Ash:

With a stiff wave of his hand, Warrior Guy gestured for her to sit.

"Thanks," she murmured.

He gave her a brief smile, then sat beside her. She soon discovered the sleeper was extremely uncomfortable, but she wasn't moving. She was too intrigued by the way he methodically unwrapped the top third of his kebab and casually took bite after bite. There wasn't a drop of mess anywhere! She was scared to eat in front of him. Four tasty mouthfuls later, garlic sauce was dripping from her fingers and half of the salad had fallen out. She scowled, then licked her fingers clean as Warrior Guy screwed up his wrapper and threw it into a bin meters away. His aim was perfect.

Everything about him seems perfect. Except apparently he doesn't like to speak.

He laugh-grunted in her direction.

There was no cause for his laughter other than if he had heard her thoughts, but asking that question would sound crazy. She guessed the worst that could happen is he'd walk away and laugh about it with his friends. She'd probably never see him again. The problem—she did want to see him again!

She glanced sideways and found him watching Immortal Kiss up on stage, his boot tapping perfect time. As if sensing her gaze, he turned, catching her off guard. If ever there was a moment to ask the most ludicrous question it was now. "When you did that grunt-laugh before, did—"

"I'm Al, by the way," he said, holding out his hand.

He was so at ease that it made her question of telepathy seem ridiculous. Did you read my thoughts? She was glad she'd never said that aloud. As for his name, it seemed too short, like it should be grander. Al...? He can't be called Al!

He smiled down at her, a real smile that broadened like a sun breaking across a horizon. It had a cringeworthy effect—the heat flooding her cheeks told her she was blushing as much as, if not more than when she was on stage.

"And you're Ash," he said.

Hearing her name on his lips, she knew it had to be him. "How did you know?"

"Everybody knows. Your birthday song earlier..."

"Oh. I forgot about that."

Ash knew the formality was to shake hands swiftly, but as he rubbed her knuckles her hand relaxed into his and stayed there. She was completely drawn to him. Not just a physical attraction, but a feeling... No, not just a feeling—too many feelings to name.

"Dance?" he asked, leading her up by the hand.

Ash looked across the audience. No one was really dancing, more swaying or jumping to the music. She nodded anyway and followed him to the outskirts of the crowd, her view of the stage obscured by the hundreds of people watching the band. Al raised her hand and set his other hand to her waist, waltzing her in slow circles. The waltz seemed out of place with the driving rock beat, but her heart felt too light to care as he spun her under his arm again.

"Are you really going on a date with the singer?" he asked.

"I hope not."

"Good. He's completely wrong for you."

"Oh? And who is the right one in your opinion?"

With a sigh, he spun her under his arm. Not the reaction she'd been hoping for. When she returned from the spin, his arms linked around her back and her hands fell to his chest. His eyes narrowed softly on hers. If only she knew what he was thinking. Wait. If this was the same guy who had intruded upon her thoughts earlier, she totally could.

Are you right for me? she asked Intruder Guy.

Don't ask me that, the voice with the curls replied.

Despite the fact that he'd evaded her answer, she smiled. He was still there. Are you dancing with me, by any chance?

A cryptic smile tugged at the corner of Al's mouth. Whether it was because he enjoyed swaying with her as much as she did with him or it was in answer to her telepathic question she couldn't be sure, but Intruder Guy never did answer.

You know, I'm having second thoughts about the singer, she said.

Al waltzed her faster, a little frantically.

I think I will go on that date with Jasper, she added.

And why would you do that?

He seems to be my best option. The guy I'm dancing with now doesn't seem that interested. Doesn't talk much. And as for you, you won't even meet me. Unless that's because you are one and the same. Are you?

She fixed her gaze on Al and awaited an answer. As far as she could tell, he seemed to be repressing a smile.

Okay, then, she said, stepping out of Al's embrace. He snared one of her hands, their arms stretching into a line, as if he was about to spin her towards him again. Thank you for the dance.

Intruder Guy laugh-grunted in her head.

She nodded, as if politely leaving a dance partner in a ballroom, then released Al's hand.

"Leaving so soon?" Al asked.

"Thank you for the dance." She did a small curtsey.

He laugh-grunted.

She couldn't help but smile. Al's laugh-grunt matched Intruder Guy's perfectly.

"I'm impressed," he said, his British accent replaced with a flourish of curls.

"Why?"

You know why, Al replied in her mind.

She tried to collect her thoughts in secret, I need him to say it aloud, that he's telepathic, that I'm not a crazy girl.

