Draco: Book Two of The Stardust Series

by Autumn Reed

  After layering a corset with an under petticoat, hoop skirt, over petticoat, and finally the overlay, she put the finishing touches on the costume. How did women of the past wear all of this every day? How would I wear this slightly simplified costume version for even one day? Using the bathroom would be a major production.

  As I walked out to the platform, the skirts swished around me, and I couldn’t help but laugh when I looked in the mirror. I looked every inch the Southern belle, and it was hard to believe that the girl reflecting back was me. It was amazing how transformative clothes could be.

  “My, my, Miss O’Hara, you sure look mighty pretty,” Theo said with a fake Southern accent.

  I laughed and spun around, feeling the skirts follow a second later. “This dress is definitely dramatic but perhaps a little much.” He nodded.

  Back in the dressing room, Madame Walska helped remove layer after layer of the costume before leaving me alone again. I had saved the best for last—a beautiful sapphire gown with beading around the neckline and a metallic belt. I fingered the soft velvet fabric, trying not to let the color of the dress cloud my judgment.

  Madame Walska came in and zipped up the back, appraising me in the mirror. “Yes, yes. This is very nice.”

  I had to agree with her. The fabric clung to my curves without feeling restrictive, and the neckline draped perfectly around my shoulders. The dress was sexy, dropping toward the center of my bust but holding me in tight. I smoothed my hands over my stomach, gingerly touching the delicate design of the embellished belt. And the beaded sleeves were magnificent; their bell shape fluttered like wings. The overall look was one of elegant simplicity, and I felt regal.

  Madame Walska opened the curtain and I walked out toward Theo. He looked up from his phone and simply stared at me, his hazel-green eyes burning into mine. Silently, I walked to the platform and stood in front of the mirror. Just wearing the dress, I felt like I could rule the world.

  “Well . . .” I finally asked, surprised Theo had stayed silent for so long. “Who’s the winner—Daisy, Scarlett, or Lady Guinevere?” I held my breath, hoping he would agree to Guinevere.

  “Without a doubt, Lady Guinevere; I knew the dress would be perfect. You look magnificent, Haley. And we haven’t even done hair, makeup, and accessories.” I was so excited, I barely heard what Theo said after he agreed to the Guinevere costume.

  After I changed, I met Theo at the front of the store. He had already made the arrangements for the rest of the costumes and was ready to head home. As we walked down the sidewalk, I replayed Theo’s words in my head.

  “Wait. What did you show Max at the salon earlier?”

  “The Guinevere costume and some hairstyles,” he said casually.

  “Theodore whatever-your-middle-name-is Bennett! You had already picked this costume before we walked in? Why even have me try the others?”

  “I wanted to be sure. And, besides, I couldn’t deny you the fun of playing dress up.”

  I laughed. “Alright, it was fun. So is Liam going as King Arthur or Lancelot?”

  “Are you kidding?” He inclined his head. “Do you really think Liam would give up the chance to dress as a knight who steals the queen’s heart and rides off into the sunset with his forbidden love?”

  Before I could respond, a male voice interrupted us. “Theo. Hey, Theo. Wait a sec.”

  Theo and I turned around as a tall, lanky guy crossed the street to meet us on the sidewalk. He wore black slacks, a white dress shirt and tie, and a badge with the name “Andrew” on it.

  “Hey, Drew,” Theo said, shaking hands with him. “Good to see you.”

  “Same here, man.” Drew said before looking toward me.

  “Drew, this is Haley.”

  Drew and I shook hands before he dug in his pocket for something. “I only have a minute, but I saw you through the bank window and wanted to give you this.”

  He handed Theo a flyer printed on white paper with black ink; the design was clean and advertised a concert at some jazz club. Theo glanced over the flyer. “Awesome. Is this your band?”

  “Yeah. We’re playing there next Tuesday. I hope you can make it. Feel free to bring friends. You’re welcome to come too, Haley.”

  Theo grinned. “I’ll be there!”

  He turned to me. “How do you feel about jazz?”

