MY SHOOTING STAR

Chapter Seven

[FLASHBACK]

A realistic yet incomplete drawing of a stunning young female with bright, determined eyes captivated those curious onlookers around me, but only for a moment as they sprouted out to their own destinations.

I set the pencil down and sighed, determined to finish the artwork in front of me, yet my mind was elsewhere. Firstly, it focused on my hands, covered in charcoal and pencil markings, where they grasped onto the soft, green grass beneath me. The sound of crinkling and snapping could be heard as I tightened my fists around the green foliage.

My mind then focused on the fact that the school had just ended and why I was still there. Ms. Francesca ordered only a small handful of students to stay in the area for an additional meeting. She said nothing to spoil the surprise, just enough that would get them excited.

The eleven she personally chose excelled in their academic studies and were invited to stay to pursue another project, separated from what was required to graduate. She told them that in her previous years stationed at the school as a teacher, she never hoped to see a project as large as this be presented to her students under her supervision until now. One of the chosen was remarkable Estella.

How did I get involved in this?

Well, it wasn't surprising that I didn't fit in the criteria of extraordinary, so obviously, I wasn't first pick. Not even the last! Ms. Francesca was told by the principal that the only way for the project to get funded was to bring in a minimum of twelve students.

I mean, I had to agree. Eleven was such an odd number, anyway...

Pun intended.

The twelfth and last slot landed on my lap somehow. Why was I chosen? Mediocre me over all the others who had ridiculously large files of academic achievements? It was a mystery indeed--not to just me but those there.

I didn't think much into it then because by the grace of my guardian angels, I got to be with my sweet star again. We reached an endeavor, another special opportunity, to work on an important project together. To be honest, if it wasn't for her in my life, all of that I aimed for, all of my hopes and dreams would have been meaningless.

My mind ventured back to the art on my spiral drawing pad. She was stunning as the stars in the sky, sparkling bright as the light spectrum would allow. That was because she was a depiction of the real person in my life.

I memorized every detail about her; a mole on the left side of her chin, the amount of freckles on her perfect button nose. The dimples faintly flaunting themselves as her luscious pink lips move slightly upward to form a smile. Her brown eyes complimented her honey-toned skin, which made the goddesses jealous. Her beauty refused to be described into words, but if there was a word, it would be that she was pulchritudinous.

Just then, I felt soft and warm hands cover my eyes, which made my vision darken abruptly. A soft giggle escaped from a girl's lips, which I've known pretty well by now whose sweet voice it belonged to.

I reached for her wrists and held onto them as long as I could, hoping to keep the feeling of her soft, beautiful skin against mine. How much of a privilege it was to touch such beauty. I giggled with her, wishing this feeling didn't have to end. "Estella? Is that you?" I teased.

I imagined her blushing and nodding to my obvious question. "You always know when I'm behind you!"

Once she released me, I immediately closed my sketch pad so she wouldn't have to see what I endued. The last thing I needed was for her to be grossed out of what she might have thought was an obsession. Except, it was simply admiration.