i'll hate the goodbye

Chapter I

Music pounded through the walls of every room as Alison made her way through the crowded house. She didn't want to come to the party in the first place, but her friends begged and begged until she caved. She didn't drink, so parties didn't exactly appeal to her, but she went anyway because all of her friends went.

After a few hours of wandering and bantering with strangers, Alison found herself outside alone. She looked at the sky and smiled. She liked the stars and how bright they shined. She got so lost in the sky she didn't notice the tall brunette that had joined her.

"They're gorgeous out here, right?" he asked, looking up at the sky with the slightest grin. Alison gasped. The boy glanced over and at her and chuckled. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I was looking for a place to escape the noise and saw you standing out here alone."

All Alison could do was stare blankly. He laughed again and waved his hand in front of her face. "Helloooo? Anybody in there?" Alison shook her head.

"Sorry, you just surprised me." She chuckled nervously.

"No worries. I thought you heard me come out. My name's Alex, by the way," he said, extending a lanky hand towards her. She slowly returned the gesture but was still confused as to who he was.

"I'm Alison. Are you from around here? I've never see you before." She had been to a lot more parties than she'd like to admit, and she had never seen him before, but he seemed familiar. Most parties consist of the same people every time.

Alex shook his head. "No, I'm visiting for the summer. I usually don't go to parties. They're just too much. That's why I came out here." He scratched behind his head apprehensively.

He didn't know why, but something about Alison made him sweat. Alex had never been nervous around girls before.

"Unfortunately, I find myself at parties way too often," Alison started. "I never drink or anything like that. I come for my friends, I like to make sure they get home safe. I know, I'm a total nerd." She looked back at the sky. Alex's eyes softened.

"No, you're not a nerd. I think that's cool." He watched the way she admired the stars. The corners of her lips slightly turned up and her eyes glowed with admiration.

Even though he had only been standing with her for a few minutes, he felt like they had known each other for years and he didn't quite understand why. She's beautiful, Alex thought. As if she could read his mind, Alison turned to him.

"Are you sure we haven't met somewhere? I don't know, you seem familiar is all.." she trailed off, avoiding Alex's eyes, which had been gazing into hers as she spoke. Alex smirked.

"No, trust me, if we had met before, you'd remember me."

Alison scoffed. "And just when I thought you were this great, down to earth dude," she said, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms.

"Hey, hey, hey! I was only joking," Alex said, gently touching her shoulder. He flashed his toothy grin.

"Charming," Alison replied, turning away to look back at the stars.

A moment of silence passed between the two as Alex struggled to think of something to say that would make the situation better.

"Look, I'm so-"

"Have you ever noticed how the stars will sometimes wobble around if you stare at them long enough?" Alison interrupted, her head tilted up, looking at the stars.

"Uhh... yeah?" Alex said, looking back and forth between Alison and the sky.

"I'm not crazy, if that's what you're thinking," she said quietly. "Here, I'll show you." She walked Alex over to a patch of grass that must be some sort of makeshift lawn. "Lay down."

Alex nodded and sat down on the grass before leaning back. Alison joined him and situated herself before extending her arm, gesturing lazily towards the sky. "You see, if you stare at a patch of stars long enough, they'll begin to seem like they're moving... try it."

Alex nodded once again and trained his eyes on a cluster of stars. The two laid there for what seemed like hours but were really only minutes.

"I hate it break it to you, but these stars aren't moving..." Alex said, letting out a sigh.

"You just have to watch," Alison whispered. "See, look! Right there. It's moving!"

Alex looked to where Alison's finger was pointing and found that there was, indeed, something moving. Alex chuckled lightly and shook his head. "Ali, I think that's a satellite that you're seeing."

Alison's arm dropped and she turned her head to look at Alex. "People don't normally call me Ali. Just so you know."

"Oh, sorry..." Alex said, shying away.

Alison stared at him for a second, lost in thought over how casually her name flowed from his lips, yet the feeling she had in her stomach was far beyond casual. "Um..." she started. "No, it's fine. I don't- I don't really mind too much... I guess." She quickly turned to look back at the stars, praying that he couldn't see the pink slowly spreading over her cheeks.

"Oh, okay... good to know... Ali," Alex said, a smile playing on his lips.

Alex cleared his throat after a minute of gazing at the stars. "However, that was a satellite. I'm sorry you got your hopes up."

Alison shook her head and chuckled. "Whatever. Satellite or not, it still looked like the stars were moving."

"That is true," Alex said, resting his hands on top of his stomach. "So, where're ya from?"

Alison sighed and sat up, getting to her feet. She brushed off the dead grass and looked around. "I think I should be getting back to my friends. Uhm, it was nice meeting you I guess."

"Wait, wait, wait," Alex said rushing to his feet. "That's it? Did I say something wrong? Why do you all of a sudden have to go?"

Alison ran her fingers through her hair, shuffling on her feet. "No, no, no. It's nothing you did. It's just getting late and I think my friends are looking for me..." she trailed off, looking towards the house.

"Well, will I at least see you again?" Alex asked, hoping she'd say yes.

Alison tilted her head at Alex and pursed her lips. "Maybe," she said, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Alex nodded. "Okay then. I guess I'll see you around?"

Alison chuckled. "See you around, satellite boy."