Always Look At The Stars

Chapter 8

The party was on. It seems to be that Ashley notion of small garthering was under estimated, the house was full of drunk or stonned young aldutls geeting it on. Vanessa decided to stay away from the bar, she didn't trusted herself with alcool and she didn't want to cause a other scene. Just soda and jus for her. After being hit on by a dozen of guys, she went oustide, far from everyone and sat on a small bench made of rock, from there, she could see the light of the party dazzling in the night. The sun had started to set in horizon. It wasn't what she expected at all, but what did she really expected ? She never being to a party before and she didn't know anyone. Her friends tried to introduce her to the guest but the boys glare made her incorfotable, like she was a piece of meat. Lets not start on the girls, always moving in herd and look down upon each other, judging, then whispering into each ears fanally to burst out of laughter. Cleary, she didn't fit in there at all.

In the warm summer evenight, she waited, the music was loud enought to come to her, she lets it fill her, enjoying each note or to be more presice sound. It was modern music that she did enjoyed very much, being used to classical.

- Can I join you ?

Vanessa jumped in suprise and opened her eyes, she haven't hear somebody coming and she didn't execept to be found out there. In the dim light, she look upon the newcomer and she misted a breath relasing it was Alex. She stared blankly at him, while he looked expentaly at her. Oh yes, she remembered, he had ask me something. She manadged to say

- Of course.

He sat next to her, took out a cig and lighter and started smoking, carefully trying to blow the smoke in the other direction.

- What are you doing here ? he asked

- I could ask you the same question.

He smile, she wandered if he was thinking the same thing as her, they had the same exange a few week back. Of course not, why would he remember that ?

- I needed to breathe. Now your turn.

- Same as you. But aren't you supposed to be in Cuba right now ?

It was impolited of her to ask, she knew, but she couldn't help herself.

- Lets say there was a little change of plan. He replied

He clearly wanted to avoid the subject, which made her curousity grew by the second. She fought hard not to ask again. Fanally he opened his mouth

- I like your dress, it fit you.

She blushed hard, she was wearing a summer dress with flower on it, it was short, shorter than what she was used to. Isabelle had lended it for the night.

- Thank you. It is Isabelle

- I know, he said soflty, I bought it for her. Doesn't change the fact that you look good in it.

Was he hitting on her ? No, he had a girlfriend, or I leats till a few day before. Even if something had happen with Emma, they still went out for 5 years, he couldn't have forgoten her in a few hours. Then she thought of all thoses moderne movies and books that always described guys as jerks thinkng only of one thing. He checked his pulse. Her mind went on, thinking about litterature from the greats, how much has change. What would Rimbaud or Shaekesper would have thoughed about what people read today. Looking at rest of sun that had not yet disapered in the water, She murmured under her breath

- « A weakened dawn

Pours over the fields
The melancholy
Of sunsets. »

She couldn't remenbers the rest of it, she digged deep in her mind for the end. When he did it for her wihtout looking at her.