Chapter Twelve - Lumera Falls: Days One and Two
Lyra's POV
The first morning of the Saint Valley High Fall Festival, the streets of Lumera felt like they'd been dipped in gold. Flags waved in every color, the scent of caramel and roasted corn wafted through the air, and students spilled into the streets like a river of excitement.
"First stop?" Soraya asked, twirling a glittery scarf around her wrist.
"Cotton candy," Saphira said before anyone else could answer.
I laughed, tugging Evan's hand along with mine. "Obviously. We can survive on sugar for the next two days."
He smirked. "I call dibs on the first bite."
By mid-morning, our feet were sore, our hands sticky, and our stomachs stuffed, but the festival was only getting started.
We rode the Ferris wheel first, our laughter echoing above the city as the wind tugged at our hair. From the top, Lumera looked like a storybook - rooftops glittering, students like tiny dots, and the horizon spilling into a soft orange sunset.
"Look at that," Evan whispered, his arm around my shoulders. "It's perfect."
I leaned my head against him. "I think... this is my favorite festival ever."
We moved on to the book fair next. Among stacks of novels and old classics, something caught my eye: The Last Page.
A second-chance romance. Nora and Calen. Love lost and found again.
I cradled the book like a treasure. "Evan, you'll never guess what I found."
He peered over my shoulder. "Judging by the cover... trouble?"
"Exactly," I laughed. "But good trouble."
He nudged me. "Buy it. I'll save you for the cotton candy line."
So I did.
By afternoon, we were at the craft tents, painting mini pumpkins, laughing at Saphira's disastrous attempt at carving, and helping Cassian balance on the shaky rope ladder that was "part of the obstacle course."
"You're supposed to walk," Evan teased as he caught me mid-bounce.
"And miss a chance to fly? Never."
Soraya threw her arms up. "Day one complete. Time for fireworks!"
The second day began early, with a morning parade. Floats full of costumes, school banners, and marching bands passed, confetti flying everywhere.
We cheered, waved, and joined in when some kids offered ribbons for the audience. By mid-morning, I had three braided into my hair.
Afterward, we visited the food trucks, tried every seasonal dessert imaginable, and wandered into a haunted house that ended with Soraya screaming in Evan's ear while I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.
"I swear, this is the best fall festival ever," I said, shoulders brushing against Evan as we exited the haunted house.
"Not done yet," he said, taking my hand. "Wait until night."
That evening, the festival's main stage hosted the Lumera Lights Show - strings of lanterns, glowing decorations, and music filling the night sky.
We lay on blankets in the grass, side by side, the soft hum of the crowd around us.
"You think anyone else here knows how lucky we are?" I whispered.
He pressed a kiss to my temple. "Nope. And let's keep it that way."
Saphira and Soraya were arguing over which pumpkin pie to eat next, Aveline and Rina were sketching the lights, and Cassian was... well, Cassian was probably trying to convince someone to let him juggle candy apples.
I flipped open The Last Page, hiding my face in the first chapter. The world melted away: Nora, Calen, a second chance at love.
Evan draped his arm over my shoulder. "Careful, star girl. Don't get too lost in another world."
"Don't distract me," I whispered, grinning.
And for hours, we stayed there - reading, laughing, and watching lanterns drift into the night sky.
It felt endless. Perfect. Immortal.