“This is a rare treat.” Luna laughed.

Jake held out the breakfast sandwich he had brought for her. It was a standard bagel sandwich, with just a few customizations. Most notably, the fact that it was on a blueberry bagel and lacked both tomato and lettuce. So, it was sausage, egg, and cheese on a lightly buttered blueberry bagel.

“The girl behind the counter gave me a strange look when I ordered that.” He informed her, unwrapping his own, as the menu described it, sandwich.

“That’s because I wasn’t with you.” Luna took a monster bite and chewed happily. “You went to the one on campus, right? Everyone who works there knows my order.”

“So, I should have just ordered the Luna special?”

She playfully punched his shoulder. “Please. It’s called the Ace special.”

“Oh?” Jake raised an eyebrow at her. “Does Ryan order the same thing?”

Luna shook her head. “Nah, he loves the veggies, and goes for the sundried tomato bagel.”

Jake hummed thoughtfully. So, Ryan ate better than his sister.

“So, what’s the occasion?” Luna popped the last of her sandwich in her mouth and threw the paper bag in a trash can as they passed. “I thought you didn’t have class until this afternoon.”

“I wanted to use the computers here.” While answering the questions Ryan had given him, Jake had decided that he wanted to give his character an animal sidekick. Now he just had to design and model one for her.

They reached Luna’s classroom, which was one of the black box studios. There was still time before the class started, so Jake followed her in. This wasn’t the first time he had done this, and he settled on the floor beside her bag comfortably while she started her warm up stretches.

Some of her classmates were already there, including Jen, who came over to join Luna. “Hey, you have to help me out.” She told Luna while stretching out over a leg on the floor.

“Do I?” Luna playfully swatted Jen’s toes with her own. “With what?”

“People keep complementing me on that song. It’s getting awkward, and when I tell them is wasn’t me, they want to know who they should talk to.”

“Oh.” Luna glanced at Jake. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t hoping to catch the answer. She gave a sad smile as she turned back to Jen. “Sorry. I promised I wouldn’t say.”

“Never?” Jake slumped. “Why not?”

“Because I was asked not to.” Luna pointed a finger at him. “And I’m watching you. Don’t think I haven’t noticed your observant ass watching everyone I know.”

“Oh?” Jen raised an eyebrow at him.

“I’m starting to think he’s fallen in love with just a voice.”

“I have not!” Jake protested, maybe a little too forcefully. They both looked at him with doubtful expressions.

Feeling his face start to heat up, he clambered to his feet. “I have work to do.” He muttered, heading for the door.

* * *

He was staring at a misshapen four-legged creature of some sort when his phone vibrated on the desk next to him.

‘What are you always listening to?’

He looked up as Ryan slipped into the chair beside him. The boy gave a shy smile and a little wave.

Jake quickly turned his music off and took out his earbuds. He felt his spirits lift, like they seemed to every time Ryan had visited this past week. The boy had a knack for working out the problems Jake was having. Every conversation they had led to Jake understanding his own character more and more.

Ryan was looking at him patiently. “Oh, uh, Luna sent me the song from her film. The one from the credits.”

Ryan’s eyes lit up with recognition. So, he had watched the finished film.

‘On repeat?’

Jake nodded. “Yeah. It’s a really good song. I wish I knew who sang it, but Luna’s being tight lipped about her identity.”

Then something occurred to him. “I don’t suppose you know who she is?”