Fire Stones - By Kailin Gow Page 0,16

their perfect matches, outfit-wise, leaving me and Haven to find our own attire. I caught sight of a glimmering dandelion-gold dress on the rack – its lace trim elegant without being overly formal. But when I reached for the hangar, I looked up in surprise. Haven had reached for the dress at the same time!

We laughed as we picked up the dress together. “Go on,” I said. “It's your birthday.”

“Looks like we have the same taste, Mac,” said Haven. “You can take it if you want – I have something similar at home.”

I handed it to her. “Birthday girl.”

“Well, great minds think alike, I guess.” Haven smiled. “Cassie always goes for brighter colors – Leia for monochrome. Nobody here shares my taste.” She sighed, and her eyes grew sad. “Except Jana, of course. She and I used to “hanger-jinx” each other all the time, always reaching for the same outfit.” She looked up at me, her expression serious. “You know, you really do remind me of her. Not just physically, but...this whole thing, with you and Chance and Varun...”

So, Brandon had gossiped about what he saw. I looked up at Haven, watching her face for any sign of potential betrayal, but she seemed serious, if curious about the “real story” of my relationship with both of them.

“It's complicated,” I admitted, not wanting to give too much away. I wasn't even sure if Haven knew about Chance's real identity, let alone mine or Varun’s.

“You know,” said Haven, “I'd keep away from Chance if I were you. He's nothing but trouble.” Her voice grew cold. “And if Jana had done the same, and stayed with Varun, who really loved her, then she'd be alive today.”

I looked up at Haven, dumbstruck by her forward words. “I'm not Jana,” I said, looking braver than I felt.

“But you sure acted the same way, didn't you?” Haven's voice grew dark, almost threatening. I couldn't tell if she was angry with me – or with Chance. “Five minutes into getting into Aeros and you were already dating Varun, now you're with Chance. It's a love triangle I'm not unfamiliar with. Jana had the exact same problem. She was with Varun for a whole year, happy, in love. Then suddenly, Chance came to town, and she didn't know what hit her. I'm just trying to be a friend, Mac. Those two boys are dangerous together; you don't want to get in the middle of whatever drama they have going on.”

“Whatever happened to Jana,” I said, “Isn't going to happen to me. Don't worry.” But I wasn't so sure. What made me so different from Jana? From what everyone said, we were more similar than I'd have liked to think.

“It's not just you I'm worried about,” said Haven. “What about Varun? He's a great guy – you know, he seemed to really like you. I don't know if you broke up or whatever, but that was an awfully short-lived relationship...unless you're still involved with him?”

So that's why Haven asked me to the mall. I should have known there was an ulterior motive. Haven evidently wanted to know where I stood with Varun.

“I'm dating Chance now, Haven. Varun and I went on a couple of dates but...it just didn't work out. If you want to ask him out, you know, he's totally free.”

Haven smiled and laughed, her cheeks turning pink. “Oh, no,” she said. “It's not like that with us. I mean, I'm not saying I haven't thought about it, but it's not like that with us, Mac. We're childhood friends. Since we were kids. I care about him, but he's too wrapped up in his quest to notice me. He thinks there's this woman from his past – like, a past life. And that he has to find her again. This Vesta person he's so obsessed with.” Haven frowned as she said Vesta's name. I felt a sudden urge to tell her everything, to explain, but caution held me back.

“What do you know about Vesta?” I asked.

“Not a lot,” admitted Haven. “I know that in some past existence, Varun says, he used to live with her, used to be so in love with her that he would have given everything up to be with her. But in the end, they came from two different worlds. And she left him, high and dry. And alone. Left him for her old life, her old world. Some other love she was convinced she was supposed to be with. And it broke Varun's