Chapter 1
The scratching of pencils and the rhythmic ticking of the classroom clock filled the air.
Aurelle Nyx Arcilla let out a slow, controlled breath, giving her paper one final scan. Her answers were neat, precise, and confident—just as they always were. She flicked her gaze up toward the front, where their teacher sat watching over the room. Without hesitation, she stood, her chair barely making a sound as she moved, and walked toward the desk to turn in her test.
As she made her way back, her eyes naturally drifted to the seat beside hers.
Solenne Astra Silvestre was still writing, though there was no sense of urgency in her movements. Her lips were pursed slightly, hazel eyes flicking between the last few questions with a thoughtful air. Unlike Aurelle, who kept things neat and structured, Solenne’s notes were sprawled all over her scratch paper, lines drawn between different ideas like a web of thoughts.
The girl was brilliant in her own way—thinking in layers, solving things from different angles, always finding a way to keep things interesting.
And, of course, taking her sweet time.
Aurelle sighed, leaning back in her chair as she waited. It didn’t take long before Solenne finally put her pencil down with a triumphant little nod and stood to turn in her test. She stretched slightly as she walked back, rolling her shoulders like she had just finished something exhausting.
"Well?" Aurelle asked as Solenne slid into her seat.
Solenne grinned, propping her chin on her hand. "Pretty sure I aced it. Though I did spend way too much time on that one question about kinetic energy."
Aurelle raised an eyebrow. "The one about velocity and mass? That one was easy."
Solenne groaned. "Yeah, yeah, we get it. You’re a genius."
"I never said that," Aurelle said simply, but the tiniest smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.
Before Solenne could launch into a playful retort, a familiar voice cut through their conversation.
"There you two are!"
Carson and Mitzi, two of their friends, appeared beside their desks, looking relieved. Mavis, ever the energetic one, practically bounced as she plopped into the empty chair in front of them. Mitzi was more laid-back, hands casually tucked into her pockets as she leaned against a desk.
"You guys finished the test already?" Mitzi asked, directing the question mostly at Solenne.
Solenne rolled her eyes. "Yes, Mom. We’re done."
Carson grinned. "Good, because Jaime and Soleil were already betting on how long you’d take."
Solenne gasped dramatically. "They’re betting on me now?!"
Aurelle sighed, standing up and grabbing her bag. "Not surprising. You do take forever."
Solenne followed suit, slinging her own bag over her shoulder as she dramatically gestured toward Carson. "And who won the bet?"
Carson chuckled. "Mavis. She said you’d finish right before the bell, and, well, here we are."
Solenne placed a hand over her chest, mock-offended. "Unbelievable. My own friends, betting on my test-taking habits."
Aurelle shook her head, already walking toward the hallway. "You love the attention."
Solenne beamed. "Of course I do."
Carson and Mitzi followed behind them, laughing as they exited the classroom.
As soon as they stepped into the hallway, they were met with chaos.
Jaime and Mavis were already ahead of them, but the second they spotted the group, Mavis sprinted toward Carson, practically crashing into her with open arms. Carson caught her with a laugh, spinning her slightly before setting her down.
Not far behind them, Gaia and Soleil were in their own world, Soleil tugging Gaia by the wrist as she dramatically declared, "We were apart for too long!"
Gaia chuckled. "It was literally just a test."
"But a long one," Soleil pouted.
Aurelle simply sighed at the sight, adjusting the strap of her bag. "They’re so embarrassing."
Solenne, on the other hand, looked thoroughly entertained. "I think it’s cute."
Mitzi, standing beside Aurelle, crossed her arms with a knowing smirk. "Yeah? And yet you and Aurelle are the only ones left uncoupled. Interesting."
Aurelle shot her a look. "Don’t start."
Solenne, ever the troublemaker, smirked. "Oh, please. You love having me all to yourself."
Aurelle immediately turned to glare at her, ears burning. "Solenne."
Solenne just grinned.
Before Aurelle could retaliate, the group naturally began moving toward the cafeteria, pairs still clinging to each other in exaggerated displays of affection. The entire way, Aurelle tried her best to ignore the way their friends would glance at her and Solenne, like they were waiting for something to happen.
Solenne, as usual, enjoyed every second of it.
‘
The cafeteria was buzzing with the usual lunchtime energy—students chattering over trays of food, the clatter of utensils against plates, and the occasional outburst of laughter from different tables. Aurelle and Solenne walked in with the rest of their group, the pairs naturally gravitating toward each other as they grabbed their food.
As expected, the couple's behavior was already in full effect.
