Stars twinkled above as one appeared after the next. Before long, the night sky was littered with them.

  Staring up at them, Aria imprinted their magical glow to her memory. Enjoying the shine they will lose back in the city.

  A breeze rising from the lake made Aria shiver at the cold breeze, and bring her blanket closer.

  “Here,” Kousuke’s voice spoke as a mug entered her vision, “‘Poor Man’s Hot Chocolate’. About the only good thing I can make.”

  Accepting the mug, Aria smiled up at him.

  “Thanks, what makes it ‘Poor Man’s Hot Chocolate’?” Aria asked, taking a ginger sip of the hot drink.

  The sweet drink was thick like ice cream that was melting. Underneath the heat was the cooling temperature that the drink would be soon.

  “Chocolate chips or bars melted into milk as I heat it up,” Kousuke answered, taking the empty seat next to his friend, and sipping his drink.

  Turning her gaze back to the stars, Aria sunk deeper into her blanket, while Kousuke kept his eyes on the lake.

  Another breeze whispered by, making ripples along the lake's crystal-like surface. Singing with the wind, the Marsh Bull Frogs filled the silence. Maybe an owl hooting a few times in the distance.

  “My Fathers an ass,” Kousuke broke the silence, making Aria look at him confused.

  What brought this on?

  “When Kouya came out, Mom accepted him fully. No hesitation, just a lot of questions,” Kousuke chuckled, “Kouya thought it went so well with Mom, our Father would be understanding too, right? Someone as loving as Mom would marry a man just the same.”

  “It went bad?” Aria asked and Kousuke let out a hollow chuckle.

  “Bad can be worked with, what he did was… That’s Kouya’s story to tell,” Kousuke stopped himself from explaining further, “It was like a switch was flipped, and who he really is came out. He tried getting custody of just me when Mom filed for divorce. Thankfully that didn’t happen.”

  “He tried separating you two?!” Aria asked shocked sitting up straight.

  “Told you he was an ass,” Kousuke said, “Haven’t heard from him in years.”

  Looking down at the mug in his clenched hands, Kousuke refused to let the awful memories of that man enter his mind. Never will he deserve a single thought from Kousuke and Kouya. Especially from Kouya.

  Reaching over, Aria placed her hand on top of Kousuke’s. Making him look up at her smiling face.

  “He’s missing out,” Aria spoke gently; Kousuke grinned his appreciation.

  Moving her hand from Kousuke’s, Aria gently touched the healing scratch on his forehead. Being extra careful not to irritate it.

  “You’re gonna look like an extra tough guy if that scar’s over,” Aria teased, making Kousuke chuckle.

  “I’m a tough guy?” Kousuke questioned.

  “Oh, don’t act like you don’t know,” Aria scolded the Radiant User, a laugh leaving him this time.

  The laugh, that made Aria’s heart flip in her chest.

  How often does he laugh like this, Aria couldn’t help but wonder. There have only been two times that Aria has heard Kousuke laugh. How often does this gentle laugh leave his lips? Does he laugh any louder than this? If he has, what made him so happy?

  Hopefully, Aria would get to hear Kousuke laugh more.

  Leaning into Aria’s touch, ignoring the small sting of pain, Kousuke closed his eyes. Enjoying the warmth that radiated off of Aria, he finally allowed his body to relax. Not realizing how tense he had been until this moment.

  Attacked by a huge killer owl. Saved by a crazy spike of magic from Aria. Finding out said Terra User is the child of cult leaders. Ending it with him confessing part of his past to her.

  Might need another vacation after this vacation.

  Scooting closer to Kousuke, Aria gave the scratch a peck before taking her hand away.

  When the cold air touched Kousuke’s forehead, disappointment came with it.

  “Move over, I’m cold,” Kousuke teasingly ordered.

  In reality, he wanted the warmth Aria gave him back. If he was cold, Kousuke would just deal with it or go inside.

  Probably just go inside, but if he went inside he would leave Aria alone. Leaving her alone wasn’t worth more than the warmth of the cabin.

  Scooting over to make room for Kousuke, Aria put her legs over his when he sat down. Wrapping the two up in the blanket, Aria wrinkled her nose at Kousuke, earning a chuckle from him.

  Together they watched the stars, drinking their cold hot chocolate. Enjoying the songs of Marsh Bull Frogs accompanied by distant owls.

  “Hey, there’s yours and Kouya’s constellations,” Aria said, pointing to a cluster of stars under the pink moon.

  “How can you tell?” Kousuke asked, looking for the said constellation.

