— Aurelia Perlman :

Staring up at the celestial moon shining brightly in the dimly lit night sky, I decided that maybe it was time to answer the question Romeo Sinclair bravely asked the day after our incredible date. At that moment, I was swinging back and forth on my balcony swing contemplating whether or not I should give Romeo a response to his question. As always, I was mentally noting down the pros and cons of agreeing to his inquiry and of course, feeling uncertainty settling in my stomach and my hands beginning to tremble. I didn't know why I was so nervous.

That's a lie, I did. The anxiety began coursing throughout my body when Romeo Sinclair made his way over to me in the middle of our lunch hour and demanded to speak with me. Alone. I hated it when people dramatically made announcements like that, it always had a way of managing to make me feel the anxiousness settling into my stomach.

"What is it?" I had asked him, rolling my eyes in the process as prior to this moment, Talia and I were having a conversation about her and Noah and it was just about to get interesting as Romeo whisked me away. He chuckled a little but stopped as soon as his eyes met my piercing stare. We made our way to the grass-filled area that was outside of the school, the place was isolated as it was windy. Regret filled me when my untied hair began to blow everywhere.

Romeo stated that he had to ask me something important and I began to worry as soon as those words left his mouth. Could it be about my appetite? No, he wouldn't know about that, he couldn't. I had been so careful to hide it from everyone. But then again, maybe I hadn't been careful enough. I was never the one to be good at keeping secrets, even when they were my own. That was what Ares was good at, he was the liar, the devil child to some. Me, I was never the type to indulge in lying as I hated doing it to the people I loved or just anyone at all even though lately, I had been doing it a lot. Maybe it would've been better for me to had come clean to him at that moment and maybe I was right.

"I- I like you Aurelia, a lot and I really want to date you but if you don't wanna then that's fine we can just be friends but promise you'll think about it? You don't have to say yes at this moment." He sputtered out. I could tell he knew that he was rambling but his mouth wouldn't stop. "And before you ask why I'll answer it for you; you're amazingly smart, you're funny, you're good at everything, you have the kindest and most beautiful heart to match along with your beautiful face."

Romeo's face tinted a light pink and he gently placed his hands in mine. My eyes stared straight into Romeo's Nutella ones and instead of saying a word, I leaned up and wrapped my arms around his neck, his arms immediately wrapping around my waist. In his ear, I whispered a thank you awkwardly and promised him I'd get back to him. I left him with a chaste kiss to his soft cheek and left to confide in Talia Cameron.

The thing I liked a lot about Romeo Sinclair was that he knew, he knew I would not be able to answer his question straight away as I was never the one to do something on impulse. I was a planner and he knew that he respected it and for once, I felt as if I had been listened to like I mattered and maybe I did.

It was nearing eleven pm when I began to dial the number of Romeo Sinclair until I ended it. I had thought it would've been better if I answered him face to face. Maybe it was better, either way, it was obvious I was trying to prolong it. See, I had always thought that I would be the one dating Ares in high school, no one else. He was the only guy I sought after in my sordid high school years. No one else's existence mattered much to me, only him. Even though I knew I was completely over him, romantically that is, I guess a part of me was still holding on to the idea of Ares.

And that had me thinking, maybe I was never in love with the Ares Dechiel I knew, maybe I was in love with the idea of him. I did always have a habit of softening his icy words and downplaying his abusive behaviour. The thought of being in a relationship with Ares meant safety. I knew with him I'd always have the best things, the best life, he'd been my best friend for my whole life. I knew he wouldn't hurt me physically but mentally, maybe. We weren't even on the same wavelength; he was a terrible human being, he lived vicariously through arguments and conflict. He was always the one to cause tension, I was always the problem solver, the kind one, the one who always calmed Ares down with my dulcet voice and calming gestures. He wasn't good for me, I knew that but I still wanted him. I needed him to want me too. But he didn't and maybe that was for the best.

There I was, laying down on my arguably too big bed with my finger hovering over the send button. It was a text to Romeo asking him if he was willing to meet me. I wasn't even expecting a response but when I got a simple 'Yes, Where?' happiness burst through me. I told him to meet me in a grassy area, where the view of the town could be seen and the stars could be gazed at.

"Why did you want to meet me here?" Romeo asked me, lying down next to me on the dry grass. Twisting my neck to the left to face him, I decided that I should tell him the story of how I came to find this place.

"It was when Ares and I were ten years old when his parents wanted to take us to a park for a picnic. His dad missed the turn due to the fact that during the entire car ride, he argued with his wife. Whilst Ares' parents were having it out on the sidewalk, Ares and I crept out of the stuffy car and stumbled across a clearing in the trees. That's how we found this place. After we told his parents about it, they stopped fighting for the rest of the day. That's why this place means so much to me and that's why I wanted to answer your question here. So, yes Romeo, I would love to be your girlfriend."

Romeo sat upright and encouraged me to do the same. Carefully, he lifted me up and placed me gently on his lap, my legs wrapped around his torso. Taking one hand off my waist, he pulled my face closer to his and for a while, we stared at each other, bathing in the other’s company. His eyes landed on my lips then back to my eyes as if he was asking for permission, I nodded slightly and that was when he kissed me. It was midnight and despite the fact I had snuck out to see him, and it being an act which was wrong to do, it felt right. When he kissed me, I didn't feel sparks coursing through my veins. No, I felt my skin tingle with delight. His lips were soft and nervous and it was reassuring knowing that I wasn't the only one who had been. I returned the favour with a smile on my face but I felt him pulling away. Before I could ask what was wrong he began to talk.

"Ares meant a lot to you, didn't he?" And even though that was his question I knew it wasn't what he was truly asking. He wanted to know if I was totally over Ares and if I had moved on. And truthfully, I had. When I wake up, I don't think about why Ares Dechiel left me that cold autumn Monday morning anymore, I don't think about him anymore. He was my past and Romeo Sinclair was hopefully going to be my future.

Once I had told him the truth, he moved his head closer to softly kiss me again and soon we were cuddling under a blanket and gazing at the stars. I loved watching him try to name each one and mess up. He didn't know about stars as I did and for once, I was the smarter one. No one was able to steal my thunder if I was the reason for it. And I was the reason for it.