Minutes to Midnight

He stared up at the clear night sky above, spread out on the blue blanket thousands of kilometres away from the nearest star. But being far away from them didn't bother him. They were practically eternal, twinkling above almost as if they had a secret.

And if there was anything Julian knew, it was how to keep a secret.

Lips twitching upwards at the thought, he glanced back at the watch in his hand, nodding to himself as it slowly but steadily ticked away the end of the day. It was almost midnight, and with the new day brought more than just possibilities and opportunities.

A birthday was something important, something that should be celebrated. And turning seventeen was supposed to be more important than them all.

And later he would. He was Julian Rousseau after all, throwing parties was something he was born good at. But now, simply lying here and staring at the stars were enough.