  Strike A Chord

  Theo was talking about jazz music, but my mind was a million miles away as I followed him up the stairs to Chase’s apartment. My apprehension mounted with each step. Chase had gone almost radio silent since the Taco Tuesday incident, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect for the evening. Was he still upset about whatever happened that made him flee the loft? And what exactly had happened?

  When we reached the second floor landing, I started thinking less about Tuesday and more about today. Having never been to Chase’s apartment, I knew that he lived with his older brother, but I had yet to meet Kyle. Would he be there tonight?

  Despite all these questions, the one thought that kept tugging at the back of my mind was the sleeping situation. I had gotten so used to sleeping at the loft that spending the night at any of the other guys’ houses hadn’t crossed my mind. Would Chase just assume we would share a bed since we did the night of Theo’s party? My mind drifted back to that night and how cute Chase looked with his messy blond hair and sleepy blue eyes. I could already feel butterflies taking flight at the thought of lying next to him.

  Theo stopped walking and looked at me like he was expecting an answer.

  “What? Sorry,” I said, shaking the image of Chase from my mind.

  “Do you have everything you need?” I nodded, looking toward the overnight bag Theo carried for me.

  Theo put his hand on my arm, his hazel-green eyes filled with concern. “You okay, Haley?”

  I forced a smile. “Yeah. I’m good.”

  Theo dropped the matter and was pulling a set of keys out of his pocket when I heard noise coming from the hallway behind us. I turned to see Chase approaching, his backpack swinging behind him.

  Chase called out, “Hey, guys, sorry,” before blowing out an exaggerated breath. “My professor kept us late going over exam materials,” he said, as he unlocked and opened the door. He caught me in a quick hug then ushered us into the apartment.

  A small entryway led to a kitchen that opened into the living and dining space. The apartment complex seemed fairly new, and the design felt fresh thanks to light floors and countertops that contrasted with the dark cabinets. I was already feeling relaxed in his cozy apartment, the atmosphere calm and welcoming. Chase dropped his keys on the counter and set his backpack by one of the bedroom doors while Theo walked off with my bag and returned a moment later, empty-handed.

  “All right, cupcake,” Theo said, grinning. “It’s been fun.” He reached out and pinched my cheek like a doting grandmother.

  “Thanks for a nice day.” I smiled and gave a little wave as he closed the door, leaving me and Chase alone.

  Hoping to avoid the inevitable awkwardness, I looked around, familiarizing myself with his apartment. As Chase leaned against the kitchen counter with his arms crossed, I tried not to focus on his broad shoulders and lean waist that were accentuated by his raglan T-shirt and light-wash jeans.

  “Are you hungry?”

  I nodded, realizing just how hungry I was after the excitement of the day. We decided to order takeout and switched on the TV while waiting for it to arrive. I sunk into the navy canvas sectional. I liked the square shape of the cushions and the more modern feel mixed with such a traditional fabric; it felt like sitting on a giant plush pillow.

  I snuck a glance at Chase and noticed dark circles under his eyes. He was never what I would call chatty, but tonight’s lack of conversation was notable. Something was weighing on him, and my guess was it had something to do with whatever happened on Tuesday.

  After the food arrived, we filled our plates and headed back to the couch. I finally worked up the cou
rage to approach the elephant in the room. “So . . . you want to talk?” I stayed silent, waiting as the anticipation built within me.

  “About what?”

  “Whatever it is that’s clearly bothering you?”

  He shrugged his shoulders.

  “You know, you’re kind of stuck with me all night,” I said playfully, hoping he’d lighten up. I was rewarded with a small smile that touched his lips, but he remained silent.

  “Alright. We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” He looked over at me, his eyes questioning what I was up to. “We can study for your exam or you can tell me what is bothering you. Take your pick.”

  “Wow, you’re tough.” He paused, assessing me. “And what if I choose neither?”

  “Not an option.” I grinned but stood my ground.

  “Fine,” he said, picking up our plates and heading to the kitchen, “I really could use some help studying for my Spanish exam.” He looked back over at me. “That is, if you don’t mind.”

