Stars - ON HOLD -

Chapter 1. New Kid In Town.

"Without the dark, how could we see the stars?"

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Amazing.

That's the first word that comes to mind as I stare up at the midnight sky, black as coal but studded with countless diamonds that twinkle and shine. I lie on the soft grass, my hands folded on my stomach as I gaze up into the heavens. The stars burn constantly, continuing to burn until they burn no more. The hot balls of plasma, held together only by their own gravity, crushing inwards, gradually heating up.
Thousands of light years away. It's incredible, how something that is colossal can look tiny to our eyes, due to distance. Distance changes everything. Everything.
My eyes take in the breathtaking sight until they become to tired to open.
I drag my weary bones off the ground and head back inside, switching off the lights as I head upstairs. This is one of the reasons I love living out in the countryside; it's so peaceful.
I open the door to my bedroom and enter, closing the door softly behind me. I pull back my bedclothes and slide into bed, snuggling up under my blankets. My tired eyes close as I fall into a dream filled sleep.

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I wake suddenly, my eyes fluttering open as my alarm goes off. I sigh and hit the off  button on my phone. I throw on my bathrobe, head downstairs and make myself a coffee.

There was a new nightmare last night, different to the usual ones. In the new one, there was a small newborn baby dressed in white cradled in my mother's arms. My mother sang her my lullaby and as the baby drifted off to sleep, my father came running in and the three of them were consumed in flames. Well, I thought when I woke up, panting and sweating, as least that's the same. The thing was, I had been an only child; I'd never had a baby brother or sister. So the baby unnerved me..                                                     

I down the rest of my coffee before heading upstairs to get ready for school. I wash my face, pull my hair up into a ponytail, and dress in grey leggings, a pink off-the-shoulder top and grey jumper. I slip into my white converse, put my glasses on and grab my bag and keys before going downstairs. I slip out of the door, locking it behind me and head to my car. I's an aqua blue Mini Cooper, left to me by my mother. I slide into the cream coloured leather seat and start the car.                                   

I drive down the long driveway, pressing the button to open the seven foot metal gate, and head for the main road. My school is nearly 15 miles from my house, but it's the nearest one by a lot - the second nearest is nearly 45 miles away.

I reach the school and pull into an empty space in the parking lot. I sling my bag onto my back and go inside the building, heading for my locker. After I get my books for my first three classes (Chemistry, English Literature, and Calculus) I head to the bathrooms and lock myself in a cubicle. I read Wattpad fanfics until the bell sounds, then head to lab 2.

I walk into the room and take my seat at the back of the class. My lab partner is absent today, so I have to work on my own - which I prefer, to be perfectly honest, as my partner is Melanie Holms, the popular "Queen Bee" of the class (who is also an evil fake &#%!; that told everyone I am a whore and a slut and that I flash for money, which I very obviously DON'T,) After a few minutes, Mr. Jones starts to say the roll call. 

"Megan Abbot?"

"Here," she says in a bored voice.

"Sam Arthur?"

"Here."

"Arthur Bombrette?"

"S'up?"

"Skai Clove?"

"Here," I reply quietly. Mr Jones continues with the roll call, and I find myself daydreaming about nothing in particular, until a crumpled up ball of paper lands on my chemistry textbook in front of me.

hEy skAi WHy NoT gO aND DiE lIkE yoUr PAReNtS Did?

My heart drops in my chest and tears come to my eyes as I look down, shaking my hair over my face to hide my tears. I know immediately who wrote this; Abi Johnston, the other evil artificial blonde of the chem class. I crumple the note back up and shove it in my bag, ignoring the snickers I get from the girls two rows in front of me. I try to forget about it and concentrate on the experiment. The teacher stops us after a few minutes.

"Now, students, we have a new pupil joining our class today. He has just moved here from England, though that's no excuse as to why he is late..." he trails off and frowns at the boy standing next to him. The boy just smirks. "...So make him feel welcome, please. Can you introduce yourself?"

The boy's smile is easy and he has a laid back attitude about him.

"Sure. I'm Jordan Smythe."

"Okay, Mr. Smythe, you can sit at the back beside Ms. Clove," Mr. Jones orders. Jordan smirks and heads towards the empty seat beside me. He dumps his bag on the floor and takes his seat.

"Hi," he says to me. I stay silent.

"Hello? You deaf?" He frowns. "Dear god, of course I get stuck beside the deaf girl."

"I'm not deaf," I mutter.

"She speaks!" He exclaims sarcastically.

"What do you want?" I say, turning towards him angrily. "I'm just trying to do my work and you're-"

"Ms. Clove, will you please stop talking? Or shall I separate you and Mr. Smythe?" Mr. Jones frowns disapprovingly.

"Sorry, sir," I mutter after the sniggers subsided.

I keep writing. A minute later, a piece of paper is slid onto my desk.

'Hyl?' It reads.

No one, I scrawl back.

I sigh as Jordan starts writing again.

I don't believe you ; p

My education is more important to me actually - a boyfriend would just be a distraction.

Suuuure...

I'M BEING SERIOUS!!! I scrawl back furiously.

Whatever you say, babe xx

Suddenly a hand comes out of nowhere and grabs the paper. I freeze.

"What do we have here?" Mr. Jones says. I'm still frozen to the spot. His eyes scan the page and I take a quick glance at Jordan. He's leaning back in his chair, smirking, not a care in the world. I roll my eyes and relax slightly.

"I would prefer it," mr Jones says, a sly smile on his face, "if my students would do their work instead of flirting, Mr. Smythe and Ms. Clove."

I go tomato read and jump in my seat.
"Uh - I - we - we were not flirting, sir!" I say defensively. Luckily, the bell rings at that moment.

"Okay class, don't forget, the test is on Monday and..,"

Mr Jones drones on and on but I'm not concentrating on that. Jordan winks at me and saunters out of class.

I just wonder why I can't stop thinking about him...