C.R.A.N.E (Strange Editing WiP)

Chapter Twenty Four: Stars

"Don't worry. I wanna surprise you. Don't you trust me?" I said.

"Well..."

"C'mon."

She slowly nodded and I went to cover her eyes and slowly guided her to the hill.

"Just a moment...keep your eyes closed." I said putting my hand away from her eyes.

I took a good look at the sky and it was just perfect than ever before.

"Alright, open."

And when she did, she was starstruck. She dropped her jaw and looked at the night sky in amazement.

"So, what do you think?" I asked.

"This is so beautiful! Do you always come here?"

"Well, from time to time. To recollect thoughts and such."

I began to prepare the blanket down while she was still observing the sky.

"Hypnotizing, huh?" I said, still focused on laying the blanket.

"This is just..."

She stopped, trying to find the words to describe it, but she was just so astonished by the sky.

After preparing, I sat down on the blanket and watched her. The stars and moon shined on her. She was just...beautiful. There was no other word to describe her. In fact, there was no absolute word to explain what she was like.

She turned around, looking at me while I smiled and leaned on my arm before realizing I was distracted this time.

"Am I really that amusing to you?" She said, chuckling.

I stopped smiling and blushed.

"Um..ah..heh... sorry." I stuttered, scratching the back of my neck.

She walked over and slowly sat down next to me. We both sat there silently, not sure who should say what or who should talk first.

"So..uhh...do you like it here?" I asked.

"Of course!" She said with a smile. "My father would always take me stargazing. He was obsessed with it. He would always drag me along."

"But...do you enjoy it?"

"Well yeah, father was always technical about it though. He would mumble random bearings to himself. I would just stare into the sky and just be in deep thought. Do you like tracking down stars, or are you a dreamer?"

"hmm, it really depends. I mostly relax here, but astronomy is also interesting. I like putting what I learn from books into real life."

"So you're a reader then?"

"It's not really common for me to read non-fiction books, but I like sci-fi."

"Favorite book?"

"Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy wins by far. Yours?"

"I prefer reading mystery, like Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie."

"That explains why you're a lawyer."

A cold breeze passed through and Rylie shivered, holding her arms. I took my grey coat off and put it over her.

"Are you sure, Roukan? It's cold."

"It's fine. I don't want you to get a cold." I said, with a little smile. "So, tell me about yourself. Family, interests, hobbies, anything."

"Well, I grew up in Washington D.C. And came here to study. Were you born here?"

"Born and raised in this city for 18 years. Know this city front and back."

"Wait, you're eighteen?" She said, a little startled.

"...yeah?" I slowly said. "Is that a problem?"

"No not at all. It's just...I thought you were a little older. What is an eighteen year old doing at a pub? And drinking..."

"Oh, well. It was hard for me too get a job and...long story short, the bartender allowed me to work for him, and let's Aatu and I have a sip or two."

"Are you sure he gives you just one or two? Aatu seemed pretty drunk when I was there..."

I gave a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of my neck again.

"Aatu's a strange character, is he?"

"I guess. But he's a good guy once you get to know him."

"Have you two been friends for long?"

"Since we started school."

She smiled at me, staring me right in the eyes. It kind of put me off guard and made me blush.

"So..uhhh....if you don't mind me asking, how old are you?"

"Twenty. Two years isn't a big difference. Nick was about..." She stopped mid-sentence.

I knew she didn't forget about him. I knew it bothered her. He was just so, pathetic. Why would someone like her be with a guy like him?

"I'm glad Nick is not around to bother me anymore." She quietly said.

"I just want to know. Why was he your boyfriend in the first place? He's just so, you know..."

"Don't get me wrong, Roukan. He was a great guy at first, but then...a lot happened. He also wanted to be a lawyer. That's how we first met in the first place. He had trouble in his personal life, and he had to be kicked out of college. He had no job, no family. He started taking drugs, and was involved in trafficking and such. I tried to help him, but he just screwed over his life. And when I broke up with him, he was heart broken, and he denied that I wasn't his girlfriend you know."

She looked down, with a face of guilt and sadness. Then she quickly changed.

"So, have you had any girlfriends?" She randomly asked.

"Uh, no, not really." I replied.

"You're joking."

"Aatu was more of the ladies man. Too bad he couldn't keep them for long."

"How come?"

"His stupidity."

He both laughed and there was another cool breeze. She lied down and rested her head on me.

"Thank you for bringing me here, Roukan. I enjoyed it."

"Uh, you're welcome." I said, blushing once again before we slowly fell asleep with the stars watching over us.

End of flashback