Once Upon A Starr

Chapter 9: Catch me, I'm Falling

Tyler's POV

"Hey, are you asleep over there?" I heard her shout.

I glanced up to where she was, at least two meters ahead of me, and I rolled my eyes and replied, "Yeah. I'm actually taking a nap."

"Ha ha! So funny!" she replied with the same sarcasm as I did.

"You know, Starr, I still can't decipher how you manage to make me say 'yes' to this absurd idea of fun."

Now I heard her giggle as she looked down at me, "maybe you just can't resist me," she replied with a wink and a cute smile.

I think time has just paused. Did she just wink at me? That's a first but then again, I just met her yesterday so there's no reason to be shocked at that and I had to reply at her remark to keep this conversation going, "yeah right," was the best I could come up with.

Stupid! Mentally face palming myself.

She smiled at me and continued to climb her way up. I can see that she's a few rocks away from ringing the bell and in no time, I heard it ring.

Get it together, Ty. You've been beaten by a girl and that never happens. Well, not until now.

"Shut up!" I replied silently to myself.

You can do it, Ty. Trying to convince myself that this is nothing but then I think I heard myself talking in another voice. So, I tried to listen intently now.

"You can do this, Ty. You're almost there," I heard a soothing voice say.

I looked up and I was right, Star is looking at me with motivating brown eyes. Then and there, I thought to myself, I have to face this. Just breathe. Everyone needs to face their fears.

Determined, I pushed myself up to reach the red rock and I did. I continued to grab the next one and climbed my way up but, suddenly, I felt my hand slipping, I panicked and closed my eyes as I readied for my fall.

My hand, promptly, let go and as I sensed myself falling,  I felt someone grabbed my hand.

I opened my eyes, looked up, and there she was, my sunny angel trying to pull me up. I looked at her with shock and as I was about to ask her why she did what she did, she had beaten me to it, "I told you, I wouldn't let you fall," saying with gritted teeth.

And that's what it took to make my heart stop beating. She saved me. She held on. She's helping me face this challenge. No one ever did that for me. I thought as my heart warmed.

I felt her pulling me up, which woke me from my trance and so, I tried to pull myself up, again, too. I grabbed the next rock and steadied myself.

Now, both Starry and I are side by side and I can see her panting for air, "Wooooh! You're heavy," she finally said with a small smile.

I snickered nervously and replied stuttering,"Th-thank you, Star."

She smiled warmly at me and nodded, "I told you, didn't I? Let's go! We're going to finish this even if I'd have to catch you every time you fall."

I can't help but laugh at what she said and replied, "Let's go and thanks, again."

"No problem. I always keep my word."

We continued to climb up side by side and with a few motivational speeches more, I made it; I rang the golden bell.

"You did it! I told you, you can do it," she says grinning.

That smile. I can't help but smile with her.

"Thanks to you," I replied and saw that cute red tint on her cheeks once again. We were both silent as we look into each other's eyes.