Ch. 2 - Only Trusting Me

She made some tea and added milk , now that was what was in the mugs being cradled in both of their hands .

She listened intently as he explained his world ; it spread from sparsely scattered colorful meadows to huge bright neon cities and -- the most stark difference between Earth and where he was from -- a global network in the sky hooked up to everyone's mind . It was the Sky Line , and anyone who was anyone was hooked up . If you weren't anyone -- if you weren't hooked up -- you were likely scum of society , comparable to the Untouchable status in the caste system , a no one that no one would associate . But for good reason , people lost their links after committing crimes -- adultery , theft , murder . The Guardians tirelessly tracked individuals that fell from the Line .

The fearful Guardians were the ones who watched over the network that was the Sky Line . They were cold , swift , and completely anonymous . They were the FBI a hundred times over , or so it seemed from the stranger's explanation and the opaque fear shielding his eyes at their mention .

Still , even with a quick overview of it all , the idea of a snow-haired beauty falling from another planet and into her window as she slept seemed like something from fantasies . Because it was , but not in this case . He'd read her mind . He probably was reading her mind at the moment . She glanced up to the boy , his lips still parting with the words of explanation on his tongue . His voice was strange , that was one of the first things she noticed without even seeing him really . So precise , sharp , flawless and effortless . She was really fond of it as he told his story , and focused in as he really started his story .

He explained falling asleep one day , then falling . From his planet to Earth or from the Line , she wasn't sure . He just said he fell and then he appeared , floating massless in a body of water . She could guess which one , the only naturally occurring water nearby was Deir Lake , one she frequented to practice playing violin -- something about nature motivated a steady hand and smooth transitions for her . It was funny , that he would end up in a place so prominent in her life .

His story continued on hazily , he could only vaguely remember stumbling out of the lake and into her house , but he said it was an impulsive feeling to trust her . A raw emotion that said go for it .

She stated that the emotion wasn't the best thing to act on for functional and safe living , in more blunt terms , getting up from the cream colored couch she shared with the boy while glancing over to see the guy's cup full and chilling against the apartment's AC .

" Important information you left out , your name . " She smiled up from the sink , attempting to lighten the mood and cool everything off from their rough first-encounter .

He looked up , eyes widening as if to say , Yes I did forget , didn't I ?

" I'm called Cor . And you ? "

He took the first sip from the now room temperature beverage in his hands as the girl turned the cool metal handle on the kitchen sink's faucet to clean her empty mug out .

" Luna , but I figured you already knew that since you have enough of an idea to trust me . "

" No , " Cor's hands rubbed along the edges of his mug , a nervous or curious gesture " People don't usually think of their name often . And I've just met you , I know close to nothing about you . "

Luna laughed , quickly gathering all of Cor's attention to her as he noticeably stilled .

" And yet you trust me . Is blind trust a normal occurrence in your world ? "

Cor's eyes squinted and he slowly shook his head , his eyes glazed over , unaware at the lazy smile he wore as he spoke .

"No , not at all . "

The soft clunk of the mug being placed in the metal sink stood out for a moment before faltering under the gently running water again . Luna beckoned Cor to her with the curl of her hand , and he gracefully rose to his feet while keeping balance of the tea in the mug he still held , taking a sip once he was standing straight on his feet before the click and creak of the front door sounded -- the door that was previously Luna's panicked escape route when she thought she was being robbed or worse .

Both of their heads turned to the tall oak door as a pale girl , strawberry blonde hair tied up in a high ponytail and white T-shirt tucked into tight jeans , peeked her head in from behind the door's frame .

" Luna , do we have a guest ? "