Starbound

Chapter 3: Lia Starlitt

The Monday after homecoming, I ripped off my blankets and quickly got dressed into some cute clothing. Things only get better from here, right? I just danced with my crush, now maybe we'll start talking at school, and that'll turn into maybe hanging out outside of school, and maybe even a date. My excitement was practically exploding, bursting at the seams. I don't remember life ever feeling this good.
So, I walk into school. As I walk down the hall towards my locker, I'm glancing around, looking for Kurtis. I spot him at his locker, which is only a few lockers down from mine. He doesn't really look at me. He's really focused on shoving his backpack into his locker and taking out binders and organizing them. He's dressed in his normal clothing, jeans and a t-shirt. He looks over to me so I quickly look away, trying not to seem like a creep. I see him approaching me from the corner of my eye, and my heart starts pounding. He passes me, though. He walks towards our homeroom instead. I sigh and unpack things from my backpack, stuffing them in my locker. Maybe the dance didn't mean anything to him. Maybe I'm just delusional. I have gym with him today, though, so maybe I'll get to talk to him then.
When gym class came around and I walked out of the girl's locker room, I saw him standing there. He was standing alone in front of the boy's locker room on the other side of the gym. He was looking at his phone. He had on a black t-shirt and dark gray shorts, his gym clothes that he's been using since the start of the year. We play matball, like always. I wait until he decides which team he's gonna be on, then I join his team. Our team is up first to kick. I stand behind him in the line. He doesn't seem very happy at all. He's just watching the people in line in front of us kick, until it's his turn. He kicked the ball and ran. Tate Brooks almost caught the ball but it dropped from his hands. Now I kick, and I send it over to the side wall so I could be sure that nobody would catch it. Me and him stand together on first base. I keep up with him this time. When he runs to second base, I run with him. Then to third, then back to first, then to second, then to third again, then it was time for us to run home. We run to home together. Someone whips the ball at us, but we both duck and the ball grazes our heads. We both stand in the line again together.
"That was close," Kurtis mumbled, out of breath. I just smile at him. I get mad at myself for just smiling. I could've actually started a conversation, but no. I just smiled.
It was our turn to be in the outfield. I make sure to stand next to him. He just stands in one place the whole time, fidgeting with his fingers. I can tell Tate Brooks has something up his sleeve by the way he's glaring at Kurtis and giggling to his friends in the line to kick. I was right. When Tate was up to kick, he sent the ball hurling towards Kurtis.
"Kurtis!" I exclaimed. People in the outfield reach out to catch it, but none of their hands make contact with the ball. Kurtis was looking over to me because I said his name, so he didn't notice the ball coming towards him. It hit him on the side of his head and his glasses flew to the floor. I feel horrible. He probably would've caught it or dodged it if I didn't distract him. Tate runs to first base, a huge smile on his face.
"How did I just do that?!" Tate exclaimed, laughing. I pick up Kurtis's glasses for him and hand them to him. He takes them and puts them back on.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
"I'm fine," he uttered. He said it in a annoyed tone, so I start thinking he's annoyed at me. I don't say anything else, I just slowly go back to where I was standing. He was probably embarrassed, though. I'd act the same way if that happened to me.
As the teams were switching, Kurtis shoulder-checks Tate pretty hard. Tate takes huge offense to this, snapping his head over to Kurtis, his eyebrows furrowed.
"You think you're funny, Kurtis?" Tate said sternly.
"Do you think you're funny?" Kurtis argued.
"Don't think you could beat me, you don't need humiliated any more than you already are," Tate growled.
"What's humiliating is that hearing aid," Kurtis mumbled. Some people watching their fight gasp. Tate wore a hearing aid in his right ear to help with his hearing loss, it's something he was insecure about. Tate's face turned red with anger. He reached over to Kurtis, and in the blink of an eye, ripped Kurtis's insulin pump off of his arm. Even more people gasp, including me.
"Hey!" Mr. Williams, the gym teacher, exclaimed. He had just started paying attention, I guess. Kurtis looked at the insulin pump in Tate's hand, then to Tate's face. I could see the faint sparkle of tears in Kurtis's eyes. The spot where the pump was ripped off was turning red, I knew it had to hurt, and I knew it had to of been very embarrassing. Tate threw the insulin pump down to Kurtis's feet, then stormed away. Tate was sent to the office, and Kurtis was sent to the nurse. I couldn't believe what just happened. I felt so bad.

