Chapter Text
Nova crunched down the sharp blades of grass as she continued walking down the graveyard, hand in hand with Evie. They kept walking, past the maple trees and the dust coated gravestones until they reached the ones they were looking for.
There stood two short gravestones. Evie and Nova sat gently on the grass, still holding each other's hands. The wrapping for the flowers crinkled as Nova set them down. They were lilies. Their mother’s favorites and now Nova and Evie’s as well. Nova traced a finger in the name engraved on the tomb. Tala Artino. She felt tears welling up in her eyes. For once, she let them fall. Two sets of tiny droplets dripped onto the wilted lilies.
When their parents died Evie was only a month old. Nova was six. She did her best to tell absolutely every detail about them to her. Like the way Tala’s hair smelled like coconuts or the swift, confident movements David used when using strands of raw energy to create. Or maybe the savory taste of their mother’s lumpia, which Nova still tries to replicate the recipe to this day. Or her father’s ravioli. Things like, the beautiful melody of Tala’s sweet voice that would sing them both to sleep.
“Nova?” Asked Evie, her voice wavering.
“Yes?” She replied.
“Can you miss someone you barely even knew?” Evie's brown eyes sparkled with tears as she looked at her older sister sadly.
“Oh, Evie,” said Nova, engulfing her in a hug, kissing the top of her forehead. As she hugged Evie she fidgeted with her dark curls.
They held each other in a tight embrace, scared to let go anytime soon. The bond the two of them had could never be broken, and Nova was glad for that.
To make them both feel better, after they left the graveyard, Evie went to a nearby convenience store to get their favorite yogurts. The yogurt had been Tala’s favorite snack and is now the girls’ too. Nova loved the creamy, strawberry flavor it gave. When Evie came back they both sat on a bench. Cherry blossom petals flurried in the air as they opened the cap of their yogurts. They both lifted theirs, and clinked them together.
“To, mama and papá!” Said Evie, smiling. Though it didn’t reach her eyes.
“To, mama and papá.” Confirmed Nova.
Together, they sipped their yogurt. Nova noticed that the yogurt left a little mustache on Evie and laughed.
“What?”
“Nothing,” she chuckled.
They finished their yogurts in silence as Nova searched her mind for something to talk about.
“Are you nervous about school?” Asked Evie. To be honest, Nova kind of was. She had been homeschooled her whole life, since they couldn’t afford the rich schools. But Uncle Alec gambled his way into getting them to school just so he could get rid of them. Nova would have a hard time making friends for sure, especially since it will probably be filled with rich snobs. The only friends she really had ever made were Narcissa and Evie. But she had to be brave and push through. She also just didn’t want her little sister to be nervous too.
“No. No, I’m not.” Evie raised an eyebrow to this.
“Now you look like you are,” Nova sighed. Evie just knew her too well.
“It’s not that I’m gonna struggle in academics, I think I’m covered for that. It’s just…I just think I’ll have a hard time making friends,” Nova mumbled the last part. No one could ever catch her saying anything like that. Only Evie. They were just that close.
“Only time will tell,” She pointed out.
Nova sighed and glanced at the gorgeous cherry blossom trees. Each delicate petal falling to the ground gracefully, “Only time will tell.” Nova agreed.
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Adrian gently lifted his tousled, curly bangs to wipe his sweat-coated forehead. There were scorching rays of afternoon sunshine that peeked through the trees. The beating sun cast a majestic glow on the town. Magnolia and maple trees stood tall with wide-spread branches that grew beautiful shades of orange and pink. Down below, there were many bushes decorated with an assortment of different flowers. Peonies, lilies, orchids, violets, and more. Butterflies, moths, and bees flurried all over them. Tarobrook was well known for its beauty. He smiled thinking about how the citizens took very good care of this place. Making sure no one littered and other things as well.
Adrian caught a glimpse of dark twists and saw his mom popping out of the cluster of magnolias. She held what looked like a heavy box and passed it his way.
“Is this the last of them?” Adrian asked her. Inside the box were packages of his favorite mini yogurts.
“Yep,” said Georgia with a sigh. She wiped her forehead which was also coated with sweat.
Adrian was glad autumn was coming soon. And with that, the start of the school year. The more he thought about it, school was actually really fun when there was no academic stress. He missed Oscar, Ruby, and Danna. It wasn’t like he didn’t see them in the summer, he totally did. It’s just that, in school, he got to see them more often.
His favorite season was autumn because then most of the trees turned a nice cider orange. The leaves would then flow down to the ground and he’d get to crunch them beneath his feet. He also loved the pumpkin and cinnamon smell that wafted in the air as strolled by shops.
Adrian turned toward the convenience store Georgia owned. Him and Max would always help around, especially in the summer. In the summer is when they’d all be there. By the time school came around, Georgia had to go to her other job and, obviously, Adrian and Max would be in their schools. When they were all gone, usually there would just be different people that were looking for a part-time job.
The chimes attached to the door jingled a pleasant melody that always gave a feeling of tranquillity when you entered. Adrian inhaled the scent of sweet, sticky candies and a hint of pine. Heading towards the section where they kept dairy products, he opened the box and started restocking.
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Adrian watched as the pinkish purple colored sky blended into a midnight blue with a few milky stars twinkling above. He had been standing at the register for what seemed like hours. Every once in a while a customer would walk in and buy a little snack or make themselves some boba at the little station in the corner of the store. But today, there was just a strange shortage of customers, especially because it was August.
Adrian roamed his mind, pondering things he could do besides eat, but nothing came to him. His attention shifted to Max who was playing on his Nintendo Switch while eating apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon.
He whipped out his watch to check the time. It was 12:58; the store was about to close.
“Cmon, Max. We gotta go.” Max turned off his Switch and left the store, already walking away towards the direction closest to their house.
Adrian secretly swiped a mini yogurt before switching off the lights and flipping the sign at the front door. Instead of immediately walking home, he decided to sit by a tree and drink his yogurt. When he did, he looked at all the lush greenery that surrounded all parts of Tarobrook. As he looked around, his eyes caught something.
Not so far from where Adrian was sitting, sat a girl. This confused him, as it was very late to be outside like this. But, if anything, he shouldn’t be talking as someone who sleeps very late as well. Wisps of black, wavy hair fell just above her shoulders and her face was deep in concentration. His attention switched to her hands, and he noticed she was knitting. Her hands were moving in a steady, confident motion. As if she knew exactly what she was doing.
Adrian looked away, suddenly aware that he’d been staring at her for the past minute. But, he was so bored that, unconsciously, his attention was pulled back to her again. This time, he noticed how the moonlight casted a glow on her face, making it easier to decipher her features, which were sharp and sculpted. Lifting up her work, she stared at it for a few seconds to see how it looked so far. After she took a good look, her lips tugged into a smirk. Adrian swallowed.
He had never seen a girl that beautiful.
Then, coincidentally, she looked his way, and they locked eyes. Adrian could’ve swore his heart skipped a beat. Heat started flowing in his cheeks as he hastily gulped down the rest of his yogurt and began walking home. Spending the entire time thinking about the mysterious girl.