Читать книгу The Falling of the Stars - Lina Fischer - Страница 7

The Greenhouse

Just before midnight came three gentle knocks on my door. I jumped out of my bed and felt my stomach tingle as I opened the door. Eden took my hand and led me into our humid greenhouse at the end of the palace.

It was my favourite place in the palace and he knew that. The light shimmering through the glass made his eyes look even bluer; his gaze made me feel like a thousand butterflies were bursting into life in my stomach. As the tower clock rang midnight, he took something from behind his back.

“Happy Birthday, my star,” he said as I opened the gift.

It was a bracelet, a chain of stars, and it was stunning.

“Eden, it’s beautiful, thank you so much!” I exclaimed joyfully.

“Thank you for never leaving my side. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” he said, and I could’ve sworn I saw his eyes glisten.

“I could never leave you, you’re my best friend and I care about you,” I said with tears in my eyes. I looked up at the sky and saw multiple shooting stars flash past. “Wow, Eden, its magical,” I said quietly.

“You’re my best friend after all, you deserve only the best,” he whispered in my ear.

“Yes, best friends, that’s what we are.”

I wanted to memorise every feature of his face, but he stopped me, putting his hand on my cheek. He leaned in and his soft lips met mine. He smelled like cinnamon. A lifetime of happiness bloomed in my chest, only to be replaced with pain as though it had been pierced with a sharp blade.

“Eden…” I took a deep breath. “You know we can’t do that, not after last time,” I whispered.

“Astoria, you can hurt me, I won’t blame you if you do, but please give us a chance,” he begged.

“I wish I could, Eden, I really wish I could do that, but I just can’t.”

I slowly started to distance myself from him and the situation as he held me back and looked me in the eyes. “Astoria…” was the last thing I heard as I rushed away from the greenhouse back to my room and fell into my warm, soft bed.