34

LUNA

THREE WEEKS. Three weeks since I'd spoken to Hudson. Three weeks since he kissed me. I'd never been more confused. Not because he kissed me, but because of how his kiss made me feel.

I sat cross-legged on my bed, a frustrated sigh escaping my lips as I'd been venting to Maya for the past hour.

"I don't get why he's acting like this." I said, running a hand through my hair.

She sprawled out on a beanbag chair, looking at me with sympathy.

"Maybe he's embarrassed because you rejected him."

I shook my head.

"I didn't reject him. I was too shocked to kiss back."

Maya's eyes widened as she almost launched out of her seat.

"Are you saying you would have kissed him back?"

My cheeks reddened as I sat up straighter.

"I think I would have. My feelings for him were unclear until he kissed me."

She squealed in delight before tackling me onto the bed.

"This is amazing!" She exclaimed. "You like Hudson Wilder."

I would have laughed if someone had said that months ago. I buried my face in my hands as my cheeks burned more.

"Why do I feel this way?" I asked. "Hudson doesn't do relationships."

She waved her hand dismissively.

"It's obvious he's been pining over you for years." She said. "You failed to realize it because you were caught up in Austin."

I bit my lip, hope blossoming in my chest.

"Should I talk to him about it?"

"Absolutely," she said. "You need to tell him how you feel."

I hesitated, my heart racing.

"I don't know. What if he doesn't feel the same way?"

She offered me an encouraging smile.

"He does. Trust me. Take the chance."

Taking a deep breath, I nodded.

"Okay," I said, a small smile forming on my lips. "I'll do it. I'll tell him how I feel."

Maya clapped her hands together.

"That's the spirit! Now go get your guy!"

As we continued to chat and plan, I felt a newfound determination building within me. It wouldn't be easy, but I was ready to take the risk.

?

My heartbeat echoed in my eardrums as I hovered outside the doorway of Hudson's room. Gathering my courage, I knocked.

"Come in." His voice called from inside.

I pushed the door open and found him lying on his bed with his hands behind his head, staring at his ceiling. As soon as he saw me, he shot upright.

"Your dad let me in." I said, breaking the awkward silence that hung between us.

He nodded. Tension mounted in the room, with neither of us knowing how to proceed. I bit my lip before speaking.

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes." He replied without hesitation, though his eyes were still apprehensive.

"I want to take you somewhere." I said, my voice firm yet gentle.

He nodded and followed me out to my car without question. The drive was excruciating, as neither of us knew how to break the tension. We ventured into the darkened park.

The night was serene as we exited the vehicle, our breath visible in the crisp winter air. I grabbed a shovel from my trunk. Hudson raised an eyebrow.

"Are you going to kill me?" he asked, lightening the mood.

I delivered a playful glare.

"I've thought about it many times."

He laughed, the sound easing some of the tension as we ventured further into the park. We stopped until we reached a small oak tree. His eyes sparkled with recognition.

"I forgot about this place." He said, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

"Me too," I admitted. "Until I remembered that today is ten years."

"Do you think it's still there?"

"Only one way to find out."

He took the shovel from me and dug with deliberate and precise movements. It took a few digs until the shovel hit something solid. He continued digging around it until he earthed a small, weathered treasure box. We kneeled beside it, our breaths misting in the cool night air. We opened it.

Inside were relics of our childhood: small toys, trinkets, and notes that brought back a flood of memories. Our eight-year-old selves agreed to write letters for us to uncover in the future. We thought we were so clever coming up with it.

I reached inside, pulling out a small, faded photograph of the two of us, grinning ear to ear, covered in mud. The Snow White dress.

"Ah, the day your nickname was born." He said, looking at it over my shoulder.

"Everyone forgot about it, but you."

He chuckled, taking the photo from me.

"It's because you made it so easy for me to annoy you."

He gave it back to me before rummaging in the box again. I admired the photograph, shocked at how much had changed between us. But it was easy to fall back into nostalgia with Hudson. As if we never parted ways. Next, he pulled out my stuffed bear. I gasped as I yanked it out of his hand and held it to my chest.

"Did you put Nugget in here?" I asked in disbelief. "I spent so long looking for him."

He shrugged.

"Sorry." He said without an ounce of sincerity. "I was mad at you the day before and wanted revenge."

I punched his arm.

"I couldn't sleep for a month without him, you jerk."

He chuckled before continuing to sort through the contents, each memory filling the frosty night with warmth. There were friendship bracelets and a small dried-up flower his mom had given me one spring. We sifted through the box, our laughter echoed through the quiet park. Snowflakes fell around us, but the memories distracted us from the cold.

He stopped and reached for a letter with his name on it. Curiosity piqued; he opened it. My breath halted when I recognized the familiar handwriting. His mother. I watched as he skimmed through his letter with tears welling up in his eyes. His expression turned from confusion to pain.

"Hudson, what's wrong?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he stuffed the letter into his pocket and stood up. Without another word, he kicked the tree trunk beside him before running off. I called for him to return, but his footsteps faded into the night.I lost my opportunity to tell him how I felt.

?

My heart was pounding as I approached Hudson's house. The winter night air was cold against my skin as I rubbed my hands together to generate some warmth. After a moment's hesitation, I knocked. His dad answered, not surprised to see me.

"Maybe you can get him to talk."

Making my way down the hallway, I saw his door partially open. I pushed it and found him face down on his bed, his shoulders shaking with sobs. The sight broke my heart. I attempted to be quiet, but one floorboard creaked under my weight. He turned his head and groaned.

"What do you want, Luna?"

I winced; never having thought I'd miss him calling me Snow.

"I wanted to check up on you." I said, closing the door behind me.

"You can leave now." He snapped. "I didn't ask you to be here."

I could hear the pain behind the words. It's something he always did when he was upset. He tried pushing away the people wanting to help him.

"The last time I saw you like this, I left you," I said. "I'm not doing it again."

He scoffed before looking at me, his eyes red and filled with anguish.

"I don't believe you. Everyone in my life seems to be a liar."

"What are you talking about?"

He motioned to the letter at the end of the bed. The one he took from the memory box.

"Read it."

My hands trembled as I picked it up. I unfolded it and saw the familiar handwriting.

My dearest Hudson,

When you mentioned the time capsule with Luna, I discreetly added this note. This letter will be a decade old when you open it, but my love for you is timeless.

I wish I could be there to watch you grow up, to see you graduate, and witness you becoming the incredible man I knew you would be. You have an outstanding role model in your father, and I have no doubts he will raise you to be the perfect gentleman. I know you must be upset reading this, figuring out I'd lied about my cancer timeline, but please know we never told you for a reason. You deserved a few carefree years without worrying.

I'm sorry I'm not there with you but know I am forever in your heart. You will forever be my precious boy.

Love you for eternity, Mom x

Tears filled my eyes as I understood the depth of his pain. His mom was diagnosed when we were eleven, or so we were told. And now he'd learned she was ill much longer than he'd been aware.

"Please, just leave."

He broke down again, his sobs wracking his body. Refusing to leave him alone, I climbed onto the bed and wrapped my arms around him from behind.

"I'm not leaving."

He resisted, but my warmth and unwavering presence must have put him at ease. I held him tight as he continued to cry. His sobs eventually faded, replaced by exhaustion. His breathing evened out, and his eyes fluttered into a restless sleep. I stayed holding him, my eyes burdened by the day's stresses. But I would not let him go, as I was determined to prove I was here to stay.