Mavis was feeding Carson fries, grinning every time the latter would open her mouth without question. Soleil and Gaia were sharing a drink, taking turns sipping from the same straw like a scene from a cliché romance movie. Jaime was dramatically fanning herself as Mitzi held the tray for both of them, saying something about how she was "too delicate" to carry her own lunch.
Aurelle rolled her eyes as she sat down. "You all make me sick."
Solenne, of course, found the entire thing amusing. "I think it’s adorable. True love and all that." She took a sip of her drink, side-eyeing Aurelle. "Wouldn’t mind experiencing it myself."
Aurelle choked on her water.
Jaime, who had been mid-bite, perked up immediately. "Oh? Oh?"
Mavis smirked. "Are you confessing something, Solenne?"
Solenne shrugged, ever nonchalant. "Maybe."
Aurelle turned to her, completely flustered. "Sol, don’t just say things like that!"
Soleil wiggled her eyebrows. "Why not? You seem pretty affected by it, Aurelle."
"I'm not—" Aurelle groaned, rubbing her temples as the teasing began.
Carson leaned forward, grinning. "You know, you two are basically dating without the label."
Jaime nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! You walk home together every day, you sit next to each other in every class, you have those weird silent conversations with just your eyes—"
"—And," Mitzi added, "Aurelle always acts like a knight in shining armor, doing the sidewalk rule and all."
Mavis gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "The sidewalk rule! Oh, Aurelle, how romantic!"
Aurelle was sinking further into her seat. "It’s just basic awareness."
Mavis snickered. "Oh yeah? Then why don’t you do it for us, huh?"
Aurelle deadpanned. "Because I don’t care if you get hit by a car."
The group erupted into laughter, while Solenne, looking completely unbothered, leaned on the table, resting her chin on her palm. "See? She only cares about me. So special."
Aurelle covered her face that’s a deep shade of red with her hands. "I hate all of you."
Solenne with a teasing smile patted her back with mock sympathy. "There, there."
Carson wiggled her fingers dramatically. "We just think it’s fascinating how our two lovely best friends are so… close. Emotionally. Physically. Romantically—"
"Finish that sentence and I will throw my drink at you," Aurelle threatened, holding up her cup.
Carson grinned. "Do it. I dare you. But you’ll just be proving our point."
Mitzi with a mischievous aura crossed her arms, smirking. "I mean, seriously, how long do you two plan to just… dance around whatever this is?"
Jaime clasped her hands together in a pleading motion. "Just admit it already! Give us the ultimate satisfaction!"
Solenne, looking far too entertained, sighed dramatically. "I guess it’s time, huh?"
Aurelle turned to her in alarm. "Wait, what—"
Solenne suddenly took Aurelle’s hand in both of hers, looking at her with exaggerated sincerity. "Aurelle, my dearest best friend. My most trusted companion. The one who walks me home every day."
Aurelle’s heart nearly stopped.
"I must ask you," Solenne continued, eyes glinting with mischief, "Will you—"
The table leaned in, holding their breath.
"—continue to be my loyal study partner for our next science test?"
The entire table groaned.
Jaime dramatically slammed her head against the table. "BOO!"
Gaia threw a napkin at Solenne. "You’re the worst."
Solenne only laughed, clearly enjoying herself.
Aurelle, still recovering, exhaled sharply and yanked her hand back. "I actually hate you."
"No, you don’t." Solenne winked.
Soleil pointed at them with a knowing grin. "The tension. The chemistry. It’s unreal."
Aurelle, who couldn’t take anymore of the teasing, stood abruptly. "I’m going back to class."
Solenne stretched lazily before standing as well. "Guess that means lunchtime is over."
The group whined as they started gathering their trays, still muttering about how unfair the teasing turned out to be. But the playful grins remained, and as they all walked back toward the hallways, it was clear they wouldn’t be letting it go anytime soon.
Solenne, walking beside Aurelle, nudged her slightly. "You know, you could’ve played along. Would’ve been fun."
Aurelle shot her a glare. "You were having way too much fun with that."
Solenne smirked. "Oh, absolutely."
Aurelle sighed, rubbing her temple. This was going to be a long day.
-
The last few minutes of class dragged on, the ticking of the clock feeling almost taunting as the professor finished their final remarks. As soon as they were dismissed, the room filled with the sound of chairs scraping against the floor and the chatter of students eager to leave.
Aurelle stood up smoothly, slinging her bag over her shoulder before glancing at Solenne, who was meticulously arranging her books and notes into her bag. Unlike everyone else, who rushed to leave, Solenne took her time, as if the chaos around her didn’t exist.
