Chasing Stars

H i g h S c h o o l

   The next morning, I tried my best to avoid talking to anybody. I rushed through breakfast and was heading out the door when my mother called me back.

   "Did you have breakfast Tessa?" she asked suspiciously.

  I walked over to her and hugged her.

    "Yeah mom. I did." I said. I tried to apologize through the tight embrace.

   She smiled and squeezed my arms, recieving my message. I headed back out the door, and for once, my mother did not tell me to go make friends.

   Maybe something good had come out of yesterday after all.

   The bus arrived and I climbed on, waving hello to Rob.

   I strode over to my seat to find Austin. I slapped my forehead. "Oh god, I totally spaced yesterday! I'm sorry." I said.

    He smirked up at me. "Its fine. Although I don't understand how you could ever forget a date with me"

     I looked at him, shocked. "Uhm..I don't remember it being a date" I replied shortly, puting my guard up.

   He looked at me carelessly. "Pity" he said offhandedly.

   I rolled my eyes and sat down next to him.

   "So anyway since you forgot yesterday, we should probably get started today." he said.

   "Okay sure" I said.

The bus rolled to a stop and I straightened, getting ready to go, when Austin grabbed my hand.

   "Hey Tess wait"

  I looked down at our entagled hands and heat flared up in my cheeks.

   "What?" I asked.

  "I heard what happened yesterday." he said softly.

  I groaned. Did the whole school know about the counselor incident?

   "I don't want to talk about this" I said, trying to wrench my hand away.

  Austin didn't let go. "No wait. I wanted to tell you ..that uhm my mom died last year. So I-I know what its like to be missing a parent." he said, and I noted the crimson creeping up his face.

     My stony expression softened considerably and I squeezed his hand.

   "Thanks" I whispered to him. He smiled, relieved and walked off the bus.

    I stood there for a moment, thinking about what just happened and simultaneously came up with two decisions.

    One was that I would no longer care about what the rest of the school thought about me.

  Second was that I officially wanted to be friends with Austin Reynold.