This is a prequel to my other project, The Harmony Pub.
Theodore, or Teddy as his few friends called him, was a budding star at Uni. He'd finished both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in mathematics and was attempting his doctorate in astrophysics.
The beginnings of a scruffy beard graced his face, and he did his best to exercise, keeping at bay the belly that was threatening to grow. A tall man, he walked the campus with an air of aloofness. He was, in fact, a student of the stars.
He'd been studying the sky for nearly two years when he saw her. She was sitting on a bench near the lake, staring into the water.
Her eyes were closed, but she seemed lost in thought. He knew he should go away, but he couldn't move. She looked so sad, and he felt compelled to approach her.
As he drew closer, he noticed how beautiful she was. Her long, dark hair was tied up in a ponytail, and her skin glowed from the sun. She wore a light blue dress that clung to her curves.
Her lips were full, and he found himself wanting to kiss them. He stopped just short of her. She opened her eyes and smiled at him. "Hi," she said.
"Hello." He paused, unsure what to say next. She laughed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." He smiled.
"You're not the first person to do that today." She laughed again. "It's alright. I've been here for hours now. It's nice to have someone to talk to."
He nodded and smiled. "My name is Theodore. And yours?"
She giggled. "I don't know. You can call me anything you like. "She blushed.
"Well now, I could call you Andromeda. My radiant Andromeda, your beauty and strength eclipse even the tales of mythology," he said in a tone that was more nerdy than it was romantic.
She laughed. "Oh my god! You're a nerd!" She laughed harder.
"No, I'm serious. You're really cute. What are you doing later?" he asked, suddenly shy.
"Nothing. Why?" she asked.
"Just wondering if I should take you out somewhere." He grinned.
"I'd love that," she beamed, "but you should really know my name first."
He laughed, "I don't know, Andromeda is pretty accurate. I'd be happy to be your Perseus."
With a shake of her head at his goofy nature, she told him, "No, fair traveler, my name is Anya."
He stared at her for a moment before smiling. "Anya, huh? That's a pretty name. I think it suits you." He blushed.
"Thank you. So, where are you going to take me?" she asked.
"I haven't decided yet. There's a pub near here, good food, good music, decent booze."
"That sounds lovely. Do I need to dress up, or is it a casual affair?"
He confided, "It's not really fancy at all. No need to get dressed to the nines." The conversation continued, and they discussed more about themselves.
He exposited about math and astrophysics, telling her about the minutiae, and she nodded politely through his discourse on black holes.
They talked about their lives, and she listened intently, nodding every so often. When they had exhausted the topics of their lives, they spoke about the stars. "Have you ever seen a shooting star?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied.
"What did you see?" she asked.
"A flash of light, followed by a trail of smoke. Then nothing."
She laughed. "That sounds like a terrible way to die."
He shrugged. "It's not bad. Just boring."
She smiled. "Maybe you'll see one tonight. I hope so. Maybe we can watch together." He nodded.
"Wouldn't that be wonderful?" he said, grinning.
"Yeah. We could sit and stare at the stars for hours." She smiled.
"Should I pick you up tonight, or meet you there?" He had brought the topic back to their impending date.
"We could meet at the pub at 7, and then maybe watch some stars afterwards." She smiled.
"Sounds like a plan. See you there." He watched her walk away, admiring her sway as she went.