Aurelle crossed her arms, leaning slightly against Solenne’s desk. "You know, most people just shove everything in their bag and leave."
Solenne, unbothered, snapped her bag shut with a satisfied nod. "And those people end up with crumpled notes and lost pens. I, on the other hand, am prepared for anything."
Aurelle sighed, though there was a ghost of a smile on her lips. "Right, right. A model student through and through."
"Glad you finally understand," Solenne quipped, standing up. As they made their way out, their group of friends was already gathered near the door, waiting for them with matching mischievous grins.
"Ah, there they are! Our favorite couple!" Jaime announced dramatically, making Aurelle stop in her tracks.
"I—We are not—" Aurelle began, but was immediately cut off by Carson’s knowing smirk.
"Come on, just admit it, you two are always together. Walking each other home, stealing glances, finishing each other’s sentences," Carson listed off on her fingers. "Honestly, it’s like watching a romance movie in real time."
Gaia snickered. "I bet if we left them alone for five minutes, they’d be holding hands."
Solenne, ever composed, simply raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world."
Aurelle snapped her head toward Solenne, eyes wide. "Sol!"
Solenne merely shrugged, that ever-present teasing smirk playing at her lips. The others cackled at Aurelle’s reaction, thoroughly entertained by her uncharacteristic flustered state.
Mitzi leaned in, grinning. "You know, we could make it official."
Aurelle shot her a wary glance. "Make what official?"
"You and Sol, obviously," Mavis said innocently. "We could totally plan a cute little confession scene for you. Some candles, maybe a sunset backdrop—"
"Oh, oh! And flowers!" Soleil added, practically bouncing on her feet. "Aurelle could hand Solenne a bouquet and say something really romantic!"
Aurelle groaned. "You all need to shut it. Right now."
Solenne, unfazed as always, tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Aurelle giving me flowers? That would be adorable."
Aurelle turned a shade of red previously unseen. "Solenne."
"What?" Solenne’s eyes glinted mischievously . "I think it’d be sweet. I’d even say yes."
The group exploded into laughter, and Aurelle, completely overwhelmed, covered her face with her hands. "I hate you all. So much."
Solenne leaned in slightly, voice lower but still carrying that teasing lilt. "No, you don’t."
Aurelle shot her a glare from between her fingers but had no real argument. Instead, she exhaled deeply and turned on her heel, marching towards the school gates. "I’m leaving."
The group followed, still giggling and whispering amongst themselves, clearly not done with their teasing. As they reached the school gates, their friends began peeling off in different directions, but not before Jamie called out, "Have fun on your romantic little walk home!" followed by a chorus of laughter and exaggerated winks.
Aurelle groaned again, rubbing a hand over her face. She could feel the heat creeping up her neck. "I really, really hate all of them."
Solenne, walking beside her, let out a small chuckle. "No, you don’t."
-
As they left the teasing behind at the school gates, the air between them shifted. The playful energy from their friends' relentless jokes still lingered, but now, in the fading afternoon light, it softened into something quieter. Their footsteps fell into rhythm as they walked side by side, the streets growing less crowded the further they got from campus.
Aurelle, out of instinct more than anything else, subtly adjusted her stride. It was something she had done countless times before, so naturally that she never thought about it. Without breaking pace, she moved slightly, placing herself on the outer edge of the sidewalk, between Solenne and the road.
Solenne noticed immediately.
Her lips curled into a knowing smirk as she tilted her head slightly, watching Aurelle out of the corner of her eye. "You’re doing it again."
Aurelle barely spared her a glance. "Doing what?"
Solenne hummed, amusement lacing her tone. "The sidewalk thing."
Aurelle kept her eyes forward, pretending not to understand. "I have no idea what you’re talking about."
Solenne’s smirk widened. "You always make sure you’re the one closest to the road when we walk. Always."
Aurelle shrugged, her voice deliberately casual. "It just makes sense."
Solenne arched a brow. "Oh? And why is that?"
Aurelle sighed, shoving her hands into her pockets. "Because. If a car were to come too close or something, I’d rather be the one in the way."
Solenne stopped walking for a fraction of a second before catching up again. "You’d rather be the one in the way?"
Aurelle exhaled through her nose, knowing she had walked straight into Solenne’s trap. She still refused to look at her. "You know what I mean."
Solenne’s smirk deepened, though there was something softer in her gaze now. "I do," she admitted, voice quieter. "And it’s sweet."
Aurelle’s ears burned, but she remained steadfast in her feigned indifference. "It’s just practical."
