Luna Eclipse

chapter one

My golden glasses tilted slightly on my face as I laid down on my side reading my most recent secret gem I had found downtown at the shops over the weekend. With my mind completely in a different world, I hadn't noticed my younger sister Lux sitting right in front of me asking a question. 

"Oh, for god's sake Luna can you put your book down for just two minutes" she demanded. I gave her a sorry look and put the bookmark that Asher gave me for my seventeenth birthday last year.

I wondered for a second what he was doing right now - probably with that new girl of his Harlow. Our break up wasn't messy, or devastating or anything. It was better for both of us. As college was now on our radar and us realising that we would be on complete opposite sides of the country we knew it wouldn't work out. 

I didn't realise though that that meant he would start dating so soon. So much for taking time to discover our 'true selves'. I should've known better.

I put my book down onto the coffee table in front of me and put all my focus onto Lux. "Thank you" she rolled her eyes, "now that I finally have your attention - can you tell me what out plans are for tomorrow?" She asked.

Stunned for a second, then I realised tomorrow was the first day of school. 

While Lux was entering Sophomore year, I was starting Senior year, something I have looked forward to my entire life. One year, that's all. One year and I can finally leave the small town of Earl Park. I can leave all the horrible memories in my past and move on with my life. With Lux too. That's if she agrees with me to make the move. But that's a discussion for a later time.

"I have work from 5 until 8, and I'll come pick you up on my way. Does that sound good?" she nodded her head and did a thumbs up as her response she then raised one eyebrow, "mysterious man coming in tomorrow?" As a huge grin applied to her face. 

I threw a cushion at her and told her to go back to her room. Of course, he won't. Surely, he was just an out of towner passing through. No one like that lives here in Earl Park. This boring small town.

Other than the incident with my father we rarely have any exciting activity happening here. Not that it was exciting for Lux and I.

Flashbacks of that night rained through my head, those three strange men pounding our front door down. 

Lux was only 13 and I was 15. Too young to witness it, too young to lose both our mother and father. Just watching them drag him away while trying to hold Lux back as she screamed and yelled out his name. 

"Look after her Lux, please!" I remember him yelling, "she needs you. Don't worry, you'll be okay. I'll see you soon and don't call the police, whatever you do, don't call the police".

Two years later and nothing, not a word from him. From anyone. As much as we wanted to go to the police, there was something about the way my father yelled that out to us. Like we would be in some kind of danger if we did go to them. 

Surprisingly it's been easy to impersonate him. We have aced his signature and have always had an excuse on why he can't go to parent teacher meetings. We have both made sure that our grades and behaviour at school are always top notch so they would have no reason to call him.

As for our mother - she left when I was only 4. On my first day of school. She dropped me off in the morning and that was the last time I saw her. Lux doesn't remember a thing about her and I can only remember the memories that were either recorded or that my father told me. But all of that is behind us. We have learnt to survive on our own.

We have grown up quickly in the past two years. While Lux doesn't have a job, I do. I work at the local cafe on the highway Whipped. Lots of people passing through. Like that mystery man that Lux likes to call him.

I suppose she only got that idea from me. His whole demeanour was off putting. It felt as though I knew him, or he knew me. I just couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was.

I was working on the register that morning, it was busier than usual so I didn't notice him come in. But when he stepped forward to order, something felt strange. 

He stared at me for a good few seconds and ordered. I could tell by his accent he wasn't from around here, maybe from New York.

His clothes didn't fit in either. Black skinny jeans with a back button up long-sleeved top. His scarf sitting perfectly around his neck. I couldn't make out his eyes as he was wearing glasses. When he paid for his drink, I saw a tattoo peak out from his wrist.

His name is Elijah. At least that's the name I put onto the cup. I felt his eyes burning into the back of me when I served the next customer. Too distracted by him as I started to feel flustered. My cheeks were burning and my hands were sweaty. Why is he causing this? I thought.

Tobias my boss was making his coffee. He nudged me and motioned for me to look towards Elijah. I looked up and he called me over. "Is there something wrong?" I asked. 

"What is your name" he replied. "I'm sorry, what?" I was stunned. "I asked, what is your name?" completely taken aback by this I quickly stuttered my name and handed him his drink.

Without being able to ask why he needed my name he was out of there in an instant. I took a deep breath and got back to work. But he didn't leave my thoughts. Not once since then have I not thought of him. 

Why did he need my name? Why didn't he explain himself to me? Questions that won't be answered. I hope he does not come into my work tomorrow. I hope I never see him again.

I picked up my book from the coffee table and headed to my bedroom, putting it onto my book shelf full of old and new books. I read a few of the titles, wondering in my head which one I would choose next when my phone went off.

agnes: luna! school starts back up tomorrow. please tell me you have 5th with mr. wilson. i can't do english without you this year

Agnes, one of my best friends. We had only met in freshmen year; she knew Brooks from summer camp. Brooks is my other best friend; I've known him since we went to play group together as kids. Us three have been joint at the hips ever since.

luna: yes, madam i do. don't sit down the front otherwise you know he'll pick on you

Adding a winking emoji to the message. I put my phone down onto the desk in my room and sighed. 

The thought of having to wake myself up just knowing I have to spend seven hours in that school just feels exhausting. Earl Park Academy. A school who cares more about what students wear rather than the actual education they are getting.

This is why I can't wait to get out of there. Gooff to the college of my dreams and never look back. Remove this town, thislife, completely out of my head. Move on and be happy. That's it, I want to behappy again. I heard a notification go off on my phone so I picked it up. 

Newfriend request from Elijah Brown.