Beneath the Stars

✩ the brightest light ;;

"You're what?" Audrey whirled and gawked at Brandon, unable to believe her ears.

The brunet beamed at her . "I'm participating in the Grand National Junior Boys Linton Race. Representing our entire country. Our track team coach let me know this morning. 'Good job, Brandon,' is what he said, and he even cracked a smile, can you believe it?"

"OH. MY. GOSH! BRANDON BRANDON BRANDON BRANDON BRANDON -"

"Were you going to add something to the end of my name?" he asked as she twirled around with glee.

Audrey looked as though she would topple over from excitement. "THE Grand National Boys Linton Race that you've been dreaming of going to ever since you were a kid? I've watched you since freshman year train for this very day and I cannot believe -"

"And that is where I'm going to stop you because you're beginning to sound frightfully like an exultant mother." Brandon's grin split across his face and Audrey launched herself at him, gripping him with all her might, arms wrapping around his torso. The whirlwind of red hair looked up at her best friend and in that moment, she felt like she would never be able to stop smiling.

"I am so proud of you, Brandon Rivera."

The tall runner hugged her tightly in response. "Why, thank you very much."

She released him and her hair bounced around, taking Audrey along with it, and the young girl pranced along the sidewalk, sun glistening off her hair.

"Why does it seem like you're just so much more excited than I am about this?" Brandon laughed, dodging a wave of curls as they swung around.

"Because it's you. I'm so happy for you, I don't even know what to say!" Audrey squealed.

"Then don't say anything," Brandon said, amused. "I don't know how someone as small as you can have so much air in your lungs to talk for so long."

Audrey elbowed him in the ribs. "I'm not actually that small. Five foot four is not small." She peered up at her five foot nine counterpart.

Brandon tousled her hair and picked her up, spinning her around. Audrey screamed with a mixture of fear and exhilaration. He set her down and they both staggered a little, dizzy.

"You're going to win this thing, Brandon. I believe in you." Her eyes shone with a fire that matched her hair, fluttering in the breeze, covering her face so it looked like she herself was a never ending flame. "All the stars are watching over you, Brandon. They're all cheering for you."

He looked down at his best friend, and then up at the day sky, imagining the stars there, hidden. They may shine bright, but his biggest source of light was the crackling flame standing beside him, his very own star. Brandon smiled hugely.

"Yeah."

-----

Audrey's cell phone buzzed continuously, vibrating the entire desk, and she groaned.

"Mphmph...."

Her arm reached out for her phone, face buried in her pillow, still half asleep. It was too far away, she couldn't reach it. Audrey shifted on her bed and stretched her fingers. Almost ... there. She peeked from her spot on the bed and took note of the numbers blinking at her from her digital clock. 2:37AM. Who in the world is calling me at this hour? Sara, no ... maybe Trishe? Audrey slid her phone towards her and snatched it off the table. The cell vibrated in her palm as her eyes focused on the caller: Brandon. What was he doing up so late? She was about to click receive when it stopped.