Luna Queen

Chapter 7.5

                    Cassandra Stewart had always dreamed of true love. She had never fallen in love with anybody. When she tried to envision what her partner would be like, she usually came up with nothing.

After they had finished the food, the movie and the discussion, they now sat in a brief silence, broken by Christopher.

"Are you cold?" He had only just noticed the goosebumps on her skin and found out the flaw in his otherwise-flawless plan. It was quite cold outdoors for a human at this time.

"I'm okay as long as I have this blanket," she smiled at him, snuggling more into her blanket.

After the one honest statement, Cassandra felt ten times more comfortable around him. She could almost see herself falling in love with this man.

When the two of them went inside, Christopher offered food.

"Instead of food, isn't there something you said you'd offer last time?" Cassandra reminded him.

"You mean, alcohol?" he asked. "You are right. I should have better remembered that. What would you like?"

"I'm okay. I'm just teasing."

"We could drink a glass of wine," he insisted.

"To finally celebrate your honesty?"

"I have never lied to you, Cassandra," he said, slightly offended.

"I'm teasing you!" she rolled her eyes. "You need to lighten up a bit."

Christopher smiled at her. He could tell that she was warming up to him. He could imagine them living together; eating, laughing. He wanted that future.

They sat on the couch for a while, sharing a cup of ice-cream, comfortable in silence.

Eventually, Christopher broke the silence, when he gave her his number. "This is my personal number. Not many people have it. I want us to be able to talk whenever we want to."

After they exchanged numbers, Cassandra declared that it was time for her to leave.

"It is merely nine. You should stay for a bit longer," Christopher insisted.

"No. I should go. My mother will wait up for me otherwise."

As she was leaving, he built up the courage to do what he wanted to do all day. He gave her his mother's necklace.

"You told me it belonged to my queen. I agree with you. So, it is only right for you to have it. Do you not agree?" he said.

*****

                    Cassandra Stewart had become friends with Alice at a very young age. Her mother had gotten this job after her father died, and Alice had been the only one in the neighbourhood in her age group. The two had become fast friends after that and Alice's late shift made the girls closer than ever before.

Cassandra was used to telling her best friend everything about her life. With new information on the surface, her life was turning around and she wanted Alice's take on things. But Alice was not at home, waiting for all the details, like she expected. On further enquiry, her mother revealed that Alice's grandfather was on his deathbed and wished to see his only granddaughter, so she was sent away.

Unfortunately for Cassandra, a very unlikely event had also taken place. Alice had left her phone in a hurry.

Usually an advocate of honesty, she did not know whether she should tell her mother everything. She worried about her reaction, and for some reason, felt like this was too private a thing to share.

Before she hit the bed, she decided to send one text.

To: Christopher

Good Night :)