"Mhmm," Solenne mused, clearly enjoying this far too much. "Sure."
Aurelle gave her a look. "Drop it."
"But it’s cute."
"Solenne."
"Alright, alright," she laughed, holding her hands up in surrender. "I’ll stop. For now."
Aurelle rolled her eyes, but the corner of her lips twitched slightly, betraying her.
For a moment, silence settled between them again, but it wasn’t heavy. It was the kind of silence that felt comfortable, filled with unspoken things that neither of them rushed to say. The sun had dipped lower now, streaking the sky in warm shades of orange and pink. A breeze brushed past, ruffling Solenne’s hair, and without thinking, Aurelle reached up, tucking a stray strand behind her ear.
It was so instinctual, so natural, that she only realized what she’d done when Solenne blinked at her, slightly taken aback. A slow, teasing smile curved her lips.
"Wow," Solenne said, voice light but unmistakably amused. "Walking home and hair tucking? You’re really making this romance movie thing easy for our friends."
Aurelle, who had just started to relax, groaned. "Why do I even bother?"
"Because you like me," Solenne teased.
Aurelle scoffed but didn’t refute it. She couldn’t. Instead, she shook her head and picked up the pace, muttering, "We’re going to be late if you keep running your mouth."
Solenne chuckled but followed without protest, still grinning.
And, as they walked, Aurelle remained exactly where she always did—right between Solenne and the road.
As they continued down the familiar path, the sky darkened into a deeper shade of blue, the last remnants of golden light stretching over. The warmth of the sun was fading, replaced by a gentle breeze that rustled through the trees lining the sidewalks. The teasing from earlier still lingered in the air, but neither of them brought it up again. It was the kind of silence that felt steady, like a conversation without words.
They passed by small shops and street vendors setting up for the evening, the scent of grilled food drifting from a stall nearby.
Solenne was the first to notice the vendor—a small wooden stall tucked into the corner of a side street, barely illuminated by the glow of a single lantern. An elderly woman sat behind it, her hands skillfully weaving thin threads into intricate patterns. The table in front of her was covered in handmade bracelets, each one delicate and unique.
Solenne’s steps slowed, her gaze immediately drawn to the display. Her face lit up with quiet excitement as she stopped in front of the vendor’s table. "Oh—look at these," she murmured, reaching out to gently run her fingers over a woven bracelet of deep navy blue.
Aurelle followed her gaze, not surprised in the slightest that Solenne had been the one to get distracted. Still, she stepped closer, curiosity getting the better of her.
The bracelets were woven in intricate patterns, some with tiny beads, others with metallic charms. Among them, two caught Solenne’s attention—a midnight blue one, threaded with tiny silver beads that resembled stars scattered across the sky, and the other was a soft golden hue, with a single crescent moon charm at its center.
Aurelle, who had taken a step ahead, turned back and gave the bracelets a passing glance. "You like these?"
"These match us," Solenne murmured, running her fingers over the blue one before glancing at Aurelle. "See? This one—" she lifted the gold-threaded bracelet, tapping the crescent moon charm lightly, "—is yours. And this," she held up the blue one, "is mine."
Aurelle raised an eyebrow. "You’re assigning me jewelry now?"
Solenne smirked. "Well, Solenne means 'solemn' or 'dignified,' right? But it also comes from the Latin 'solis'—the sun. And Astra? The stars." She twirled the blue-threaded bracelet between her fingers, the silver beads catching the light like tiny constellations. "I’m the stars in the night sky."
Aurelle eyed the bracelet in her hands, then at the one Solenne was still holding. "...And I’m supposed to be the gold one because?"
Solenne grinned, as if waiting for that exact question. "Because your name, Aurelle, comes from 'aurum'—gold. And Nyx is the night. The moon is the brightest thing in the night sky." She tapped the little crescent charm. "That’s you."
Aurelle was momentarily silent, staring at the bracelet now resting in Solenne’s palm. She had never thought much about the meaning of her own name, but hearing Solenne say it like that—like she had already decided exactly who Aurelle was and where she belonged—made something tighten in her chest.
She wanted to argue but stopped when she really looked at them. The symbolism was unmistakable. The moon and the stars—different, yet always together in the sky.
"See?" Solenne continued, her voice softer now. "Sun, stars, moon, night—we’re always tied together. Even our names say so."
Aurelle swallowed, suddenly feeling too aware of how close Solenne was standing.
"...You put way too much thought into this," she muttered, looking away.
