Chapter 61

Celeste

“I’ve thought about it, and... I want to be your girlfriend,” I blurted out, immediately regretting the decision.

I couldn’t believe myself. Every fiber of logic, every sensible voice in my head had warned against it. Yet, in the midst of the adrenaline and the rush of the night, I found myself uttering words I hadn’t planned on saying.

“Really…?” Matt asked, his eyes widening.

I nodded slowly, swallowing. “Yes,” I said quietly. “I… I like you. I’d like to try being your girlfriend.”

For a moment, there was silence. And then Matt broke into a wide grin, his eyes gleaming with mischief and joy. Without a word, he closed the gap between us, wrapped his arms around me, and lifted me off the ground, spinning around as I let out a surprised yelp. The world became a blur of green and silver, the cool night air rushing past us.

Setting me down gently, his hands cupped my face, and before I could react, he pressed his lips to mine. The kiss was soft, lingering, and full of promise.

When our lips parted, Matt pulled back just enough to look at me.

“What changed your mind?” he asked, his gaze searching mine. “I thought you didn’t want to take this any further the last time we talked.”

Caught in the moment and not wanting to admit to my impulsive decision, I replied, “I just... had a feeling. So, I went with it.” But deep inside, I couldn’t deny that the moonlight had played its part, making him appear so incredibly alluring.

Matt leaned in, kissing me again, this time with more passion.

“You won’t regret it,” he whispered, his voice filled with promise.

However, I needed to set one thing straight. I stepped back slightly, locking eyes with him. “Look, I’m not taking off my mask anytime soon. You’ll have to get used to that.”

A brief silence settled between us. Then, with a shrug and that familiar mischievous glint in his eyes, he replied, “I’ll wait forever, even if you never decide to take it off. To me, that mask has been more of a blessing than a curse.”

His words surprised me. They reflected a depth and maturity I hadn't expected. It was this unexpected side of Matt that made me wonder if I had made the right decision after all.

“Thank you, Matt,” I murmured with a slight smile. “That means a lot.”

The calm that settled between Matt and me was disrupted by the ticking clock in my head, the knowledge that Jack very well could wake up at any moment.

“I should really get going,” I whispered, hesitant to end the moment but knowing that the real world awaited.

But Matt had other plans. “Wait,” he said, rummaging in his bag. He pulled out a large, soft-looking blanket. “I brought this along, just in case. Look up.”

The vast expanse of the night sky stretched above us, studded with countless stars that twinkled like diamonds. The Milky Way painted a beautiful arc across the horizon. And there, off in the distance, soft colors of green, purple, and pink danced—the ethereal beauty of the aurora borealis.

“It’s perfect,” I whispered, completely entranced.

“Just a little while longer,” Matt said, echoing my earlier thoughts, his voice soft and pleading. “Stay with me and the stars.”

Without another word, he spread the blanket out on a small clearing. We lay down, side by side, the soft fabric cushioning us from the forest floor. The world beyond the trees felt far away, as though we were cocooned in our own private universe.

The gentle hum of the woods around us, combined with the sheer beauty of the celestial display above, created an atmosphere of magic. We inched closer, our fingers entwining, our breaths synchronizing.

Matt turned to face me, his eyes reflecting the starry expanse above. “Rose,” he whispered, and before I could respond, his lips found mine.

It started slow, a gentle exploration, but as the minutes ticked by, the kiss deepened, became more insistent. We were two souls, lost in the vastness of the universe, finding solace in each other's embrace. It was as if the cosmos itself was drawing us closer, the magnetic pull between stars mirrored in our growing closeness.

But reality has a way of imposing itself, and soon, I felt the weight of my responsibilities and the thought of Jack waking up to find I wasn’t home pressing down on me. Reluctantly, I pulled away. My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath.

“I need to get home,” I said, my voice shaky.

Matt’s eyes were clouded with desire, but understanding dawned on him.

“Of course,” he murmured, helping me to my feet. The world around us seemed brighter, perhaps from the afterglow of our shared moment.

We walked together, hand in hand, through the dense forest. Stopping at the edge of the woods, I turned back to look up at Matt.

“I’ll walk from here,” I said, offering a weak smile and adjusting my mask on my face. “Hopefully there won’t be any more coyotes out tonight.”

“I can walk you home just in case,” Matt offered, hope evident in his eyes.

But I shook my head, a playful smile on my lips. “No, this is where we part. For now,” I added, seeing the disappointment flash in his eyes.

“It’s dangerous, Rose,” he said gently. “Look, I know you want to keep your identity hidden. But I promise I won’t look into anything or snoop at all if I see where you live. I just want to make sure you stay safe.”

Matt’s concern made me blush, and for a moment I almost considered letting him walk me home. For a moment, just a moment, I imagined revealing my true identity, and I imagined him accepting me for who I really was. I imagined the two of us laying in my warm bed until the sun came up, tangled up in each other’s limbs.

But we couldn’t.

“I’ll be fine,” I said, shaking my head. “Thank you, but I need to go home by myself. Maybe someday you’ll understand.”

With a sigh, he drew me close once more, his fingers tracing the line of my jaw. “You’re such a mystery, Rose,” he whispered against my lips before capturing them in another searing kiss.

…

By the time I reached home, the night had deepened. As I stepped inside, I found Jack, sprawled out on the couch, snoring lightly. I nudged him softly, and he stirred, murmuring, “Watch out for the werewolf..."

I rolled my eyes. “Again with the werewolves? What have you been reading?"

He merely mumbled, half-asleep, not making any sense. I assumed he must have stumbled upon a new werewolf series or binge-watched some show.

I left him to his strange dreams, and with a mixture of fatigue and elation, retreated to my room. That night, I had dreams about Matt, the aurora borealis, and coyotes lurking in the shadows.

…

The following morning before class, I found Fiona. The excitement of the previous night still bubbled inside me, and I needed to share it.

“Well?” she asked, snapping her book shut as I approached. “How did it go?”

I swallowed, knowing that I had told her that I was going to end things with Matt. Cleanly.

“I… um…”

Fiona’s eyes widened. “Tell me you didn’t agree to be his girlfriend, Celeste,” she hissed, grabbing my arm. “Please tell me you ended it on a clean note.”

I shook my head, feeling ashamed. “It was the moonlight,” I whispered. “And he looked so handsome… I acted like an idiot, I know.”

When I looked up at my friend, she looked livid.

“Celeste! What the hell? You can’t just play around with Matt’s heart now that you’re official!”