The Sea, The Stars, and Luna | ✓ The Watty's 2019

chapter 11

cats and dogs the head and the heart

Sebastian

Part of me could not even believe what I was doing. It was like half of my mind was saying that I was crazy and we'd both end up dead, but part of my mind was screaming that this is what we're supposed to do. This was the only thing we're meant to do. Plus, how many people can say they've done something like this?

As we travelled down the road with darkness speeding by, I looked over to my right at the fragile girl beside me. She had her head rested on a pillow against the window, a blanket draped over her shoulders. Her long, chocolate brown hair looked so soft as it cascaded down her shoulders.

I reached and opened the glove compartment where all my cassette tapes and CD's were, and I took one out and put it in the car player.

A song by Elvis Presley began to play, and I turned it up just enough so it filled out the silence but wouldn't wake Luna up. Hearing the sound of the old tape and the music filling my ears, I couldn't believe what I had been missing out on. The hospital had a record player and very limited records, none of which were really worth listening to.

Luna was something so different. I have never met anyone like her before and it's crazy the impact she has had on my life already. I hope that I have been the same for her. It scared me how much she has affected me already, and the fact that she said she was going to die made my stomach churn. I tried to push those thoughts away and focused on the song playing and the road.

We had just passed Connecticut when the sun began to rise. It must've been five in the morning at least. Luna mumbled and stirred in her sleep and I found myself smiling widely, which I wiped off my face.

"Luna," I whispered, rubbing her shoulder, "Luna?"

"Hm?" She stirred.

"We're at a stop. Do you need to use the washroom or anything?" I asked quietly.

"Mmmm," she grumbled. I nodded even though her eyes were closed and grabbed some money from the cup holder. She must be very tired. She is used to strict bedtime so staying up this late and driving for hours is probably taking a toll on her body.

After filling up the tank I went inside and grabbed two coffees and some muffins for Luna and me.

"How's your day going?" The cashier asked. It was an older man, with a five o'clock shadow sitting on his face.

"Actually, it's the best day of my life. Thank you, sir," I smiled at him and he nodded back. And it was true. Never have I once felt this free.

Luna looked up at me when I opened my door. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you up."

"No, it's okay. Where are we?"

"A little ways out of Connecticut. Here I brought you a muffin and coffee. I don't know if you like it so I can grab a tea or something else if you don't." She smiled at the small gesture.

"No, I like coffee. I like tea better but the coffee is good too. Thank you, Sebastian." She took the hot coffee from my hand and took a sip, nodding in approval.

"I cannot believe we are doing this," she shook her head and smirked.

"I can't even imagine how crazy the hospital staff is going right now," I laughed. Luna's smirk disappeared as she thought about everyone being scared out of their minds about her and me.

"Hey, it's okay. This is your life. Don't feel bad," I said calmly.

"I just... I didn't even say goodbye to Sarah." She shook her head.

"You'll see her again. Don't worry. And if she knew you, she probably knows you'll be just fine." I started the car after it sputtered a little.

"How do you know?"

"I just do."

"I'll take your word for it then, although you are pretty crazy. Not sure that is a good idea," she said, sipping her coffee and scrunching up her nose.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I just remembered how much I actually hate coffee," she said, making a face of disgust.

I let out a loud laugh. "You big fat liar. Let's go in and get you a tea. You should stretch your legs anyway."

"Alright. I'm sorry, this coffee was probably expensive, I just didn't want to make you feel bad." She put it in the cup holder.

"No, don't be. My feelings aren't hurt. I'll drink it after mine, I need to stay awake a bit longer anyway," I said, getting out of the car. Luna followed behind me and we went back into the gas station. The same man looked up at us as the doorbell chimed, the same blank expression on his face.

That expression was replaced with a smirk and a raised eyebrow as he nodded at me. "Now I know what you mean by, 'best day of your life.'"

I decided to ignore his vulgar comment and followed Luna to the hot drinks. She filled a cup with hot water and stood in front of the many choices of tea bags.

"I can't choose between earl grey or chai." She placed her hands on her hips.

"I haven't had much tea in my life. I feel like you are more of an earl grey girl, though," I said.

"You're right," she said, putting a teabag in the cup, "we will do this one today."

I take my coffee black, so it took me by surprise when she added sugar and milk to her tea. "What are you doing?"

"Are you serious? Have you tried tea without anything in it? It's gross." She stirred her tea.

"I just suspected maybe you'd use honey," I shrugged.

"No. As a little girl, this is how my dad always made it. And when he used to visit in the hospital he would always make it. Just how I grew up with it," she smiled.

I couldn't get my mind off the fact that she said 'used to visit me.'

"'Used to?'"

"Well, no I mean, he still visits me. Now that I'm not there anymore, he used to visit me," she chuckled.

I nodded and we went up to pay. The man seemed extra friendly towards Luna as he handed her change, and it made me uncomfortable.

"Have a good day, you two," he smiled. I nodded a quick 'you too' to him before getting in the car.

My heart fluttered a little as Luna started bobbing up and down to the Elvis song playing. She just kept getting more perfect.

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a/n: AHHH it's part two already?? Thank you so much already for all your support and likes and comments oh my goodness it's amazing. And also TSTSAL already has 200+ reads that's crazy I cannot thank you enough.