The Beauty in Her Stars

Chapter One

January fifth, the worst day of the beginning of the new school year. It's the day kids return to school, mummified with dark circles painted under their eyes as they sluggishly walk to their classes. Although, there are a rare few with jubilant grins plastered on their adrenalized faces as they chatter merrily to their friends about their break. Those are the people to envy, the ones that are always happy even on the worst of the days. The ones that are strong, and can hold themselves together even on the most miserable school day. The ones to not envy are few, and unfortunately one of those few people to pity include me.

I sit, tucked in the cold embrace of a tight corner, kicking snow away from my feet as I neurotically scan for the umpteenth time since I had arrived a mere few minutes before. The anticipation claws at me, and I break out into a sweat despite the gelid air nipping at my exposed skin. Finally, I spot him from across the quad, standing to the right of the fountain and within the middle of his large group of friends. Alexander's nose is bright red like Rudolph's, and his cheeks are drained of colors, and yet, despite how lifeless his cheeks look, he is vividly expressing his contentment as he happily chatters with his close friends.

My stomach is suddenly overcome by knots as I stare at him, unable to take my eyes off as I stare in utter horror at how happy he is, and how his friends laugh as if he'd told them the funniest joke they had ever heard. It was only four days since I saw him, yet they managed to feel like four empty lifetimes to me. The first bell rings, and people begin quickly shuffling in the tight crowd as they hurry to their first period. I hesitantly push myself off of the slick ground, eyeing him as I glance around the quad and realize that they stand where I need to walk past.

I steady myself on the icy pathway and quickly begin stumbling through the thick piles of snow. My mouth dries as I cautiously glance around myself, hoping and praying that he won't notice me. Yet, when I do finally pass him, his eyes briefly flicker past his friend, before he looks back down to her. He talks to them so nonchalantly, as if I'm invisible. How? How could they seem so exuberant, so enthralled when they're within an arms length from such a monster?

There are many mysteries in this world, but to me, this is the oddest one.

Relief jostles me as my nerves spike and I spot a familiar face I'd grown accustomed to since the beginning of this school year. Megan turns around, seemingly sensing me, and a grin immediately breaks out on her pretty face.

"Hey Sabrina!" Megan shouts, directing nearby students to briefly pull their attentions to us. I bite down on my lower lip, hoping that Alexander hadn't directed his attention to us as well.

"Hi Megan, how was your break? I ask, glancing around us as she approaches me. My breath catches in snags as I look to Alexander as he is blatantly staring directly at me. I quickly whirl around and Megan and I begin speed walking to our first class of the new semester.

Megan seems to babble endlessly about her time with her family in Idaho, and I feel lost as she begins speaking of different family members I had never heard of before. I pathetically smile and nod along as I pretend to be fully understanding what she's saying, while in all actuality all I could focus on was controlling my labored breathing as we walk towards the safe security of the school building.

Thankfully Alexander is a senior, and I am in a junior. It's doubtful he and I will run into each other during class hours.

Gradually, Megan calms down as we enter the building and begin strolling through the noiseless hallway. She eyes me with a mischievous grin, as she grabs onto my wrist, briefly stopping us in order to face me.

"Enough about my boring vacation, I heard that you went to that gigantic party that Eric Cavanaugh threw for new years. You're totally going to give me all the dirty details during lunch." Megan teases as she lets go of my wrist and begins walking to the class. I hesitate as my mind begins whirling and wondering how she found out I even went to the party in the first place.