Chapter Text
(6:58 PM) You coming?
(6:58 PM) Already on my way
The Thursday night was brumous, with a low gray haze that made Aeryn doubt they would see a single shooting star. Even so, her excitement didn’t fade. On Monday she caught seven while Michael caught six, and the competition still hummed quietly under her skin.
It was their game. Every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday they met at the small neighborhood park to see who could catch the most shooting stars. Not literally, of course, but that never stopped them from trying.
The neighborhood itself didn’t have much to offer. A drugstore that closed too early. A tiny Mexican restaurant that everyone loved but no one ever talked about. And a park that felt like it belonged only to them.
Aeryn reached the abandoned swings and empty benches, smiling when she spotted Michael already on the grass. He was sitting cross-legged, hoodie bunched around his shoulders, a familiar shape against the dim lights.
“I thought you’d never make it,” he teased.
“Funny,” she said, settling beside him. She leaned her head on his shoulder, and he kissed the top of her hair before sliding an arm around her like it was instinct.
They stared up at the sky together. Contrary to what most people believed, shooting stars weren’t that rare. You could miss one in the space of a blink, and most people only ever saw a small part of the sky at once. That was why they seemed impossible to catch.
Aeryn breathed in Michael’s cologne. He had used the same one for three years, even after the brand disappeared from stores. Somehow that only made it feel more like him. More constant. More magical.
“One,” Michael said.
“What? When?” Her eyes flew open. She didn’t even remember closing them.
Michael laughed. “Just now.” He stuck his tongue out at her, and she snickered. “Your eyes look almost black right now. Even though they’re so dark, they always look warm. The stars reflect in them,” he said softly.
The words made her cheeks heat. His gaze held hers for a long, quiet moment. Neither of them noticed the next shooting star streaking overhead. Michael’s face was inches from hers, his breath brushing her cheek each time he exhaled.
Aeryn rested her head on his shoulder again. Michael dipped his nose into her hair.
“I love you,” he murmured.
“I love you too,” she whispered.
He lifted his head to look at her again. Their eyes met for long seconds, and he leaned in slowly, almost cautiously. Aeryn realized what he was doing, panicked, and pulled away. Michael stopped immediately, embarrassment flushing through him. Whatever he meant to say tangled in his throat and didn’t make it out.
The tension sat heavy between them. Aeryn felt it press on her chest, convinced she was the one who ruined the moment. Not knowing what else to do, she rested her head on his shoulder again. His muscles eased under her, and some of the pressure dissolved.
“Two,” he said with a crooked grin.
Aeryn rolled her eyes and nudged him with her shoulder. He laughed, loud and bright, and she turned just enough to see his face. His eyes squinted at the corners and his smile stretched wide, teeth catching the faint glow of the sky. The stars scattered above them, but he looked brighter than all of them combined.
Not that she would ever admit it out loud, but the brightest star was sitting right beside her.