"We are all of us stars, and we deserve to twinkle."
~Marilyn Monroe
********************

Vivienne

Lilly left the garden like a bat out of hell, which meant talking to her was out of the question. Instead, I made my way towards Chad. The guy was the quietest, most stoic person I'd ever met. How he and Dylan ever became best friends was beyond me. It's like Chad was grumpy cat, and Dylan was the one person who could get away with anything with him. Caleb probably could too, but he seemed to walk in the middle between the two personalities.

"Hey, Chad!" I shouted, jogging up to him. "Where are you going?"

"I don't know," he replied.

"I'm planning to head into the city since I don't have anything to do at the hospital right now. Want to come?"

"No. I have things to do."

"But you just said-"

"I know what I said. I don't know where I'm going, but I have things to do."

I crossed my arms angrily. "Really? I'd say you don't want to go because you're avoiding me."

"Because I don't want to talk to you, and I don't want to hang out with you."

"Please tell me what I did to make you not like me. I've tried to be nice whenever you're around, yet you treat me like I'm inferior, or that I'm not worth your time."

"Why do you care about someone you just met?" He asked, sounding annoyed.

"Honestly? Because you always seem lonely, you never speak, you never look like you're having fun, and it doesn't seem like you have many friends."

"I have friends."

"Besides Caleb and Dylan, who are your other friends?"

"I don't need anyone but them."

"Everyone needs more than two friends."

"Your friend Lilly has the same amount of friends back on Earth, and she seems to be doing just fine."

"Lilly has more than two friends back on Earth! Why are you such an ass to someone who's trying to be a friend to you?"

"Because I told you, I don't want to be friends with you," he retorted. "Especially with a girl who trails me around like a puppy dog. It's embarrassing."

His words slapped me brutally in the face, and my cheeks flushed in humiliation. A lump formed in my throat, which I swallowed down so I could briefly reply, "I'm sorry I've embarrassed you. Have a good day."

Arms tight across my chest, I made my way over to the hospital. I didn't have any work, but that didn't mean none could be found. But halfway there, tears started spilling down my cheeks. Chad's words stung more than I cared to admit. I'd merely been trying to be friendly because he seemed like he needed someone, but that backfired severely.

"Vivienne, you okay?" Caleb's voice inquired. "What happened?"

"Nothing, nothing, I just had a... sneezing fit," I lied.

"Okay, well, either you sneezed violently about fifty times, or you're lying. Which one is it?"

"I don't want Chad to get in trouble."

"What did he say to you?"

"I was trying to be friendly, just asking if he wanted to hang out, go walk around the city, and he told me no. I pushed him by asking why he was being so rude, and he finally said it was embarrassing to have me following him around like a puppy dog. I shouldn't have pushed him like that. I should've let it go. It's my fault."

Caleb closed his eyes, letting out a big sigh. "I'll talk to him. Listen, Chad's not a warm, fluffy guy. He's had a rough childhood that makes him stay far away from people, but that doesn't excuse him for how he treated you. Go find Dylan. He'll show you around the city and cheer you up. I'd go with you myself, but I have a new project to work on."

"What about Lilly's powers? Have you figured them out yet?"

"I'm always working on that. Nothing has made itself known, but I'm not going to let her be my first failure. I won't stop working on that until I get it. If you see her, tell her I'm back in my lab if she wants to join. It feels weird being in my lab and not having her around asking questions," he said with a chuckle.

"She's in her room, I think."

"Maybe I'll stop by there and see if she wants to join me. Dylan should be in the kitchen. Just go on in there. Don't let what Chad said bother you, okay?"

I nodded. "Thank you, Caleb."

He patted my shoulder comfortingly. "I'm always here to lend an ear when you need one. I'll see you later!"
********************

Caleb

Chad happened to be on the elevator on the ride down to my lab. I cornered him. "Why did I pass Vivienne crying in the hallway?"

"I don't know," Chad lied effortlessly.

"Really? So it has nothing to do with you telling her it's embarrassing having her follow you around like a puppy?"

"Why are you asking me why she's crying when you already know the answer?"

"Because I want to know why you were a dick to her when all she's done is try to be nice to you. When Dylan finds out about this, and you lie to him about it, you're going to need a new pair of pants again."

"I lied to her. It's not embarrassing, and she doesn't follow me around like a puppy. I told her that so she'd stay away from me."

"Why? She's trying to be a friend, and if not a friend, at least friendly."

"You know why. You and Dylan are different, but she's good. I'm not. I'm poison."

"Your brother's poison, not you. You are not your power, Chad. Remember that," I said firmly. "Before Dylan sets your pants on fire, you might want to apologize to Vivienne next time you see her."

"Where's your shadow?" Chad asked as we stepped off the elevator, walking with me to the lab.

"Right there," I replied, pointing to the black mass alongside me.

"No, I mean that Snow girl. The one that does trail you like a puppy."

"Lilly doesn't do that. She's just very inquisitive, and I typically have all the answers. I enjoy having her around. It's nice to have someone interested in what I do."

"Are you sure she's interested in what you do rather than you?"

"Positive. I still haven't figured out her power yet. It's driving me nuts. So in the meantime, I'm working on a project for Esmeralda."

"What project?"

"One I'm doing so grudgingly."

"Does it have to do with my brother?"

"Unfortunately. Come on, I'll show you."