The Fault in our Moons

Chapter 2: The Third Planet from the Sun

Julius is so charming! the way he calls me fatty is mesmerizing and how he makes me feel so confident just makes my heart flutter. As we go through the constellation exhibit, the walls covered with stars and made to look like outer space, he tells me all about our earth and the solar system.

"Did you know, Cashew, the Earth is the third planet from the sun?" he asks. "Are you serious? No! How do you know?!" I ask surprised, I drop my voice down,"Are you a spy from NASA?" He laughs. "No, my dad told me yesterday."

Whenever he laughs, a warm feeling spreads throughout my gigantic body. His smile, his laugh,his everything, it just lights up my world like nobody else.

"Do not be alarmed, Cashew. I am not from NASA, I just have a very advanced knowledge of space. I don't want you to feel stupid either. Only 1 out of 5 people know that the earth is the third planet from the sun. Also, only one out of every ten people know that the order of planets from the sun is mercury, venus, earth, mars, jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, and pluto."

I stare at him in shock for 3.08769 seconds. I had no idea someone could be so smart. He smiled with satisfaction as I pulled myself together.

As we continued through the room, he proceeded to tell me all of the constellations mapped on the walls. It turned me on, all of his astronomy knowledge.

"Have you ever read the book, Chrissa?" I ask. I stop walking and turn to face him. "It's just that, okay, I've never told this to anyone but my mom, it's just that Chrissa is my favorite book and I think you would really like it." I watch his face, nervously biting my oversized, chunky lip.

Julius then says,"Chrissa, as in...?" "The American girl book," I respond almost immediately. His face is clouded for a second with contemplation.

"I will read American girl Chrissa as long as you read Thomas the Tank Does It Again."

I smile,"Deal."