  “Are you kidding? Where are the flashcards?”

  Chase laughed. “Whoa there, let’s not get too excited. It’s a Friday night and you’re helping me study for an exam; I’m guessing that was not on your list of top things to do in Santa Cruz.”

  “Maybe not,” I smiled, “But only because I didn’t realize it was an option.”

  Chase grabbed his backpack before returning to the couch. He pulled out a stack of colored flashcards and handed them to me. “Are you sure, Haley? You don’t have to.”

  “Quit stalling . . . you know what, I’ll make you a deal. For every answer you get wrong, you have to answer a question of mine before I leave tomorrow.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck, looking slightly nervous. “And what about the ones I get right?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “Gold star?”

  He laughed. “I think it’s only fair that you should have to do the same for me.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Fine, if that’s how this is going to be. But I’m limiting you to two questions since I’m expecting you to give me all the right answers.”

  He started off well with a string of right answers, and I could see him relax a little.

  “What is the word for confidence?” I asked, and flipped over the card after answering it correctly in my head. Sure I was helping Chase study, but I had been brushing up on my Spanish as well, and it was good to put it to the test.

  Chase sat quietly, thinking. When he finally answered, it was incorrect.

  “Bzzzz.” I grinned. “Looks like you owe me an answer!”

  He laughed and I tucked my feet under my legs. I was startled when the door opened and a guy with light brown hair and pale blue eyes walked in. He stopped when he saw us sitting on the couch together.

  Chase spoke while signing to the stranger. “Hey, Kyle. This is Haley.”

  I cocked my head, surprised by the sign language; not wanting to be rude, I waved. “Hi, Kyle. Nice to meet you.” Chase translated my words into sign language.

  Kyle spoke and signed simultaneously. “Sorry to interrupt. I’m just showering and then heading out. I won’t be back until late.” Chase nodded before Kyle walked off to his bedroom. Not long after, Kyle left again with fresh clothes and wet hair.

  By the time we finished the deck of flashcards, Chase had answered most of them correctly, but I still got three questions out of him. He, of course, was entitled to two from me. Chase flipped through the channels.

  “Okay. A deal’s a deal.” He groaned in response, but I ignored it. “Question one: how long have you known sign language?”

  “I guess eight years or so.”

  “So Kyle . . .” I trailed off and Chase finished for me, “Wasn’t always deaf? No.”

  “You hardly ever mention him.”

  He sighed. “There’s not much to say; we aren’t very close. He has his friends and I have the guys.” I didn’t want to push him to talk about it, so I waited silently.

  “Growing up, Kyle and I were super close. When he was ten and I was eight he was in an accident and lost his hearing. After that we both learned sign language, but he started hanging out with a different group of friends and sort of pushed me away.”

  “That must have been hard on both of you.”

  He nodded before turning toward me. “Okay. It’s my turn now.” Crap, what is he going to ask?

  “Why did you agree to go to lunch with Tyler?” What? That came out of nowhere.

  I twirled my hair around my finger. “I don’t have many friends and he seemed nice.”

  “That’s all?” He asked, his eyes searching my own for something.

  I shrugged and he seemed to drop the matter. I could feel relief setting in, relief and confusion over Chase’s interest. Does it bother Chase that I went to lunch with Tyler? Was it because of their team rivalries?

  “Okay,” I said. “Question two: will you tell me what’s bothering you? I know you can’t tell me specifics, but maybe just talking generally will help.”

  Chase ran a hand over his mouth and chin before resting his chin on his closed fist and looking toward the ground. The silence stretched before us until he spoke. “I’ve been distracted lately, and it’s catching up to me.”

  “How so?” I asked in a quiet voice.

  He let out a frustrated, almost pained, sound. “I didn’t do enough to help someone and they ended up getting hurt.” If I hadn’t known better, I would have thought he was referring to me and my dad.

  “I’m sure you did all that you could, Chase.”

  He put his head between his hands and leaned forward. I had never seen him like this, and it took everything in me not to reach out and comfort him.

