And so he had.
Was this the universe trying to put her strange evening to rights?
“So I’ve been thinking…” said Alexander, moving a little closer. “I think we keep getting the timing screwy, and I’d like to fix that.” He took a deep breath. “I’d like to take you out on a proper date.”
Onny’s eyebrows shot up her forehead.“What?”
“A date!” said Alexander. “With food, beverages, conversation. Ideally, some laughter. I know you mentioned astrology stuff, and there’s an exhibit at the planetarium.”
Onny could only stare at him. Alexander was looking at her, all handsome and hopeful and charming. Maybe a few days ago, she would’ve leaped at the offer of a date from him. She probably would’ve said that this was the culmination of all of her astrological hopes and dreams. Instead, she felt the slightest hesitation and, frankly, a great deal of annoyance at the universe. Wasn’t it supposed to be onherside today?
It was at that exact moment that Onny became fully aware that,nope,the universe was definitely not on her side. Because of course—of course—at that moment, she noticed someone standing at the entrance of the skull-mouth bar.
Byron.
How long had he been standing there? He was still as a statue. In his left hand he was holding the goggles upright from his Dr. Frankenstein costume. Onny noticed that he’d used them as a kind of container because now they held some of the “danced upon earth.” She glanced into his eyes. Moments earlier, she’d imagined they looked like molten silver.
Now they looked like ice.
“So what do you say?” asked Alexander, grinning. “Is it a date?”
Byron’s jaw clenched. Without another word, he turned and disappeared in the crowd.
“Onny?” asked Alexander, a frown marring his perfect face.
Onny looked at him and shook her head, her answer leaping from her lips before she could even process them.
“No,” she said. “I… I’m sorry. You’re, like,perfect,but I don’t think that I—”
Alexander looked a little confused. He opened his mouth, then quickly closed it.
“Right,” he said, his voice a little flat. “Well, then.”
“I’m so sorry, but I have to go,” said Onny, touching his shoulder. “I meant what I said though.… I really think you’re amazing, and I’m sorry.”
Alexander managed a smile, then winked. “Hopefully someone else will think the same.”
“Hey!” yelled Onny.
The thumping music faded behind her as she raced outside, following after the shape of Byron Frost, who was determinedly walking up the hill and away from the party.
“Where are you going?” called Onny. “What about the ingredients? What about the favor you wanted?”
At this, Byron paused. He turned sharply, not ten feet from her. Her head felt fuzzy. Why had she followed him? Why had she said no to Alexander the Great-Looking and what,exactly,did she think Byron was doing?
“I figured you didn’t need the ingredients anymore,” he said stiffly.
“What do you mean?” asked Onny.
Byron lifted an eyebrow. “You wanted Alexander to ask you out, and so I imagined you didn’t need the help of cosmic seedlings of love or whatever this potion does.”
“So, what, you just walk away?” demanded Onny. “What about the thing you wanted?”
Byron’s expression went carefully blank. “I think it’s too late for that.”
“Try me,” said Onny.
“Isn’t it obvious?”
