Star-Crossed

Chapter Two: I've been through the desert/ And I've been across the sea

I'VE READ AT LEAST a thousand books in my seventeen years of life. I mean, a thousand minimum. In all the fantasy books, there's a heroine, right? And sometimes, she has dreams. In those dreams, she sees a guy. He's over-exaggeratedly hot and he's typically calling out to her. She doesn't know why, but she feels like she knows him. She feels this connection stronger than anything in her waking life.

Then, somehow-completely by chance-they meet each other in her waking life. Wham, bam they fall in love, get married, have a crapload of kids, yadda yadda. I've read that same story a thousand times before at least ten different ways.

But, this? This is the real world. This is not a perfect world and there are no such things as men who come straight out of your dreams and into the real world. If that were the case, I'm pretty sure a fuckton of women wouldn't be broken hearted. If you could just dream up the perfect man or woman, who knows how the hell this world would turn out?

"Hello," Clarissa says, waving her hands in front of my face.

I come back into myself, blinking rapidly at her.

"Sorry, Lari, did you say something?"

She leans back in her seat and frowns at me. We're at our usual table at the far corner of Adalene's. The interior is very Parisian chic and despite having some of the biggest restaurants all over, Adelene's is a local favorite. People flock here for their croissants and their coffee, for their fresh crepes and eclairs. If you want good French desserts and amazing coffee, Adelene's is the place you go.

"You've seemed distracted since you walked in," Clarissa points out, picking up one of her Madeleine's and taking a bite.

"She's right, you know," Ty speaks up, looking at me over his cream puffs and hot chocolate. His eyes-gentle and the color of emeralds-appraise me worriedly.

Ava pays us no mind as she happily digs into her chocolate mousse, either unaware or completely uncaring of the fact it's getting all over her tiny, chubby face.

Adalene's is quiet. There is the sound of murmurs as people around us speak to each other quietly. Adalene's is one of those places you could come by yourself and not feel uncomfortable. Like, if you went to a Friday's or and Applebees by yourself, you'd feel awkward, you know? It's a place where if you don't have at least one other person with you, you feel like the loneliest person in the world.

But at Adalene's, the quiet atmosphere was the perfect place to go whether you were with other people or alone. Even now, I can see many people who have come alone, typing on their computers or reading books.

The smell of coffee and baked goods is so amazing, it's almost intoxicating.

"See? Ty agrees," Lari says, shoving another madeleine in her mouth. "You haven't even touched your lemon tart and it's your favorite." She leans in closely, blue-grey eyes watchful. "What's up with you?"

I look away from her piercing stare. It's strange to find I'm avoiding the eyes of a twelve-year-old, but there was something about Clarissa's gaze that made you want to spill your guts. Especially when you were hiding something.

I'd kept my dreams of Xerxion a secret. It isn't that I'm embarrassed by them-I mean, what person didn't dream of the perfect world with the perfect person-but my dreams of Xerxion always felt like more than dreams.

They are like memories, those dreams. Treasure, private memories. The idea of speaking to anyone of the way he smiled for me or of the way he built me a castle out of gold and stardust feels like I'm violating our relationship.

Smiling, I say, "I'm fine, you two. Really. It's just that..." I struggle to think of an excuse. "Aida offered me a job at the library this summer. I was spaced out because I was hoping I'd get it. Everyone else has plans this summer. You three are going to London with Miss. June and the others completely ignore me, so I was worried about being stuck in my room for the next two months. If I don't get this job, I'm trying to figure out what I'll do."