'A meaningful silence is better than meaningless words.'
The girl stared, unsure of what to do.
How long had he been standing there, watching her?
She gazed at him, a wary look spreading across her face.
Startled, he flinched at her expression, and completely lost his balance.
Hurtling backwards, he landed flat on his back, crying out.
She blinked, something like startle and bemusement creeping onto her face as he rubbed his back in a pained expression, and she burst into laughter.
The rich sound of her laughter broke the dull silence in the air, her violet eyes twinkling, and he looked at her in amazement.
This stony faced girl. . . laughing?
And at him too, to make matters worse.
His mouth broke into a grin, and soon, they were both doubling over on the ground.
"So, who are you?"
he asked.
She eyed him dubiously, and he cringed under her piercing gaze.
"I could ask you the same question."
she retorted back.
"Really though, I always see you in your ward, but never outside."
he started, immediately regretting it.
Her eyes turned cold.
"Don't say that as if you know me. Besides, I haven't seen you around up here anyways."
Then she blinked again, her eyes softening.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean that — I just. . . I don't know, really."
Her eyes turned damp again, and he only gave her a gentle smile.
But it was enough to tell her that he'd been there before — that he understood.
"Well?"
she asked, crossing her arms impatiently.
He raised his eyebrows.
"'Well' what?"
he said.
She rolled her eyes.
"I'm assuming you're going to tell me your name."
"What?"
he threw his arms into the air, surprised, then recoiling back into a grin.
"Only if you tell me yours."
he said slyly.
Now it was her turn to raise her eyebrows.
"How about this,"
she proposed.
"we call each other by the nicknames we give each other."
He gave her a questioning look.
She continued.
"Let's say a week. We meet each other here at the same time, same place, and we have to make up a name for each other by next week. Understand?"
His grin widened.
"Deal. But. . . what makes you think I'll be back here next week? I don't even know you, whoever you are."
he said.
She smirked.
"Do you really have anything better to do?"
He flushed, looking down.
"Exactly."
she said triumphantly.
"Fine then."
he started.
"But in that case we should make a pact, so we wouldn't forget."
She peered at him, urging him to continue.
"How about a pact for each of us to complete one of our lifelong goals, for example? Or to vanquish of our childhood dreams, ridiculous as they may seem. . . together? We could do one goal a week alternately, and we could have a whole list and everything."
he explained.
"That's. . . not a bad idea, actually."
A smile was playing on her lips.
"I'm game if you are."
YOU ARE READING
When The Stars Fall
Short StoryOnce upon a time there was a girl and a boy. The two of them had always been immersed in their own lives, having pulled in too deep in reality, and have never known the world beneath their small city. But when tragic events strike them, they realise...
