Interstellar

From Mars

As I turned the corner, I saw him again. Landon Westbay. If you didn't know who he was, you might as well be from Mars. I've been seeing him around since preschool. We've made nothing more than less than two seconds of eye contact.

Well today would be the 13th time we've made eye contact. Today.

"Girl, you gotta listen," Truffle said. "My horoscope thinks I'm straight. Like, 'Meet your lucky lady.' Come on!"

"You're a Libra," I said. "Libra's are the most romantic."

"Everyday it says meet the love of your life," Truffle said. "Or something more idiotic. Like, why not 'today you will find a coupon to Chipotle, or Starbucks?'"

I ignored his comment and looked up from my phone. Landon was leaning against a locker, being talked to by a group of girls and boys.

"What's your horoscope?" Truffle asked. "Oh! I want to read it to you!" I handed him my phone and continued to look through my locker for something that I probably wouldn't find.

Landon Westbay. Made eye contact with him 13 times today and he probably doesn't even know. Or, he probably wasn't counting. I inhaled and exhaled.

"Ooh, you're meeting your special someone!" Truffle exclaimed.

"I'm telling you," I said, slamming my locker shut. "I'm not going to homecoming."

"But we're seniors," Truffle whined. "And it's our last homecoming! And you best believe I bought us both tickets."

"I don't have a dress," I said, looking at him. He pretended to toss his non-existent long hair over his shoulder. His curly purple hair was parted to the right side of his face, and he was wearing that ugly bright yellow sweater I told him to burn.

"We're ditching last period to go to the mall!" Truffle said. He was getting way too excited.

"Truffle, I don't know," I said. "And last period is art-"

"No one cares about your solar system, Em," Truffle said. "It's already done, too. Do you just want to stare at it."

"Yes," I said. "Why wouldn't I? Space is amazing-"

"Hush, we get it," Truffle said. "Now, let's get that sweet ass of yours to the mall!"

                                    ~***~

"I don't know," I said. I was currently sporting a short silky purple dress that was longer in the back and drifted to shorter in the front. 

"It looked great on the mannequin," Truffle said. "So it'll look amazing on you."

I pushed the curtain aside and Truffle gasped.

"Girl, you just need makeup and get your hair done, then," Truffle took a dramatic inhale. "And you'll be lookin' fine!"

                                     ~***~

I knew going to homecoming was a bad idea. Truffle was swooped away by some guy who he was interested in. The food was terrible. I didn't even know why I kept eating.

"Got stood up?" I looked over to see the shit eating grin of Landon Westbay.

"I chose to be here," I said. "Well, I was also kinda forced to."

"By who?" Landon asked, leaning against the table. He fixed his tie and looked at the swarm of people dancing and having a good time.

"My friend," I said.

"So, what's your name?" Landon asked.

"Emma Spencer," I said, setting my cup down. Landon raised an eyebrow.

"You're Emma?" He asked, crossing his arms and smiling smugly.

"Sadly," I said.

"You're the one who's obsessed with constellations, right?" Landon asked.

"It's astrology," I said.

"What's your zodiac?" He asked. It kind of surprised me that he knew what a Zodiac was.

"Capricorn," I said.

"I'm Libra," Landon said.

"Libra's are the most romantic Zodiac," I blurted out. Landon grinned with the right side of his mouth, making my breath get caught in my throat.

"That's nice to know," Landon said. "When's your birthday?"

"January 2nd," I said.

"So on winter break," Landon said. "I jut had mine, September 24th."

"Oh, happy late birthday," I said. His birthday was only six days ago.

"Thanks," He said. "I really appreciate it."