  “My Aunt, the Hippie Radiant User, taught me all of them. She said that she felt a connection to the stars. They made her magic ‘flow like a beautiful river’,” Aria explained.

  Giggling at the odd look Kousuke gave her, she added, “You’d love her, you have to meet her.”

  “Sure,” Kousuke chuckled, looking back up at the stars.

  Searching for the pattern in the sky and seeing nothing. With an annoyed huff, he admitted not being able to see it.

  Taking his mug, Aria set their mugs on the floor and grabbed his hand. Extending his finger, Aria used it to trace the constellation. As they traced the stars, Aria explained how to find them and what star to look for.

  “Mine is over here,” Aria guided him to a cluster over the blue moon, “I’m a Taurus.”

  “That explains a lot,” Kousuke teased.

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  “Thank you!” Aria beamed, “Actually, all of our constellations are out.”

  Along with Gemini and Taurus in the night sky were: Scorpio (Tommy), Pieces (Steve), Aries (Jason), and Libra (Aster).

  Helping Kousuke find each one, Aria used Kousuke to trace them as she spoke.

  In their world, just like the night before, they were oblivious to what was around them. Kitchen lights turning on didn’t pull their attention away from the stars above. Dancing shadows inside didn’t reach Aria and Kousuke’s eyes.

  Letting out an annoyed yawn, the Pyro User waited for his best friend to finish making a glass of lemon water.

  “Do I have to?” Jason whined.

  “Yes! You sound so bad you woke me up!” Tommy quietly scolded, “Get checked out by a doctor, that’s not normal!”

  “Never,” Jason grumbled, taking the drink and gulping it down, ignoring Tommy’s annoyed glare.

  Done with his drink, Jason put the glass in the sink; pausing at the sound of laughter outside. Peeking through the window, he grinned at the sight of Kousuke and Aria cuddling.

  Swatting at Tommy to get their attention, Jason gestured for them to look outside too.

  Rolling their eyes, Tommy took a peek out the window as well. A sly smile took over their lips.

  “And they say they’re just friends,” Jason chuckled.

  Unlocking the latch of the window, Jason cupped the side of his mouth as he opened the window. Sucking in some air, his shoulders raised, ready to cannon his voice.

  Before he could shout at the two, Tommy jumped on his back and covered his mouth.

  With the sudden weight shift, the two crashed to the floor.

  “What was that?” Kousuke’s voice made Tommy tighten their hand on Jason’s mouth.

  “Did you leave the kitchen light on?” Aria’s voice questioned. “I thought I turned it off, sorry,” Kousuke apologized.

  “No, it’s ok, we should head in any way,” Aria’s words made panic rise in Tommy.

  Hands still clamped tightly on Jason, Tommy dragged him back to the room they shared. Only in the safety of their room, did Tommy release Jason.

  Opening his mouth to complain, Jason was silenced by a pillow to the face.

  “Why. Are. You. Such. A. Bonehead!” Tommy scolded, and with each word they whacked Jason with the pillow.

  “What did I do?!” Jason whined.

  Diving into his bed, Jason hoped Tommy would stop their assault.

  A foolish thought, the Pyro User has known the Hydro User since the fourth grade. So when Tommy whacked him a few more times, he wasn’t surprised.

  When Tommy returned to bed, leaving Jason alone so they could go back to sleep, Jason’s confusion just grew.

  What did he do wrong? He always messes with Kousuke. Why is now so different? Is it because Aria was with him? Is Tommy extra protective of Aria? That can’t be it, Jason has witnessed Tommy tease Aria just the same.

  Round and round, the questions bounced in Jason’s brain. They helped him fall asleep, but it didn’t feel like long.

  The second his eyes closed, Jason was woken up by pillows and a blanket falling on his head.

  “Food’s ready,” Tommy’s voice was muffled by the extra cushion.

  Begrudgingly Jason crawled out of bed, his shoulders and back aching from his restless sleep. Dragging his feet on the wood floor, barely carrying him to the table.

  “You look like crap Jason,” Aster greeted him.

  “Morning to you too,” Jason grumbled.

  “You would have had better sleep if you weren’t too busy spying,” Aster said.

  “I wasn’t spying!” Jason protested loudly.

  “Sure,” Aster hummed, sipping her coffee.

  Putting his head on the table, Jason let out a frustrated groan. It reverberated off the table so loud it echoed around the room.

  “What’s his problem?” Kousuke asked, walking in with Kouya and Aria.

