"It was a lovely evening… well, almost night though, and we were going for the bachelor's eve. I… I was so happy, and I could remember it like it was yesterday," Natty's voice cracked slightly, and she shook her head.
Star noticed the weight in her eyes, the way her tone dropped, like a carefully built balloon suddenly letting out all its air. Man, he knew it really got her.
"He was driving," she said, her voice quivering. "And I was… I was too excited."
Star's eyes softened. For once, his usual sarcastic self shut up. He felt her pain like it was leaking into him through the air between them. His eyes were brimming wet.
He had never believed Natty could be this emotional, it almost felt illegal for someone so strong-willed to sound so fragile.
He shoved back from his chair until he was perched at the very edge, the kind of precarious position that screamed, I'm about to make a bold move, or fall flat on my face.
Then he leaned forward until his hand found hers. The moment their skin met, it was like static-silent but alive. The tension between them was thick enough to slice with a butter knife.
Natty looked up, her own eyes glossy, desperately trying to keep tears at bay. Shock flickered across her expression as she glanced at the hand on hers, then back at him, then down again, her mind caught in a hilarious, helpless loop of, wait… what is happening right now?
Star nodded once, cool and unwavering, as if he had just solved a particularly annoying crossword puzzle.
The simplicity of the gesture was strangely comforting, and Natty's lips curved into a small, reluctant smirk.
She let out a shaky breath and smirked faintly, a fragile smile tugging at her lips. Then she continued.
"I was too excited. I couldn't let him focus on the road. I was… romancing him, you know?" She chuckled softly despite herself, and Star could tell she was forcing the humor to survive the memory.
"It always turned him on. And that… that was when it happened."
Her voice cracked on the last word.
"We ran into a group of students; kids, really, probably coming back from a party. They were speeding, too drunk on freedom or alcohol to care. They veered into our lane, headlights flashing like ghosts in the dark and then..."
She stopped, her breath trembling.
"Then everything exploded."
Star could almost see it; metal screeching like tortured beasts, glass raining in slow motion, headlights blurring into ribbons of white. The car spun three times before colliding against a barrier. Tires screamed. A horn got stuck, blaring endlessly like it was crying for help.
The airbag slammed into her chest, and the world became a carousel of chaos, her body weightless, time frozen, the only sound being her fiancé's terrified voice calling her name before everything went black.
When she bowed her head, the guilt on her face was enough to make the moon frown.
Star knew that look. It was the same one she wore every time she blamed herself for surviving. Her wedding had been around the corner, weeks away, and fate, the cosmic troll that it was, had flipped the script.
He squeezed her hand softly. "It wasn't your fault," he said, his tone calm, almost lullaby-like.
Natty didn't answer immediately. She stared at their joined hands, then bent her head and whispered, "My touch always turned him on. He loved it. And whenever I started it, he'd lose control. If I had just let him focus on the road… he'd still be here. So, yeah, it was my fault."
Star tightened his grip for a second, then released her hand and leaned back, his face soft but serious.
"I'm sorry," he said gently, his voice like warm honey.
"But you survived for a reason."
Natty looked at him for a long moment. Maybe he was right. Maybe he just knew how to treat a lady. She gathered herself, exhaled slowly, and then said:
"You know… I didn't survive."
Star blinked. Confused.
"What do you mean you didn't survive?" he asked, chuckling lightly, trying to lighten the mood. "You're literally sitting right here, breathing and talking."
She gave a smile, a non-dungeon smile, the kind that ended at the lips and never reached the eyes.
"No," she said quietly. "I died. I was sure that I died."
Her tone changed, a bit, it became more alive now, cocky edged, the Natty he walked in to. Her voice carried that sweet arrogance dipped in charm, like a song that made you forget it was sad.
"We both died," she said, crossing her legs and leaning back. "The last thing I remember was being upside down in the car, everything spinning like a washing machine on steroids. Then I blacked out. And suddenly… I woke up."
Star leaned in, curiosity piqued.
"I woke up to music pounding in my chest. Loud, crazy music. I looked around, and, boom... I was in a bar. Standing by the door. I had no idea how I got there. For a moment, I thought it was the afterlife. And if it was… well, my imagination had seriously failed me."