  “That’s just it; I don’t know that I did, and the ‘what ifs’ are haunting me. If only I had done x or y, maybe I could have changed the outcome.”

  I put my hand on his back, gently rubbing in wide circles. “Sometimes no matter how badly we want to, or how hard we try, we can’t control the outcome. And sometimes, it really sucks.”

  He looked up at me, his blue eyes sorrowful; I could tell that he was acknowledging my own situation while sharing his pain. He reached for me, pulling me onto his lap and swallowing me into his arms. I closed my eyes and could hear his heart beating in his chest as he held me.

  The feel of my phone buzzing in my pocket made me jump, and Chase chuckled as I pulled away from him to check the screen. There was a new text message.

  Liam: Tennis tomorrow?

  Haley: Game on.

  My phone buzzed for another incoming text, this time from Knox.

  Knox: Be subtle, but kick his ass.

  Huh? That was fast. Were Knox and Liam together?

  Me: Got it. Are you with him now?

  Knox: Yeah, but I gotta go. Be good.

  Chase led me into his bedroom, and I slowly spun around, taking in his space. It was nice; not huge but cozy, with a large window overlooking the green strip. The full-size bed had a dark walnut headboard, and a red-and-navy-striped comforter was pulled back revealing crisp white sheets beneath. Photos of a sports stadium, baseballs, and other sports-related items hung above the bed.

  “Pictures by Theo?”

  Chase smiled and nodded, his eyes intent as he watched me take it all in, hands tucked in his back pockets.

  Across the room a wooden desk and chair had computer parts sprawled across the top.

  “Did you have to murder C-3PO?”

  Chase laughed. “Oh, you know, just a little Operation.”

  I stifled a grin at his cheesy pun on the classic board game and continued my perusal of his room. Above the desk, a bulletin board had lines of gibberish that I was guessing were computer code, an Anaheim Angels game schedule, and the photo strip from the boardwalk of me, Chase, and Theo. I smiled as I continued to scan the room, passing the closet door and dresser.

  When I caught sight of what was tucked away in the corner, I stopped in my tracks. A stunning six-string guitar with a
n amber-honey colored center that faded to black sat against the wall.

  “Oh, wow. This is a Gibson Hummingbird, right?”

  Chase’s eyes widened in surprise. “You know guitars?”

  “A little bit. But, I’ve never seen one of these in person. It’s beautiful.”

  “Thank you. The guys gave it to me as a joining-the-team gift.” He smiled, his eyes shining. “Suffice it to say, I was excited.”

  I laughed, “Yeah, I should say so.”

  Chase lifted the guitar off its stand and held it out. “Do you want to give it a try?”

  I shook my head, afraid to even touch the Gibson. “I’m not that good. But, you have to play for me!” I fluttered my eyelashes playfully. “Please?”

  Chase scratched his chin. “Hmmm. I don’t know.” He paused dramatically. “Okay, okay. On one condition.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You play first.” I frowned at him. “Just one little song?” When I still didn’t respond, he gave me a sinfully sweet smile. “Come on, Haley. You have to at least try out the guitar. You know you want to.”

  I huffed out a sigh, relenting. “Ugh, fine. You can put your stupid dimple away now. I’ll do it.”

  For the first time all night, Chase seemed to forget his problems, erupting into genuine laughter. “No dimple. Got it.”

  I sat down in the desk chair and cradled the guitar in my arms. I strummed lightly on the strings and made a few tuning adjustments while I considered what to play. Since I didn’t know what kind of music Chase liked, I decided to go with one of my favorites: a simple version of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide.”

  I took a few deep breaths to calm my nerves and started to play, not looking up at him even once. Honestly, I was rather shocked that I had agreed, dimple or no. I’d played a few songs for my dad and Jessica, but I considered playing and singing a mostly solitary activity. Once I reached the chorus, I was able to forget my audience and lose myself in the song, my fingers moving over the strings on pure muscle memory.

  After playing the last few notes, I stared down at the guitar, somehow both anxious and excited to see Chase’s reaction.