Chasing Starlight 💫

2. THE GIRL I USED TO KNOW

Will:

Will looked from Ash to Alründ and back again. Her brows pinched together like they always did when she was upset. He extended his spirit outwards, feeling her golden spirit spiral into a blue tornado. His smile faltered, and he glanced across to Alründ. What did you do?! She loathes me.

Nothing, he replied.

"Excuse me a second," Ash said as her phone beeped.

Will felt her relief the second she turned towards the stage. Tuning into her thoughts, he discovered her concentration was split between answering a text to her friends in the crowd, the fast song being performed on stage, and the mystery of who he was. It was good she was distracted. He needed to interrogate Alründ.

Sure, it was nothing, Will said. If you were watching her from the shadows I could believe you, but you're only meters away. You've been talking to her.

Fine! She bumped into me at the hotdog stand. The girl was a calamity waiting to happen. I had to get her out of there before she caused a riot or sustained an injury. We ate together. Barely spoke a word, if you must know.

You make it sound so innocent.

The side of Alründ's jaw twitched. She was my friend, too, in case you have forgotten. It's not all about you, Will.

I never said it was. But as for Ash being your friend, that's stretching it a little, don't you think? The two of you used to bicker constantly.

He shrugged casually. Whatever.

Will stepped up to him. No. Not whatever. You were supposed to stay in the shadows tonight, never to be seen or heard.

I was hungry. Such a terrible offence! Forgive me!

Fix this, Alründ. Introduce me.

Alründ's gaze almost burned a hole into Will; he was that irritated. Fine. "Ash?"

Ash whipped around, then paled. "Yes?"

What did he say to her? Will wondered.

Nothing, Alründ answered. I did nothing!

Get out of my head!

It's not my fault you can't protect your mind.

Will wanted to punch him in the mouth. Not that it would've stopped him talking.

Alründ smiled pleasantly. "Ash, meet Will."

She frowned, then mustered up a smile. "Hi."

"Hi," Will said, remembering to don his Uncle's British accent at the last second. He offered his hand. Ash shook it and stepped back, as if he were not to be trusted. She was breaking his heart in a few short seconds. "Happy birthday."

"Thanks," she whispered.

Alright, that was uninspired, he thought. I could kiss the back of her hand... No. Alründ's here, watching my abysmal performance.

You're right. It is abysmal. Alründ shook his head. "I'm going for a drink. Ash, look after him for me, will you?" He slapped Will hard on the back, and with one last look at Ash he strode away.

Will hated that her gaze followed Alründ as he disappeared into the crowd. She looked lost, as if she couldn't decide whether to stay or follow his friend. As much as it stung, he soaked in the sight of her, at her unusual ringlets of gold, red, and brown, all of which gleamed under the lantern light. But as she tucked a golden ringlet behind her ear, he sensed she was about to cry.