He bowed his head to hers. "You're not crazy, Ash."

"Thank you," she said, slipping back into his arms. Clearly, it was impossible to keep secrets when Al was around. But she did need him to clarify one more thing... "And why exactly are you impressed?"

He tugged her against him. "I'm impressed, because out of the thousands of people here you still found me."

Everything within her quietened, except for her heart, which pounded louder than ever.

There was the snap and crack of a firework being launched up into the air. Al tightened his hold, hunching his body around Ash's, as if protecting her from a gunshot. She looked up at the mushroom of orange sparkles falling to earth. As she smiled at the spectacle, Al followed her gaze upwards. His eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Fireworks," she whispered. "You've never seen them before?"

"No."

"They don't hurt. Unless you get too close, that is."

"I gathered that. Thank you," he said, rolling his eyes.

More crackles and pops filled the sky, and Al flinched a little less each time. Meanwhile, Ash gazed up at the spirals and shapes exploding, the crescent moon that was countless miles away—no, make that 384,400 kilometers away, depending on the moon's orbit. She frowned, wondering where that particular fact had come from. Random facts aside, Ash found it hard to enjoy the spectacle now that she was worried about Al. But when she peered across again, he was watching the fireworks with fascination. The waltz forgotten, they swayed in slow circles. As the fireworks finished, she laid her cheek upon his chest and breathed in his scent of forest air and peppermint.

No, not peppermint, she decided. Actual mint leaves taken fresh from the garden. I know that smell. On him. Why don't I remember anything else? Places we've met? Who he is to me? Or meeting him at all, for that matter?!

"There are too many questions in here," he said, tapping her head gently.

Leaving the warmth of his chest, she looked up. He had the answers. All of them. It was the knowing look in his eyes, accompanied by a look that he wasn't going to tell her.

"At least tell me something," she said. "Please..."

"It's better if you don't remember me."

"Why?"

His mouth tightened.

"If that's the case, why invite me to eat with you?" she snapped. "Why talk to me on stage?"

"Because I couldn't help myself!" His nostrils flared and he stepped back, as if she'd become too dangerous to touch. But when he spoke his voice was quiet, rough, "Because I made you something, a gift that I wished to give you myself, even if you won't remember where it came from tomorrow."

"But why won't I remember?" She was truly close to stamping her foot, but she took a calming breath.

Al's gaze travelled over her shoulder and into the heart of the festival. His beautiful face was always so serious—a look she swore she'd seen on him many times before.

"What's wrong?" she whispered.

"Time is escaping us."

Ash laughed. "No it's not. We still have another hour before the festival's over."

"No. Any minute now will be here, and he'll be keen to dance with you."

"I don't care about whoever this Will person is! I want to be here with you."

"As nice as that sounds, you'll change your mind when he arrives. You generally do."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" If he's implying that I've met this Will person before, he's mistaken.

"I'm not mistaken."

"But what about us?"

His eyes hardened on hers. "You shouldn't think of me that way."

"Well, you're making it pretty hard not to."

Al stepped out of her embrace, almost shaking her off. "No. You are bound for another. I know it, he knows it, and deep inside you know it, too."

I will not cry, she thought.

Telepathic or not, Al never seemed to notice she was on the verge of tears. Instead, he extracted a silver pouch from his jeans and dropped it into her palm. "Hide this somewhere, and don't open it until you're alone."

Ash clasped her fingers over the pouch. It was heavier and harder than it looked, and that only added to its mystery. She wanted to open it now, but she slipped it inside the front pocket of her jeans for later.

Seeing that his gift was safe, Al nodded. Now pretend you don't know me.

What? She stared at him, then realized he'd meant every word. Don't do this!

He took another step away.

She could step closer... But he was rejecting her for a reason. She should take the hint and walk away, but if she turned her back for even a second he might be gone.

One more step back, and his gaze darkened. Time's up.

What? No!

He's here.

Will?

Yes.

Oh. She followed his gaze and turned around. Walking towards her was a boy with tanned skin and bright blond hair that flicked out every which way. His smile gleamed under the lights like he should have been center stage, singing into a mic with his boy band. He had that heartthrob quality about him, the playful eyes that could send hearts crazy, the stubble with a bit of rebel attached. He looked almost as strong and tall as Al, and just as confident as he moved through the crowd. But Al had been wrong. She didn't recognize his friend, and her heart felt the same way.

Will's gaze darted from Ash to Al and back again. His smile faltered.