All the stars you cannot see

After the storm

It's a week after the team meeting that I see Kai again because of how busy my schedule is but I've been emailing back and forth with the trip organisers and Kai so we have basically all of the details sorted out and we leave in 10 days!

I'm so excited I keep having random bursts of energy where I just need to jump on the spot for a minute to expel it. That combined with the fact I can't shut up about this trip and I think poppy and Daryl are very close to giving me up for friend adoption.

Even when I see Kai though it's just a quick smile in the hallway, I try and be casual. Of course it doesn't work and I trip over my own shoe and stumble into a potted plant but that's besides the point, just one more way I've humiliated myself in-front of Kai to the exponentially growing list.

As I pretend like nothing happened and rush to make myself tea and get back to my office before any other plants can attack me I run into a far too happy looking Daryl.

"What's got you in such a good mood?!" I asked Daryl smiling at him, it was nice to see him so excited if not a little bit suspicious.

"Oh, nothing!" He says snapping out of it and I glare at him with a questioning look. I bet you it has to do with a certain someone but I don't pry because I am a respectful friend.

"Hmm well I'll see you later anyway." I smile at him waving a goodbye.

Finally it's the end of the day and I'm exhausted, so many things have been going on recently that I feel like I haven't even had a minute to take a breath.

Walking out of the building I look up at the sky as usual seeing rain clouds forming. Interesting.

Beginning to walk away I keep my face pointed towards the sky which is why I yelp when I run smack dab into the girl who sucker punched my gut during netball. Lovely.

"Sorry I didn't see you, are you okay?" I ask.

"Yes im fine, congrats on the trip, I guess you're finally getting the time you want to suck up to Kai" she says bitterly.

Her face twists as I ask what she means sounding shocked.

"Oh you know what I mean, don't play dumb. It's pathetically obvious you like him." She says and I feel my cheeks warm.

Is it really that obvious? I thought I was being a bit more subtle than that.

"I- no - i dont mean to" I flounder for an answer before she cuts me off.

"Look, im going to be blunt with you, newsflash it would never happen between yous two. I asked him out a couple of months ago and he rejected me and no offence to you but look at us both. I think it's clear who's prettier" her smile is acidic.

I feel like I should be more hurt than I am but honestly she's kind of right, I hate to give it to her considering how horrible she's being but she is very pretty.

"You are very pretty" I say without thinking.

"Oh I-" she seems caught off guard for a moment before snapping back into her previous mood.

"Look, don't try and change the subject with false compliments." She mutters.

"No you truly are. Also unrelated but what's your opinion on peaches" I ask thinking back to my muffins I could make her.

She looks at me perplexed for a moment before sighing and walking off.

Strange. But! I've just got a new objective for the week.

Operation make a new friend!

Walking home I think of the best recipe I could make for her.

The next day I walk into work armed and loaded... with peach muffins.