"Kurtis Lemaire is a nerd," said Atlas, twisting her chestnut hair around her finger. She's all I really have in second period study hall, so I sit with her. I see Kurtis sitting across the room, but I don't think we're comfortable with each other enough for me to go over and sit with him. It was yesterday that he got into that fight with Tate. Things have been kind of quiet from him since. He didn't say a word in homeroom.
"I can't help but feel bad for him, though," I told Atlas, looking at the surface of the table. "He seems so sad or something."
"Who cares. He's annoying," Atlas said. "And he needs a hair cut."
"He doesn't really have many friends, I don't think.." I mumbled.
"Well, I wonder why. He's a weirdo," Atlas said. I didn't want to argue with her anymore. I didn't even want to sit with her anymore. I looked back to Kurtis. Maybe me going over to sit with him wouldn't be so bad. After all, he already knows that I like him, or at least has a hint.
"I'll be back," I told Atlas before standing up and walking over to Kurtis. I really wished Lizzy was there to hype me up, because I completely did this out of pure adrenaline. I sat across from him. He looked up from his phone and looked to me. "Hey," I said to him, grinning.
"Hey," he replied. He looked confused. I don't blame him, though. We literally never talked in the past and now I'm all of a sudden wanting to dance with him and talk to him.
"How're you?" I asked, my grin steady.
"I've been better.." he mumbled, turning off his phone and setting it on the table. I could feel the sadness radiating from him. It's a feeling that I could feel heavily in my chest.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" I asked him gently.
He took a few moments before responding. "It's nothing, really. Just teenage hormones," he uttered.
"I feel you," I said. "I like your shirt." It was just a plain blue shirt, but I thought the color really flattered his eyes.
"Thanks," he replied. "I like your jeans."
"Thank you," I said.
He flicked his hair away from his face and pushed up his glasses. He seemed nervous.
"Did you have a good time at homecoming?" I asked him.
"I guess.." he replied hesitatingly. "It was low-key kind of boring for the most part."
"Yeah.." I mumbled, playing with the strings of my hoodie. I glanced to his phone. All I wanted in that moment was his phone number. I know he has one, he's talking to people on his phone all the time. I took a deep breath. "Hey, do you mind if I get your phone number?"
"Oh-sure," he said, picking up his phone. I take my phone out and wait for him to read his phone number to me. As he reads his number, I carefully type it into my phone. This whole thing felt like a dream. I grin at him when he's finished saying his number.

I texted him that night.
Me: Hey. It's Lia.
Kurtis: Hey.
Me: How was your summer break? Did you do anything fun?
Kurtis: Not really. Just sat there in my house.
Me: You didn't even go to the fair?
Kurtis: No. I never go.
Me: Wyd rn?
Kurtis: Sitting in my bed.
Me: I just kinda wanted to know.. what did you think about me dancing with you at homecoming?
Kurtis: It was fun. It made my night a little better.
I smiled at my phone. I made his night better. This doesn't seem real, none of it does. I never would've guessed that I would've ever been so bold. I've been feeling more confident lately. I don't know why, but I just have. I kind of like this new me, though. She's unafraid and gets things done. She may even score herself a boyfriend.
Me and Kurtis text until he says he's going to bed. It was about 11:30 PM at that point. I get a little disappointed but then remember that I get to see him at school tomorrow. So, I let my head fall into my pillow, a grin on my face, my phone held to my chest. This whole day has felt like I've been walking on clouds.