Ash:

Drums smashed the night, a guitar whined, and the song came to a crashing halt. Ash did her best to cheer along with the crowd, but she could barely breathe as she was squished against the side of the stage. She did have a great view of the Immortal Kiss singer, though. Jasper flicked back his dark hair, showcasing the ink running down his arm. He winked at her and said into the mic, "This next song is for Ashleigh, who is sixteen today. Come up here, Ash!"

He wants me to go up there? she thought. I don't do stages!

"Don't be shy." Jasper chuckled.

She laughed faintly, while Emmy nudged her in the side.

"Get up there!" Emmy said.

Emmy's enthusiasm did not surprise Ash one bit. Her friend had always had a huge crush on Jasper Javü. Suddenly, Ash felt a little proud that he'd given her free tickets. She was his best coffee customer after all.

Every day on the way to school Ash would stop by his café, her caramel latte ready and waiting on the countertop. Jasper was good that way, a bit too old to be considered boyfriend material, since he was twenty and the manager of a coffee shop. Her parents would not be impressed if she brought him home. It wouldn't matter that they also visited his café every day, because their veterinary clinic was right next door. Luckily for them, Ash wasn't interested in Jasper.

"Go!" Emmy said, giving Ash another nudge.

"Alright, Alright!" she hissed. "I'm going!"

Ash took Jasper's hand and he pulled her on stage. Taking a deep breath, she looked out over the sea of people filling the local reserve and the surrounding parklands of Mont Albert Heights. The music festival was in full swing, the boundary of the oval overrun with food stalls and security. In front of her the crowd stared expectantly.

Ash gulped and waved.

Jasper raised her hand and yelled to the audience, "Get your singing voices ready!"

The crowd roared, priming their voices.

Ash had never blushed so much in her life as Jasper sung the first line of Happy Birthday in his throaty rock voice. He was so good that she managed to tune out the crowd's clumsy singing. But halfway through the song a fuzziness took over her brain, like static interrupting its usual frequency, and a guy's voice posed as her subconscious, You used to blush for me that way.

Blush for him? I don't even know who he is! Wait. He's probably not even real. I must be hallucinating. Lack of sleep. The hellish nightmares. I am going insane!

You heard me, he said.

That was twice he'd spoken in her head. It shouldn't be happening! But she couldn't imagine conjuring up an accent like his, with its unnatural flourish of curls and a refinement that was bordering on beautiful. And his tone, it was a richer clearer baritone than she'd ever heard—unforgettable. Although, he did seem to know her. Which meant he was forgettable. She rubbed her forehead, remembering to look at the singer.

Jasper sung, "Happy Birthday dear..."

She smiled, but inside she was breathless.

Stop blushing! the intruder said.

Sorry!

Better.

Ash pressed her hand to her cheek. It was hot. Definitely blushing, and the intruder in her head had made it worse than before. She prayed they would never meet. The effect he could have on her...

Jasper swung her hand as he approached the end of the song—her birthday song— which she'd totally missed. Her gaze wandered over the crowd, bouncing from face to face, hoping to match the mystery voice.

Stupid idea. He's all in my mind.

I am in your mind, he said, startling her. I also happen to be here in the crowd. You just haven't looked my way.

I haven't?

No. I made sure of it.

Where are you?

Intruder Guy laughed. Not a chance.

He's here! But if he didn't want to be found, then why talk to me?

She scanned the crowd again. No one in the center of the audience snared her attention. To her right, Emmy, Lara, and their boyfriends waved up at her. She waved half-heartedly. Sensing that same warm and mysterious presence from earlier, she turned left. Two guys shifted in the back row, both easily above six foot. From what she could tell, the first guy had bright golden hair sweeping over his eyes, almost like dreads. The second guy wore a black beanie, which annoyed her for some reason. Ash had a sudden urge to jump off stage and run in his direction, then rip off the beanie. She had to do it now, before he slipped out of sight.

Don't even think about it, he said.

She smiled. So, you are there.

Who knew that it was possible to grunt telepathically, but her mysterious friend managed a cross between a grunt and a growl that barely contained his frustration. Slightly puzzled that she could sense his mood, Ash grinned, while attempting a laugh in her mind.

Laugh like that again and I'll... he warned.

You'll what? Come find me and tell me what you really think? I dare you!

