Heaven On Earth

Chapter Eight: The Stargazing Festival

After everything that happened on that night, everyone throw a party to celebrate their engagement. We danced, we sing and we had fun. Luckily for me and Luke, we both asked permission from our dads if we can both stay out late, at least until 10pm and they both agreed. But, unfortunately, we stayed up until 12 in the morning and, of course, we got scolded by both of our dads when we got home at 12:16 am.

Three days later, I woke up to the sound of birds chirping. "Wow! I love waking up to the sound of nature in the morning!" I announced while stretching my arms upward. Then, I got out of bed, get change and went downstairs to the kitchen.

As I went down the stairs, I notice a familiar figure sitting in our couch. I went down the last few steps and, no surprise, it was Luke. "Um... Luke, what are you doing here, so early?" I asked as I approached him. "Hey! Good morning, Rose!" He cheerfully said with a grin on his face. " Yeah, morning. Why are you here?" I got a bit annoyed. He looked at me in surprise and that got me more confused. Really... What's going on?! "Oh, I forgot. You don't know, do you?" He said. "Know, what?" I asked. "Well, it's that time of year when the whole town turn of their lights and watch the stars; we called it the 'Stargazing Festival' Most some would light some small fireworks for the kids and the adults would, most likely, be drinking while they watch the stars. It's pretty amazing!" He explained with a hint of excitement in every word.

"Oh! Are you kids talking about the Stargazing Festival today?" Dad walked from the kitchen with a mug of coffee. "Yeah, we are." I said, a little surprised by Dad listening to our conversation. "See. So, you two know about the meteor shower tonight." Dad said then took a sip of his coffee. "A meteor shower?" We both said in sync. "So, you didn't know. It said on the news that, there's going to be a meteor shower tonight." He explains. We both were surprise by the news. Well, who wouldn't be. A meteor shower on the SAME night as the town's Stargazing Festival.

"This is great! I'm getting so excited!!" Luke jumped as high as he could while fist pumping the air. Me and Dad laughed at his excitement and soon after Luke joined in with us. "Okay! So, Luke should we get started on preparing on our spot for the festival?" I got a bit excited, cause never seen a meteor shower before. He nodded and I turn my attention to Dad. "Hey, Dad, can I go with Luke to prepare for the festival?" "yeah, why not. Just don't stay up late again." I nodded and, along with Luke, out the door to gather things we need for the stargazing event.

After a while, we got everything like snacks, flashlights and some other stuff to make it more fun. "Well, got everything. Should we go to our spot now?" I said. "Hold on. Let me get my telescope from home and then we can go." He said. So we went to Luke's house first.

We arrived at Luke's house and went in his house. I looked around while Luke was getting his bike and then I realize, Luke's Dad isn't home. "Okay, Rose. I'm ready to go." before I realize it, Luke was already outside waiting for me. "Coming!" I went out and shout the door behind me. We walked to our secret place.

While we're walking, the awkward silence is between us, again. So decided to start a conversation, as we walked to our secret place. "So, Luke... Why isn't your dad home?" "Well, I bet his drinking at the café with Acer and Howard. Knowing Dad at THIS kind of festival, he should be back home around 3-4am. Sometimes, he wouldn't come back home until daybreak tomorrow." He laughed with a bit of mockery in his tone. "I see. Then..." I started to slightly panic. Okay... What should I do, now? Wait... I know! "Um.. What's so special about this festival, well, beside the meteor shower? I-I mean... I hope what I said did offend you, or anything like that!" I completely panic but Luke just laughed at how ridiculous I sounded. "Nah! Don't worry bout that. Well, this festival was created by the town's founding mayor, Sir William Frank Smith. When he first arrived here it was sunset and he decided to camp, where the Town Hall is now. When night falls, Sir William looked up to the sky and, practically saw outer space. So, he decided to make a festival that celebrate the 'celestial heavens' from above, the Starry Night Festival but now known as the Stargazing Festival." I was a bit surprised that Luke known the history. "Well. Sir William was right. The night skies here are so... Different from anything I ever saw before in the city. It's rare in the modern age to see a complete set of stars in the sky." I looked up at the sky realizing that the sky is slightly turning orange. "Already!? Luke, let's go! It's almost sundown!" We both ran towards our secret place.

After an exhausting run, we made it just in time. So we place everything on the ground besides the tree. We started placing the blankets on the ground for us to sit on and setting up the telescope for when the meteor shower begins. When everything's done and set, we lit some small fireworks to past the time. As he were watching at the sparkling fireworks lit up, I on the other hand, was watching him the whole time; could felt my cheeks starting to heat up. This feeling ? Again? What is this always happen every time I'm alone with Luke? What isit?Heart throbbing? Going speechless? Am I sick? Or... Something else?

"Rose!" I snapped out of my daze and looked over at Luke, who was looking through the telescope; I went over to him. "Yeah. What's up?" I asked still feeling the heat from my cheeks. "Look!" He stepped aside and I looked through. Looking at the stars through the telescope and seeing them closer than before makes me think, how wonderfully beautiful the stars are when the lights are out. "Woah!" I awed, still looking through the telescope. "Yeah. It's wonderful, isn't it?" I took a quick glance at Luke; looking at the stars with a smile on his face and then, I looked back at looking through the telescope and, at that very moment, I saw the a shooting star.

"Rose, it's starting." Luke said and went to sit down on the blankets; I then joined him. "I'm excited, are you?" Luke said and I responded with a nod. And so, one by one, shooting stars or should I saw meteors started to fill the sky. "Woah!!" We both awed. I never imagine that I could watched an actual meteor shower. It's a dream come true. I looked around me; just seeing the dark surrounding such as the trees and the grassy ground, being slightly enlightened by the shower. Then my set their sights on Luke.

His green eyes sparkle with each passing meteor. His smile is more cheerful than ever before. I couldn't but sweetly smile at him; with him being oblivious to what I'm doing. There it is again! That feeling... What is it? Why do I always get this feeling when his next to me, every time? I what to know what is this feeling.I looked up again at the sky; watching the meteors went by. I felt like, that question is not important, what matters is that... "I'm sitting at a peaceful place, watching a spectacular meteor show and alone with the person who I adore.

By the time it ended it was 9:23pm. The meteor shower just lasted thirty or forty minutes but, for me, it felt like it lasted for eternity. Now that it's late, we decided went home. So we clean up very thing, making sure we didn't leave anything behind and went home.

As I was walking home, that question still remains. "What as that feeling?" I muttered under my breath. I looked up to the still starry sky in between the rows of tree tops.