Constellations

Chapter 1

There she is, the exchange student he previously had no clue about. Why would the school even make her stay with him after what he nearly got expelled for? Well, it's not like he actually did anything, but then again the school was a little mixed up about her identity at first; the school initially thought that she was a male student.

Which was why he had no idea who he was supposed to look for; if she hadn't approached him first, he could've easily mistaken her for a middle school student, with her round face and her glasses and her height, a lot shorter than him.

She's... cute?

He'd never admit that aloud.

He smiled a little nervously. "I'm Timothy, Timothy Taylor, your... uh... housemate, for the next few months. And I'm guessing you're the new exchange student... Nur?"

"Yeah, Nur, as in Noor, Ara Hapsari. Nice to meet you," she smiled, slightly correcting his pronunciation; and shook his hand, "and please call me Ara." I thought the school would at least make me stay in a female student's house, she thought.

Not that I mind at all, though. He's cute.

She'd never admit that aloud.

"So, um, your bags."

"Oh, right, the trolley. It's okay, you don't have to---"

Just as quick as that, he took the trolley and she took her place next to him, speaking nearly immediately with a cheerful tone in her voice.

"I've never been out of my hometown before, to be honest," she spoke, drawing a deep breath, "but so far New Zealand's looking really nice. I've always wanted to go here, actually."

"Really? Where are you from?"

"I thought you should know where I'm from already."

Awkward silence.

She sighed. "You really didn't pay attention to what the principal told you?"

"Don't answer that, that was a joke," she quickly added when she noticed that he was getting flustered. "I'm from Indonesia. Jakarta, to be exact."

"Oh, I see. Sorry about that though, I really didn't pay attention to it, since, well... I'll tell you the full story later."

She seems to be so chill. Should I tell her the full story, though?

"Alright, here, I'd get your stuff in, just get into the car." Once again, he looked slightly embarrassed when he noticed that she was reading the sign on the side of the van (that he borrowed from his dad).

"Family business?" she asked.

"Uh, well, I just borrowed the car. Not mine."

"Alright," she nodded, one eyebrow raised; she noticed that the writing on the van clearly said Taylor, his last name. "Man, I really don't know what to expect from the school here."

"Just a normal school, of course. Boring teachers and even worse assignments," he replied, earning a laughter from her which made him smile, "But hey, you don't have to worry about anything else. You seem to be the type to make friends easily. And I'll show you around if you want." Shit, did that sound too eager?

"That would be really nice, thanks," she smiled. "You don't mind if I take the front seat?"

"Sure," he replied, a little distracted; he just finished getting all her luggage into the car. She got into the car just after he did, and soon enough they drove off; to him, home, and to her too, for the next 1 year. The whole ride was filled with loud chatter, both from him and her (mostly her).

"Are you serious?! Even the principal thought I was a dude?"

"Well, they couldn't really figure out from your name---"

She bursted out laughing. "I thought they would have included the photo that I had to hand in to apply for the program. Gee, I guess they burned the whole thing or something."

"Yeah, I wouldn't know it was you in the airport if you hadn't approached me first."

"Good that I did then, I don't really fancy sleeping at the airport," she snorted, shaking her head.

"What was it that you're gonna tell me anyway?"

"Um, well..." he stumbled a little, unsure whether to tell her or not. Seemingly by luck, it was exactly that moment that they arrived at his house.

"Well, we're here already. Maybe later then?"

She shrugged. "Fine by me. I hope your parents don't mind you taking a girl home," she said, grinning; and he laughed as a reply.

"Let's just see what they'll say."