Introduction (Moon and Night)

Ocean waves, seagulls chirp, and two girls laughing. Their hands are intertwined with each of their sandals in their other hands. The girls’ hands were smooth and delicate to the touch. Each loved the feel of the soft skin. The girls have been walking on the beach since sunset, and it is now almost sunrise. The sand is squishing between their toes as the walk, but they don’t mind the feeling. Waves wash up and crash against their ankles. Both girls are mesmerized by the sounds, but still had a wonderful time with each other. Selene listens to her mystery girl’s voice. The girls stop walking and sit down on the shore far up enough where the water can’t reach them. The sun is about to rise as the girls inch closer.1

“It is so beautiful, Selene,” the mystery girl whispers. She lightly kisses her lips while running her hand through Selene’s hair. “I wish this never ended,” she kisses her again. Selene aches for more and pleads with her eyes. “You know I can’t stay long. I belong in the night.” They both stand up not wanting to let go. Selene keeps her hands on her lover’s hips.2

“I don’t want you to go. You always have to go before sunrise,” Selene has an irresistible pout on her face. Their bodies touch as their lips meet. Kissing deeply, gripping hips, and aching for more; the girls finally depart. Before they depart from each other fully, Selene asks once again, “What is your name?”3

Smiling sweetly she whispers, “My name is…” the alarm goes off before she can finish. Selene wakes up again with the same dream playing in her head. Frustrated once again with her reoccurring dream, she slams the off button on her alarm clock. The rest of the morning happens to be the same. Selene showers in record time, skips out on breakfast to walk to school, and listens to her Ipod the whole way there.4

On the way to school, Selene gets this uneasy feeling as this rough sounding 74 Nova flies by. Stopping in her tracks, she watches as the car keeps going and pulls into the school parking lot. The Mustang had a deep blue undercoat with black racing stripes. Selene shakes the thought from her mind and heads off to school in a hurry to figure out who the car belonged to. She hasn’t seen an old Mustang in this area before.5

Running from her locker to her first period English class, she almost runs into a few people. She doesn’t look back, but hollers sorry and waves the people on. Right as the bell rings she slides into her seat in the front of the middle row. Every seat is filled except for one seat in the back of her row, three seats behind her. Ten minutes into class, Ms. Winesfield is interrupted of giving us notes when her classroom door opens. 6

“Sorry, Ms. Winesfield,” the new girl shyly says looking down on her schedule. Selene sits zoned out for a second until a unbelievable scent flew inside her nostrils. Her head turns slowly to figure out what magnificent smell had attracted her nose. When looking up at the new girl, she had to do a double take. Selene’s mouth dropped and her eyes blinked more than once. The girl that had walked in had long brunette hair, shady green eyes, and a body to send off fireworks. Trying to collect herself, Selene tries to turn her attention back to her teacher.7

“Take your seat young lady I do not accept tardiness in my class, even if you’re new.” She turns her attention back to the board. The new girl walks past Selene, sending the aroma of her favorite lotion right in her direction. Right before she slides into her own seat, she slips Selene a piece of paper. Quietly she opens the note as it crinkles with each fold, and studies each curve of each letter. 8

The note read “I know this sounds very strange coming from someone you have never met before, but I saw you this morning walking to school. I was the one driving the old ‘stang, lol, sorry I drive crazy. I do not know how I passed my drivers test. Anyways, lol, when I saw you, I completely lost it. I’ve seen you somewhere. I can’t pin-point where, but I have. I was wondering if we could talk after class. Write back or just wait outside the door. Thanks. P.S. Sorry, superstitious about things.” All over the note were small doodles of a full moon, stars, and dark shading acting as the night. 9

Selene doesn’t write back, she just smiles forward and puts the note in her back pocket. The rest of the class period Selene replays the dream she has had for the past month in her head. There could be no way the girl in Selene’s dream is the same girl sitting directly behind her three seats down. In the middle of her thoughts the bell rings to signal class is over. “Do not forget, Monday I want your papers. You,” pointing at the new girl, “Ask Selene what to do. She’s my prize student, and I think you can learn a few things from her.”10

Both girls smile at each and walk out of class together. “So I take it, I need to learn from you,” and whispers, “maybe my driving skills too,” they both giggle at the statement and walk into the hallway. Selene tells her the assignment as they both walk to class. Ironically they both have Physics next period. Standing outside of the doorway before the bell rings, they stand and talk. “So our assignment is basically recreating our own Greek Myth?” she begins to ask.11

Nodding Selene says, “Yes, we are supposed to make it at least five pages, doubled spaced, and the font cannot be over size 12.” Selene smiles shyly. “I love mythology, and so does my family. That’s why they named me Selene, the Goddess of the moon.” Their eyes lock. Looking down at her watch, Selene straightens up, and tears her eyes away. “We have to get in class, the bell’s about to ring.”12

Walking into class just before the bell rings, the two girls slip into their seats. Once again, they are in the same row, but this time, the new girl is right behind Selene. Mr. Stratford begins class with introducing the new girl. “Settle down, we have a new student in our class.”13

Turning around, Selene smiles at her and whispers, “I guess this is when I find out your name,” She smiles and asks even quieter; “Do I get a clue?” Selene lightly giggles and turns all the way around as Mr. Stratford clears his throat.14

Whispering quietly, “Remember the note?” she smiles and stands attentive. Before Mr. Stratford can begin she whispers one more thing, “The doodles.” Selene’s face turns to confusion. She doesn’t understand.15

“Please, stand up and introduce yourself young lady.” He sits down and takes attendance. 16

“Hi, before I say my name, I want to answer the question before it’s asked. My name is rather weird and most people won’t understand why.” Looking directly into Selene’s eyes, ironically both girls have their hand over their heart. Selene finally gets it. Her face turns bright red. She is stunned yet amazed. “My name is, Nyx.” As Nyx sits down and takes her seat, Selene loses all feeling in her body. Selene turns all the way around; words caught in her throat. Whispering in her ear, “Goddess of the moon, meet Goddess of the night,” Nyx smiles and sits back ready to learn or have Selene turn back around.17

Both girls act like they are paying attention throughout most of the class as something is slid into Selene’s coat pocket. Her left hand is playing with her moon necklace, and her right hand reaches down. Selene’s fingers touch the cold silver and begin to remove the shiny object. Selene cannot believe her eyes as the object appears to be a star necklace and somehow has a magnetic pull between the moon around her neck and the star in her hand.18

Everybody in class could hear the clink between both metal objects. Their heads turn to the girls. Nyx has the biggest smile on her face, and Selene has a scared confusion across hers. The necklaces have been locked together. “Holy shit,” escapes the students’ lips. 19