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<08/04/2011 - 21:09 | Link Street (Park), Marietta, GA, USA>

Our eyes both reflected the infinite beauty of the shimmering stars in that dark sky, all shared through my vision of the world above me. As cold as I was for the night, I only cared about the current moment, letting our moods melt together to blissfully enjoy this calming show. It felt so much more romantic than the last time I was with her.

"I can tell you really love stargazing."

Whispering my tone through my physical voice in favor of my telepathic voice, I let Lumina understand why I love these stars so much. "There are two reasons for that. I know what's out there already; I know every time I look through those stars that the Altiri exist somewhere among them all. So, every time I see these stars now, they remind me of you. In a way, it's almost like some special portrait of you."

"So, I look like a star constellation?"

I heard some sarcasm in her voice as I tried not to laugh. "You're a lot more beautiful than that. Just be happy that we're back hanging out again. I still can't believe it's this cold in Georgia already." It was only 52oN, but that was still better than summer heat.

"Don't get too excited. You never know how long this cold front will last."

"Never say never." I couldn't hide the excitement in what I knew would happen this week. I'm allowed to get my hopes up this time.

"Huh?"

"Haven't you been paying attention to anything I've been doing lately? I've been using special temperature monitoring equipment back home with weather reports to generate prediction charts and track the weather all over Georgia. I'm also borrowing climate reports from last year, so that I can create a formula of best fit. This can allow me to map out which days will likely be cold or warm, and plan accordingly. For this cold front, we only have a few days, but next month, it should drop again."

"So you're a weatherman now?"

"I wouldn't say that. It's still not easy to predict the weather with accuracy. I know I won't get it right every time. But this will give me comfort in the months ahead of me."

"Hm..." Until Lumina announced to me what she was thinking, I didn't know what was humming on her conscious, a reminder that non-projected thoughts can still be hidden. "It's true. Even after everything you've learned, you are getting smarter."

"Everybody has to start somewhere." I don't know what the index is supposed to be for a guy my age, and I know for sure I'm no Albert Einstein. But as I thought back to those first days when I met Lumina, the difference in what I understand between then and now stood out so strongly. "I just wish I was smart enough to fix my headaches."

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My own comment gave Lumina some vain concern I'd rather her not share. "So they're still a problem for you?"

"They're not out of control yet, but they are becoming a problem for me. I just hope I can beat them back so that I have more time for you. But, I don't have one right now, so I'm not going to worry about it until I need to."

"Okay."

"If anything, my thoughts are more on the future, and what I'm going to do in order to move up north so that I can be with you forever. That is my ultimate goal now. I've decided on it."

"In that case, I'll help you however I can... Though, there's not a lot I can do for you in my position, physically speaking."

Anyone could have told me that. I already know I'll be handicapped in my mission to move to another state. Lumina can't support me with any physical supplies or money. How I wish the Altiri could do some remote hacking and just push money into my bank account. Even in my situation, money does not fall out of the sky. "It's fine. Life advice will do for now Lumina."

"You're so much happier now, all because I'm here with you again... I'm so glad that you're better now."

She sure knows it. The only thing that gives my life any meaning is Lumina; being with her, spending time with her, talking to her... "Yeah, I figure it is pointless to continue questioning whether or not our relationship is a long-term healthy thing or not. We're definitely going to experience more pain in the future, due to all of these hot summers we'll have to endure; it's going to keep us apart for some time. But, I think we can make it through again after all. The thought of seeing you again will keep me going. The thought of being with you again will give me hope."

"You're not the pessimist you used to be... Keep saying more positive things though. It's kind of turning me on."

Even though my heart skipped a beat hearing her naughty voice kick on, I treated her words as a joke. In some extent though, I've been wondering for a while now whether it was even possible for Altiri women to feel arousal. "So I was right then. Altiri people do get horny. Either way, I love you Lumina."

"I love you too Reed... And of course we can get horny. Did you think we couldn't? Still, don't go around thinking every girl has the same urges you do. I don't know how often you mess around on the internet, but I can promise you our needs are not as frequent as yours."

For once, I fully understood what Lumina was saying, strange as it was for me to hear. I'm not sure if it's because I'm still a teenager, or if it's a guy thing, but I have been more active than I thought would be normal. At least Lumina wasn't teasing me about it though. "Right... Well, what do you want to talk about next? We have the whole night to ourselves. My bed time can wait about two more hours." I'll buy myself all the time I need, as much time as I can use to be with Lumina under these stars in the cold air of the night, just the two of us.

"Look at you, sneaking out of the house at night to secretly meet a girl. What would your parents think?" Her teasing resumed once again.

There was too much truth to her words for me to be too ashamed. Whether this seemed romantic or not, sneaking out of the house to secretly meet a girl is literally what I'm doing. I normally tell my mother when I'm going on walks, but she forbids me from leaving the house late at night when it is a school night; to which, I just sneak out anyway. I'm fifteen years old! I can take care of myself outdoors now, and I'm not going to let anybody stand in the way of seeing Lumina again. Of course, if they knew what I was really up to, my mother would scream at me until I'm blue in the face. That's one of the reasons I don't tell her things anymore. She just can't mind her own business, nor does she let people do what they want to do.

"My parents won't suspect a thing," I concluded confidently. "For one, they can't see or hear you. Hiding your presence from them is actually really easy. On another note, they already know that I like to have long walks outside, even at night. I'm still working some magic on them, but if I push enough, they'll leave me alone on some things. But even if they don't approve of me being out here with you, I'll tell them where to kiss it and walk out anyway. You're worth everything to me Lumina. So for now, let's just lay back and enjoy this view a little longer."

"I'm enjoying more than just the view."

I'm not entirely sure what it was about this moment that made Lumina enjoy our romance as much as me, but I kept doing what I wanted without end. My words of conviction filled me with so much confidence I've never had before. All my life, I've been somewhat of a pushover, a man who doesn't stick up for himself, too sensitive, like a snowflake. But Lumina changed everything! There are an infinite number of things I'll do to ensure the two of us can be happy together, no matter what it takes... Now I know what it must have felt like for her; what it must have felt like for Lumina when she decided to break Altiri law just to send that purge to me. When someone is in love enough, no power in the 'verse can stand in the way of such energy.