Selene sat on the wooden bench outside her house, absently flipping through the pages of "Ancient Folklore and Mysticism," though her mind kept drifting to Cane Alaric. The morning fog had finally lifted, leaving behind a crisp October breeze that carried the scent of fallen leaves and distant wood smoke. Something about him lingered in her thoughts—the way he had looked at her, as if he knew something she didn't, as if he could see right through her carefully constructed walls.
"Still thinking about the new guy?" Naksu's voice startled her from her reverie. Her best friend appeared with her signature grace, dark hair swaying in the autumn wind as she flopped onto the bench beside Selene. A mischievous grin played on her lips, and she held two steaming cups of her famous homemade chai.
"I wasn't thinking about him," Selene muttered, shutting her book with perhaps more force than necessary. The leather binding made a satisfying thump against her lap.
"Oh, please," Naksu laughed, nudging the extra cup toward her. "You've been out here for hours, pretending to read that same book you've already finished three times. From my kitchen window, it looked like you were practicing to become a statue." She took a deliberately loud sip of her chai. "And don't even try to deny it—you've been stealing glances at his house every five minutes."
"I have not been—" Selene started to protest, but Naksu's knowing smirk stopped her. Heat crept up her neck. "Fine. Maybe I'm a little curious. But can you blame me? There's something... different about him."
"Different how?" Naksu leaned closer, her dark eyes sparkling with interest. "Like, mysteriously-brooding-potential-vampire different, or just regular new-guy-in-town different?"
Selene sighed, shaking her head. The warm cup between her hands provided a welcome distraction. "I don't know. It's just... the way he looks at me sometimes. Like he knows something I don't. And have you noticed how he always seems to appear exactly when you're thinking about him?"
"Maybe he's psychic," Naksu suggested, then grinned. "Or maybe he's just as interested in you as you are in him. You know what would solve this mystery? Inviting him to your birthday party."
Selene blinked, nearly choking on her chai. "What? No. Why would I do that?"
"Because it's a party, Selene! You need more people there than just me and Allen." Naksu crossed her arms, her expression turning serious. "Besides, you can't stay in your shell forever. Ever since..." She trailed off, both of them knowing she meant the accident that had taken Selene's mother.
Selene sighed, watching another stack of boxes being carried into the old Victorian house. Something caught her eye—strange symbols painted on the sides, almost like protection runes from her folklore books. "I barely know him. What if he says no?"
"Then he says no," Naksu shrugged, but her eyes softened. "But I have a feeling he won't. Trust me on this one."
Selene hesitated, biting her lip. The idea of walking up to Cane and asking him to come to her birthday party made her stomach churn with anxiety. "Maybe you should invite him for me."
Naksu clapped her hands together, spilling a few drops of chai in her excitement. "Now you're talking! Leave it to me, oh socially anxious one!"
Before Selene could protest, Naksu was already on her feet, marching down the pathway toward the Alaric house with determined strides. Her burgundy dress billowed in the wind, making her look like some kind of autumn spirit on a mission. Selene groaned, covering her face with her hands. "What have I done?"
She watched through her fingers as Naksu approached Cane, who had emerged from the house carrying what looked like an antique mirror. Their conversation was too far away to hear, but she could see Naksu's animated gestures and Cane's amused expression. His eyes flickered briefly to where Selene sat, and even from this distance, she could feel the weight of his gaze.
Minutes later, Naksu returned, a triumphant smile on her face. "Mission accomplished!"
Selene's heart skipped a beat. "Wait... you actually invited him? What did he say?"
"He said he'd think about it," Naksu said, sitting down with a dramatic sigh. "But he was smirking when he said it, and trust me, that kind of smirk means he's totally coming. You're welcome."
Selene didn't know whether to feel relieved or terrified. "I can't believe you just did that."
"I can't believe you wouldn't have done it yourself!" Naksu teased, bumping her shoulder. "It's just an invitation, not a marriage proposal. Besides..." She lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Did you see the way he looked over here? He's definitely interested."
Selene groaned, pushing Naksu playfully. "You're impossible."
"And you, my dear friend, are too shy for your own good," Naksu said with a wink. "Now, let's get planning. If Cane shows up, you need to look your absolute best. I'm thinking that dark green dress you've been hiding in your closet—you know, the one that makes you look like a forest goddess."
Selene sighed, already regretting agreeing to this. But deep down, a part of her was curious—curious to see if Cane would actually come, curious about the way he looked at her, curious about the mysteries that seemed to surround him like an invisible cloak.
As they sat there planning, neither of them noticed the curtain moving in the top window of the Alaric house, where a pair of sharp eyes watched their every move. Nor did they see the satisfied smile that curved Cane's lips as he carried another mirror inside, this one covered in symbols identical to those on the boxes.
The invitation had been extended. Now all that remained was to see what would happen when two worlds—one of normal teenage life and one of ancient secrets—finally collided.