Solenne laughed. "Maybe." Then, before Aurelle could protest, she turned to the vendor and handed her the money, her decision already made.
The elderly woman gave them a kind smile as she placed the bracelets into Solenne’s hands. "A beautiful choice," she said knowingly, her voice warm and gentle. "The moon and stars always find their way back to each other."
Aurelle’s fingers twitched at her sides. Why did that sound so much like something their friends would say?
Before she could dwell on it, Solenne took Aurelle’s hand without hesitation, slipping the golden bracelet with the moon charm onto her wrist.
"There," she said, satisfied. "Now you’re officially my moon."
Aurelle sighed, exasperated but with no real bite. "...You're ridiculous."
Solenne merely grinned and held out her own wrist, expectantly.
Aurelle stared at it for a second, then sighed again—longer this time —before carefully fastening the starry blue bracelet around Solenne’s wrist.
Solenne beamed, stretching out her arm to admire the way the tiny silver beads shimmered under the streetlight. "Perfect."
Aurelle glanced down at her own bracelet, the cool metal of the moon charm resting lightly against her skin. It was simple. Small. But there was something about it that made her chest feel strangely warm.
Solenne beamed. "Now we match."
Aurelle didn’t trust herself to look at Solenne in that moment. Instead, she scoffed, shoving her hands into her pockets. "Yeah, yeah."
But she didn’t take the bracelet off.
And as they continued walking, the moon rose higher in the sky, the stars appearing one by one, their matching bracelets glinting faintly under the soft glow of the streetlights, the moon and the stars walked home together—just like they always had.
Their walk home continued in comfortable silence, the weight of their new bracelets lingering between them. The quiet hum of the city filled the air—distant car engines, the soft rustling of leaves, the occasional murmur of conversation from passing strangers. The sky had darkened now, the last remnants of twilight melting into a sea of deep blue, where the first stars had already begun to emerge.
Aurelle kept her hands tucked in her pockets, but she could still feel the faint weight of the bracelet around her wrist, the tiny crescent charm brushing against her skin with every movement. She glanced sideways at Solenne, who was walking beside her, absentmindedly spinning the starry blue bracelet around her wrist.
"You really like that thing, huh?" Aurelle remarked, her voice casual but laced with something quieter.
Solenne turned her head, her hazel eyes flickering with something unreadable. "Of course. It’s ours, isn’t it?"
Aurelle’s fingers curled slightly in her pockets. Ours.
She looked back ahead, focusing on the rhythmic sound of their footsteps against the pavement. She didn’t know why that single word sat so heavily in her chest.
They passed under a flickering street lamp, their shadows stretching and shrinking with the shifting glow. The air had cooled significantly, carrying with it the crisp scent of nightfall. Without thinking, Aurelle moved slightly closer to Solenne, making sure she was still positioned on the side away from the road.
A few more minutes passed before they reached the familiar street leading to Solenne’s house. The porch light was on, casting a soft glow over the front steps. They stopped just before the gate, neither moving to say goodbye just yet.
Aurelle shifted slightly, exhaling quietly. "Well. You’re home."
Solenne turned to face her fully, hands resting in the pockets of her sweater. "I am."
A beat of silence. The streetlight overhead buzzed faintly.
Then, Solenne took a step closer—just a fraction , but enough that Aurelle noticed. "Thanks for walking me home," she said, her voice quieter now, softer in the way it always got when they were like this—when it was just them, without the teasing, without their friends watching.
Aurelle swallowed. "I always do."
Solenne smiled, and this time, it wasn’t the usual teasing smirk or amused grin—it was gentler, something quieter but just as disarming.
"I know," she murmured.
Aurelle felt warmth creep up her neck again, and she suddenly wished she had something else to say, something lighthearted to break whatever this was. But Solenne beat her to it.
Lifting her wrist slightly, she let the starry blue bracelet catch the light. "Don’t forget," she said, almost playful now. "The moon and the stars, remember?"
Aurelle huffed out a small laugh, finally looking away. "Yeah, yeah. I remember."
Solenne’s smile lingered for a second longer before she finally turned toward her house. She reached the door, pausing just before stepping inside.
"Night, Aurelle."
Aurelle glanced back at her, watching as the porch light framed Solenne in its glow.
"...Night, Sol."
With that, Solenne disappeared inside, leaving Aurelle standing by the gate.
She lingered for a moment longer, her fingers absently brushing against the bracelet on her wrist.
Then, with a quiet exhale, she turned and started walking home—alone this time, but with the faintest glimmer of silver against her skin, a quiet reminder of the sun and the stars, of the moon and the night.