice, but what's the point? Kayano's the only thing important to me... I clench my fists at my sides.

You had your chance with her, Nagisa. You were dense. You were foolish. You only just now noticed your feelings... I grin evilly. You don't deserve her. I do. I'll win Kayano, you'll see.

~Sooooo... Are you guys liking this so far??? I really hope you are... I'm still loving the decision I made to make Karma the villain. No regrets. XD