Frozen Stars

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐨

𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐚
My head has never hurt as much as it does today. The bruise from yesterday seems to be a lot more worse than I thought it would be. It doesn't look that bad, it's a small blue spot on my head. But it still looks bad enough for people to think that someone punched me in the face. That's why I covered it up earlier when I got ready.

I put a lot too much concealer on it, tried to make it less noticeable. But since my concealer is basically transparent, I swear it's working great usually, the spot looks the same — with a yellow touch. I never knew my concealer color looked this much like the sun.

So the last thing thing that came to my mind was to just keep my hair open instead of pulling it up into a ponytail like usual. I tried to blow it out a little, like those pictures on Pinterest. It looks fine. Good for someone like me, at least. When I went to the hair salon a while ago, I told them to cut my hair in layers. I must say, they did an excellent job. My hair looked like it came straight out of the 90s.

And that's exactly the look I'm going for today. My hair made, make up perfect, the bruise covered up, my outfit which consists of a black hoodie and some grey jeans I found in the back of my closet. Everything screams me. This is who I am. And I love it.

As the bell finally rings, I'm more than happy to leave this very boring class. I don't know why I even chose it in the first place. It must've been my second or third choice because I don't remember wanting this class enough for it to be put in first choice.

Nova runs up to me immediately. She never hesitates to talk to me every chance she gets. Sadly, our classes couldn't be more different. Of course they are, we're studying different things. I still would've wished for at least one class I could spend with her.

"What's up?" she asks, catching up with my pace. My classes have a certain sequence, and some of them don't have any breaks between them. Today is one of those days.

"Nothing much, you?" I try to keep the conversation simple because I don't have the time to chat about more specific things. I'd need my brain for that, and in mornings like these it always seems to be somehow missing.

She rummages through her bag, though I'm not paying much attention to what she's doing, I'd rather be sat in my seat in my class than running through the halls like a maniac.

"Just talked to Dave today." That catches my attention.

I twist around, facing her and standing still in the middle of the hallway. Students crash against me, but I couldn't care less. The information Nova just told me is the most impactful thing she could've ever said. I've waited for her to finally say that for months.

"You've talked to Dave?" I almost whisper, the news is still processing in my mind.

She nods eagerly. "Yes. It was amazing, honestly."

I grab her arms and shake her. "How long have you waited for this moment? How long? Two years? Nova, this is absolutely breathtaking."

She chuckles softly. "Yes. I know. I wasn't quite myself when he asked me to hang out sometime."

My eyes widen. Nova has loved that guy for decades. Everything heard or seen about him landed in her head in seconds, she's obsessed with him to this day. To hear that he's asked her something Nova and I waited forever for is astonishing. I can't believe my own ears.

"Nova. This is great. I'm so happy for you." Nova smiles and hugs me tightly. Her hugs always feel like a wave of warmth, the love and affection throwing itself onto me. Since this is the only time I am ever hugged, it feels like a present. Something I appreciate with so much gratitude.