Chasing Stars

A u s t i n R e y n o l d

    I don't think I will ever be able to forget the first time I saw him. He marched into class in the middle of a history lesson wearing a tuxedo. His polished boots gleamed on his feet and his hair was gently tousled like he just woke up from bed. His street-boy look greatly contrasted from his formal attire, because that was what he was, a paradox in himself.

    He strutted up to the teacher, a short timid man with large turtleshell glasses, and announced his name.

  "Austin. Austin Reynold," he said smiling. "And if it hasn't been established yet, I'm new".

   The rest of the class snickered, glad to have a distraction from the otherwise extremely tedious class.

  Mr.Foster, our history teacher, looked up at Austin with an intimidated look.

    "I...ah..I didn't know we would be getting a new student today. Ah...let me go and look...."

  He hastily rummaged through papers and scrolled through his computer, as Austin whistled happily next to him.

  His hair was a dark brown, the color of chocolate. His electric blue eyes shone with a mischevious twinkle that was more often associated with a five year old boy. His hands were stuffed into his pockets, and it was obvious to anyone that he was extremely uncomfortable to be wearing a suit and tie.

   Finally, Mr.Foster straightened and peered at a clipboard in his hand.

   "Ah yes. Mr.Reynold. Welcome to Stoneridge High. Hmm let's see... who would like to show Mr.Reynold around school today?".

  "Mr.Foster, please do call me Austin. Mr.Reynold makes me feel so old." Austin said with an air of importance.

  The class laughed nervously at Mr.Foster's flustered expression.

  "We have a new class clown I see Mr.Reynold. Please take a seat. There is an empty seat right there next to Tess."

  I looked up when I heard my name.

Wait what did he just say..?

   I heard a dramatic sigh as Austin fell on the seat next to me.

  I cringed. It was just my luck to have someone as loud as him sit next to me.

  I had hoped that the empty seat would remain so for the whole year. I had always enjoyed the solitude.

    "Why such a glum face? I would think anybody would be overjoyed to be able to sit next to me." Austin whispered loudly.

    "Being alone has always been kinda my thing" I explained.

    "And why is that?" Austin asked

  "I enjoy not having the intense struggle of having friends. I like to be alone with my thoughts" I said.

   "Ahh. You're that kind of girl" he said knowingly.

    "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked haughtily.

    "Nothing," Austin said hastily, noticing my irritated expression.

   "You can't turn back anymore mister" I said to him.

  Austin grinned.

   "Okay. Well the type of girl you are..well you don't bother to make friends. You think that its too much work and on a higher level you also may think you're too good for anyone else. Well that's what you try to show. On the inside though you secretly want someone to be close to, but because of your lack of social skills, you just don't know how." Austin said thoughtfully.

   My mouth hung open at his thorough

evaluation.

  "I've known you for maybe a minute or so, and you think you've got me all figured out? Well you're wrong. I do have friends and I do have social skills. And I also think its best we start working and stop talking" I said, turning my back on him. 

  Austin grinned.

"Your wish is my command" he smiled, turning to his textbook.

    For the rest of the class, both of us kept silent, although I caught him smirking at me more than once.

   I watched the clock, waiting for it strike ten, and when it finally did, I flew up from my seat, gathered my books and hurried out the door without a single backward glance.