  “Tommy and I saw you and Aria being all cuddly last night and they’re saying I was spying!” Jason whined, frustration and fatigue in his words.

  “You idiot!” Tommy and Aster yelled.

  Faces flushing bright pink, the embarrassment Kousuke and Aria felt was painful. Tickling the back of their ears with an itchy burn that traveled down their neck before making its way back up their cheeks. Realization quickly dawned on Kousuke and annoyance took over.

  Glaring at Tommy and Jason, Kousuke snapped, “You two are who we heard?!”

  “No! You heard this idiot!” Tommy snapped, just as annoyed, “He wanted to spook you two and I had to tackle him to shut him up!”

  “I’m going to make sure everything is packed,” Aria mumbled, walking back to the room.

  “I’ll go with you,” Kouya said following her.

  Knowing her friend was going to prank her while she was having an intimate time with Kousuke, made the embarrassment worse. The heat traveled down to the tips of her fingers. Wherever it crawled to left goosebumps in their wake, turning the embarrassed flush into a horrified chill.

  When the two were back in the room, Kousuke shot his glare at Jason. Who still had his head on the table, pouting now. Rolling his eyes, Kousuke made his way back to the room as well. Not having the energy to scold his best friend.

  That will be taken care of by Tommy and Aster.

  Hearing the click of the door closing, Aster glared at Jason. “Were you dropped on your head?” Aster questioned.

  “No, he was just the fourth born,” Stever teased, then asked, “You know you have to apologize right?”

  “I know I have to, but I don’t know why,” Jason whined, “And Tommy won’t tell me!”

  “You embarrassed Aria because you admitted to seeing them having alone time together, and that pissed off Kousuke because he’s already protective of her. You of all people should know how he gets, do you need a reminder of how you two met?” Steve questioned, his accent thickening as he spoke.

  Cringing at the memory, Jason cradled his nose. Memories of how his nose cracked rose, the pain following behind it.

  “Didn’t think so,” Steve chuckled, “You could have kept all of this to yourself and this wouldn’t have happened.”

  “But they were being all cute last night! Why can’t they be like that in front of us?” Jason asked.

  “Well one, ‘cause we would tease them if they did,” Steve snorted, “And two, they aren’t comfortable being like that in front of us. They don’t even know what they are yet, we have to give them their space and see where it goes.”

  “My boyfriend is so smart,” Aster gushed, giving Steve kisses on his cheek.

  “All for you darling,” Steve cooed, loving the attention.

  “You two are gross,” Tommy teased, scrunching their nose at the two.

  Looking back at their best friend, Tommy raised an eyebrow at him. The Pyro User was still pouting, this time it wasn’t a childish put. More realizing he messed up pout.

  “You’re going to apologize right?” Tommy asked and Jason nodded, “You’re not going to say something stupid, right?” Tommy pressed.

  “I’ll try,” Jason promised, making his way to the room.

  Taking in a deep breath, Jason held it while opening the door quickly. The sudden action made the three people turn to him.

  “What Jason?” Kousuke asked annoyed.

  “I’m sorry!” Jason said quickly, and with one more breath he spoke his apology more slowly “I shouldn’t have tried to mess with you guys last night, that was between you two and not all of us.”

  Well, Kousuke wasn’t expecting that to come out of Jason’s mouth.

  There’s no doubt that Jason is a goofball. The life of the party. Never a dull moment when he’s around.

  However, things have been broken thanks to his antics. All minor things thankfully, like the time he tried juggling and threw the ball too high. When he tried to catch it, he hit one of Aster’s vases and shattered it to pieces.

  After that, he only practiced when he was at home.

  One of the great things about Jason is knowing when to stop. So when he does mess up, it’s few and far between.

  “Who replaced Jason with a body snatcher?” Aria teased, her eyes wide in horror.

  “Hey! I’m trying to be sincere!” Jason snapped. “I know,” Aria giggled, “Thank you for apologizing. But if you ever do something like that again I won’t make tacos for you.”

  “I promise to behave,” Jason said quickly making Kouya chuckle.

  Apologies said and accepted, they returned to breakfast. Continuing their morning as if the last ten minutes hadn’t happened.

  When breakfast was finished, the group made sure everything was packed and clean. Cars loaded up, Aria texted her Uncle another “thank you!” text and looked to the cabin with a smile.

  Another weekend away couldn’t come fast enough. There were so many other things to explore. Like the field of, Narcisos Alucinaciones, or the Cherry Toad trees.

  Revving the engine, Aria backed up a way before doing a U-turn. Leading the way back home to Ligera City.