Stars Aligned

Chapter 7

January promised to be the coldest month in Greenland and even though my native Switzerland got cold in the winter, Greenland's winter shook all of us. Sebastian sometimes joined us in the Dining Hall, where he was introduced to all of my friends. Yallannie couldn't contain her smile; she looked like a chipmunk who's about to start hysterically laughing by the way she tried hiding her smile. It was too cold for Sebastian and I to sit underneath our beloved apple tree where he carved our initials in with a fork. The girls started getting more involved with their crushes as well. Sebastian was good friends with them both so that meant I heard everything that went on. The first time Sebastian introduced me to his group was a rather fun experience. I was anxious because, what if they didn't like me? What if I sounded boring and awkward? I couldn't help but imagine the worst case scenario. It was dinner; Sebastian walked me to the Dining Hall and instead of stopping at my usual table, I was led to the back of the cafeteria where Sebastian apparently sat. "I didn't know you were part of those." I whispered in his ear. "Part of what?" He asked in a confused manner. "They're so outgoing and you're...normal." I explained. Sebastian laughed and placed an arm around my shoulder. Approaching the table, the wild pack of teenagers circled us. They were a couple of people I recognized but never thought I would actually face; a good amount of older years and younger years as well as the 3rd years I had in my classes. The ones from my year were Samuel and Ariel, both whom I knew quite extensively about, there was a girl who introduced herself as Nicole, a 3rd year from Aquarius House, and another boy named Diego who was from Gemini House. "Guys, I'd like for you to meet my girlfriend, Natalie. She's a 3rd year Libra." And there it was; I had the title: girlfriend. I felt victorious, as if I had won the heavyweight championship belt in a boxing match. I couldn't help but smile and look up at his face as he introduced who every one of his friends were. "Ahh, finally, the girlfriend!" Exclaimed Ariel. I had never actually heard him speak but his voice caught me by surprise. Whenever Laura talked about him, I imagined his voice to be deep like Sebastian's; smooth like Sebastian's. However, his voice was rather high for a sixteen-year old. "I have heard a lot about you." Samuel was there also, laughing it up with the girl, Nicole. "Yeah," He added to Ariel's. "I believe I have heard all there is to you. Yes, Sebastian, I am going to embarrass you—" He said, darting his eyes from me to Sebastian. "This boy has been talking about you since day one, and don't even get me started about the day you both hooked up." I blushed and looked at my feet in embarrassment. Sebastian cleared his throat and thanked Samuel for that delightful information. "No problem, buddy." He smiled, exposing every single one of his teeth. "Any girlfriend of Sebastian's is a girlfriend of mine." "Watch yourself, pal." Sebastian growled. I had an enjoyable time, but I was equally impressed at how easy it was to make conversation with these guys. I particularly liked Nicole's company. Her wit and sarcasm made her funny and I laughed at nearly everything she insulted. She talked about her boyfriend, Dan. He was a 3rd year also and I exclaimed in recognition when she described him in more detail. He was a Libra and I had Philosophy, Latin, and French with him. I saw him around Libra House too, he played piano in the evenings and I was very impressed with his skills. He once told me that he was an aspiring pianist when I complimented him one evening my 1st year in Astro. Ariel was an outgoing character with Samuel. Out of nowhere they would break in unison and exclaim random phrases and then look at each other and bump fists as if it was the funniest inside joke in the world. "Don't mind them," Diego said, giving the two boys a look. "They've been like that ever since they met." I attempted my number one trick for breaking the ice: 20 Questions. I asked everyone the most simplest questions to get to know their backgrounds. They all responded fairly well and Sebastian gave my knee a squeeze because I was making an effort. What I absolutely loved about Astro was that there were so many diverse people there. Samuel is from Israel, Ariel originated from Argentina, Diego from Venezuela, however, Nicole is native to Greenland. Nicole and I separated from the boys' conversation when the topic of football and FIFA surfaced. We talked about hair and makeup and then we got into the topic of Universities and occupations. Nicole planned on leaving Europe to study in the States. "I love Greenland, but I want to expand my horizons. I've never been to the Americas before." She was ambitious and proud which made me gain a new level of respect for her. After the night was over, I hugged her goodbye and promised to talk to her more often. She smiled with a promise dancing on her thin, pink lips. After Holiday, Arya joined our usual group of friends. He always seemed so jolly yet foreboding and I felt a cloud of darkness sweep over the Dining Hall when he was there. Whenever Sebastian joined my friends, the friction intensifies, and sometimes it would get so bad I would have the urgent desire to evaporate. I knew there was something up between Arya and Sebastian. Sitting next to my boyfriend, I noticed how his posture was fixed and how his jaw was clenched tight whenever Arya spoke. Sebastian's hands were always balled into fists and his knuckles turned white. I would grab one of Sebastian's hands and with my touch, he relaxed. He loosened one hand to let me hold it, to remind himself of his affections towards me. One evening in mid-January, I was pacing in our room, my mind was trying to piece the puzzle together. "I don't trust him," I said about Arya. "I don't trust a damn thing about him." Yallannie was on her side of the room folding her laundry. "Why? He seems pretty decent to me." "No," I uttered reaching my dresser. I was dressed in my thick tennis sweatpants and my oversized olive-green teeshirt. My hair was pulled up into a messy bun and my face was freshly washed, revealing my red acne scars. "There's something between him and Sebastian. History of some sort perhaps, but I know it's not just me." "So...You don't trust him because he's jealous of your boyfriend?" Yallannie pondered. She finished folding her clothes and grabbed a notebook from her desk. She flipped it open and carried it back to her bed. "He's not jealous of Sebastian, why would he be?" I defended. "Because, you oblivious bitch, Arya clearly has interest in you. He always has—have you not been paying attention to the way he acted around you the last couple of weeks?" No. Yallannie scoffed. "Gods, don't worry about it. You're attractive, you have a really fine boyfriend; all's well. People just want you because they can't have you. Don't pay attention to it—just worry about being the school's OTP." One thing about having a Libra for a best friend: they'll help you find your balance when you can't. I was calmed by Lannie's rational words and it brought peace to my heart. I went to sleep that night after practicing my Latin with Yallannie and I dreamt about happy days with Sebastian. Little did I know we were long far from those.