Star chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"The place was alive," she went on. "Couples were dancing at the center, hips swaying to the rhythm of a slow jazzy tune. Others sat in pairs, laughing over glowing drinks and fancy plates. Neon lights from the ceiling painted everyone in shades of pink and blue, it was like walking into a dream built by a drunk artist."
She gestured as if she could still see it.
"I just stood there, looking around, trying to spot him... my fiancé. I even stood on my toes, stretching my neck like a curious flamingo, scanning the room. Nothing. And the worst part? I couldn't even feel him. I always felt him when he was near, like this invisible warmth. But that night, nothing."
She sighed. "And that's when someone bumped into my shoulder."
Star raised a brow. "Ah, the classic mysterious stranger entrance."
Natty rolled her eyes but smiled. "Exactly. He turned to me and said, 'Sorry.'"
She paused. "He had golden eyes. Not the hazel kind, I mean golden. And his canines were a bit… sharp, but in a sexy, natural way, not like he was about to drink my blood. His jawline looked like it was drawn with a ruler. He was… ridiculously handsome. The kind of handsome that made you question your skincare routine."
Star coughed slightly to hide his laugh.
"And he wore this big, baggy robe," Natty continued. "milk-white, flowing all the way to the floor like he was auditioning for the role of 'handsome wizard number one.'"
Star chuckled under his breath.
"I glared at him," she said. "He smirked back and said, 'You're early.' Just like that. No context. And before I could reply, he turned and hurried off, walking like he had a lizard in his pants."
She threw up her hands. "I called after him...'Hey!'... but he didn't even look back. He just kept slithering his way to the bar.
The chairs, she described, were arranged in this crescent shape, curving around a polished marble table. The kind that looked expensive enough to make your wallet nervous."
Star nodded, clearly visualizing it.
"So I walked up to him," she continued. "He'd already made himself comfortable, leaning back like he owned the place.
'God, I'm starving,' he said, like I wasn't even standing there.
I asked, 'You said something?' and he looked up at me with that unreadable grin; half mischief, half mystery.
'Aren't you too beautiful to be standing?' he said."
Star grinned. "Smooth."
"Annoying," she corrected. "But fine. I sat down, mostly because my legs hurt, not because I wanted to. The only thing between us was that fancy table. I opened my mouth to ask what he meant by 'I was early,' but before I could..."
She threw her hands up again dramatically. "The waiter, well, barmaid... cut in."
"Oh?" Star said, grinning.
"The woman was stunning," Natty said, smirking. "White shirt that looked like it was one button away from committing a wardrobe crime, red skirt, and an apron that looked like it was designed by the devil himself. She had this effortless charm, curves that whispered danger, that could make a priest second-guess his vows, and a smile that could ruin relationships"
Star let out a low whistle. "You really do notice details, huh?"
Natty grinned and went on.
She looked at us and said, 'Wow, you two look perfect together.'"
Star raised a brow.
Natty scowled playfully.
"He, of course, smiled like a proud peacock and said, 'So you agree I'm a lucky man?'
The barmaid giggled and replied, 'More than lucky, sir. And I'd say the same for her,' before handing us the... what's that thing called? the menu."
Star nodded. "Ah"
Natty rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I forced a smile, but honestly? I wasn't in the mood for games. I'd just lost my fiancé... I wasn't about to flirt with some mysterious golden-eyed drama king. So I said, flatly, 'We're not together.'"
She snorted.
"You should've seen the barmaid's face. She looked so disappointed, like she'd just realized her favorite ship wasn't canon. Even the guy beside me looked amused, but he didn't comment. Just smiled and said to the barmaid, 'I'll have… uh, grilled steak and a glass of red wine.'"
Natty shook her head, smiling faintly now.
"I stared at him the whole time. Something about him felt off, not in a bad way, but like he was too calm, too… certain.
"'Alright,'" the waiter said, turning to me with a half-hearted smile. 'And for you, ma'am?'"
When the barmaid turned to me, her cheerful energy had dropped by like, fifty-six percent.
I forced a smile and said, 'I'll have what he's having.' I just wanted her to leave."
"She nodded and walked off, heels clicking away."
"Then I leaned forward," Natty said, mimicking the motion, "rested my hands on the table, fingers intertwined, and asked"
Her voice lowered dramatically.
"'What did you mean… by I was early?'"