Honestly, I don't know why I bother.

Why do you?  she asked.

From out of nowhere, Jasper kissed her cheek. "It's a date!"

A date? A date to what? With whom?

With the singer, you silly girl!  Intruder Guy replied. Pay attention!

Well, I was a bit distracted. I've had a stranger talking in my head for the past minute.

He laugh-grunted. We are far from strangers. I first saw you sixteen years ago, and I've seen you every year since.

Ash almost laughed. She'd remember if she'd seen him every year over the course of her life. As for sixteen years ago, that would have been the day she was born.

You can hardly be that old, she said.

I was one. I loved you immediately.

You're either crazy or lying. But she wanted to believe him. It felt right—his words, the way her heart suddenly beat more freely.

Jasper lowered her from the stage. She was so in shock by what had transpired that she almost tumbled back into her spot between Emmy and Lara, slightly suffocated as her friends wrapped their arms around her and congratulated her on her date. She spat out one of Emmy's red curls and extricated herself from their hugs.

I need space. No. I need to meet him.

No you don't, he said.

Why? Why are you here?

Happy birthday, Ash.

She couldn't take anymore! She needed to breathe, to be alone. Actually, she needed food. After telling Emmy she was going for a hotdog, Ash reached the scatter of people by the food stalls and stopped at a white tent. The more she looked up at the menu board the hotdog looked less appealing. As a customer was passed his hotdog over the counter, the smell and look of pressed pork churned Ash's stomach. Sadly, her mind was still set on a hotdog.

She moved up to the front of the second queue, and the woman behind the counter asked, "What will it be?"

"I'll have..." Ash smelled the hotdogs.

Ughh.

She scanned the menu again: hotdogs, pies, lamb kebabs. Then she saw a small picture of the vegetarian alternative and her stomach rumbled happily.

Someone groaned behind her. "Hurry up!"

Ash was ready to snap at them when the guy in the first queue ordered in a posh English accent, "A falafel kebab and an apple juice."

Hey, that was going to be my order! But that wasn't the only reason she was frowning. Accent aside, his voice sounded familiar. Rich. Warm. She was tempted to turn and examine him, but then he'd probably think that she was into him. Ash pointed in his direction and said to the woman behind the counter, "I'll have the same, thanks."

The woman nodded irritably, then turned to make the order. Ash sidestepped to the waiting area, bumping into someone. That someone let out a grunt similar to the one she'd heard recently. Inside her head. But his accent...the lack of curls in his voice...

Ready to apologize for her clumsiness, she dared a glance at him. Her gaze naturally aligned with his throat, which was long, pale, and taut. His black t-shirt clung to his lean muscular frame. He was made like a warrior. No, make that a movie star playing the part of a warrior, because nobody should look that good and that intimidating at the same time. None of that made it any easier as she peered up at him. A black ski beanie was covering his hair, but his eyebrows gave away his fair coloring, and they were arching at the sight of her.

Intruder Guy? No. Forget Intruder Guy.

She was pretty sure her mouth had just dropped. His face was full of amazing lines and angles—a strong jaw and forehead that were too serious, a straight pointed nose, and cheekbones that were curved with shadows. His eyes were a steel blue that pierced straight into her spirit, as if he knew all of her in a single glance. He was arrogant yet understated. Possibly too incredible to be alive. Wimping out on the apology, she turned back towards the counter.

"Two falafels and two apple juices!" the lady called out.

In a mild panic, Ash reached out to take her order just as Warrior Guy leaned over her, grabbing his falafel. She tried ducking out of the way. That's when they collided, their falafels crushed between them. She winced, looking at her falafel sagging in the paper. Worse, people were starting to rant that she was holding up the queue. Okay, she was. But she was a little distracted!

Warrior Guy grabbed the juices from the counter with one hand and snared Ash by the elbow. She let out a squeak as he pulled her from the queue and nodded to one of the wooden sleepers bordering the oval, a string of paper lanterns glowing above. Her boots rushed over the grass to keep up. She didn't know exactly why she was following. Maybe because they were both alone and she wanted some company while she ate—someone who wasn't one of her matchmaking friends. Maybe because she suspected that he was the guy in her head.

💫
(Chapter 1 continues...
Turn to the next page for Part 2! )