“If you must. Everyone follow them, please, except for Luna.” Luna’s heart skipped a beat when Jewel looked at her. “I need you for a few more minutes.”

Luna’s stomach began to undulate like a boat caught in the middle of a typhoon. Her excitement had a harsh, buzzing edge to it. Razor sharp and whittling her down one raw layer at a time. She didn’t know it was possible to be so excited it hurt, and this was a hell of a way to find out.

“Do you need me to stay?” Alex whispered, concern written all over his face.

“I’m okay.” Every time she made a fist and then stretched her fingers, they crackled with knotted energy.

“Deep breaths.” He inhaled and exhaled to show her. “Don’t pass out on me.”

“Okay. Okay.”

He looped his arm behind her back and began to rub from the base of her neck down her spine in a tight, soothing oval. With his face so close, she zoomed in on his eyelashes. She’d never noticed how long and curly they were. Wispy and perfect, protecting his deep, dark brown eyes.

“My mom used to do this when I got too wound up as a kid.”

“It’s nice,” she said absently. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He smiled and his eyes softened.

“Everything all right?” Jewel was standing in front of them, watching with a curious look on her face.

“Yep.” Alex hopped to his feet, holding out his hand for Luna to take. She instinctively took it—and then wished she hadn’t. She didn’t need him to help her stand. “We’re just pretty tired.”

Jewel smiled at him. “The others are waiting for you.”

“Right.” He leaned close to Luna, grinning with intention. “Moon Princess.”

Alex could have said anything right then, but he’d chosen to use her nickname. He’d be waiting for her, same as always, even in that impossible place. The buzzing energy began to dull, overpowered by a sensation too soft to ever keep.

“See you,” she said, and watched him go.

Alex.

Jewel turned to her and asked, “So?”

Luna waited a beat, eyes wide and searching the empty room for help that wasn’t there. “Um, s-so?” she asked, and then promptly wanted to throw herself out a window. The first words she had said to her idol were um and so?! Her despair was so swift she was shocked her knees didn’t give out and let her collapse to the floor in a panicked heap.

“What do you think so far?”

“Of?”

Jewel’s head tilted downward in disappointment. “You have so much to say on your little forums, but in person this is what I get? I don’t know why I expected anything different.”

“I’m sorry?”

“For what, exactly?”

“Uh, I don’t know?”

“Then why did you apologize?”