The Star The Sunflower Faced

chapter four

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it's never too late nor early to catch laughs with someone again.

My pencil tip snaps against the thick chemistry book full of questionable symbols. This was the seventh time it happened today, did I consume all of my luck? I sigh before I open up my pencil pouch, only to find out that I didn't bring my sharpener with me. I swear if I just didn't push myself this morning to take a long walk and forget myself for just a little while I wouldn't be that miserable. Maybe the world's chances and paths would steer. Maybe I wouldn't have seen Gray look like a great pair with Estelle.

Maybe it would be all a little less cruel.

I nudge Estelle's shoulders and she looks up at me. "Yeah?"

"Do you have a pencil?"

"Sorry, my case is full of art pencils. You should ask Gray." She says a little too loud, making Gray and some other classmates turn their heads toward her.

"I heard my name?" He questions and I swear I wanted to put my palm against Estelle's mouth. Sometimes, she can be a little too loud.

"Do you have a pencil Asther can borrow?"

He shuffles over his book bag and slides a mechanical pen my way. "Here."

I hesitantly take the pen, muttering a small "Thanks." before facing the textbook with a heavy heart. Sneakily, I look over to him. He was wearing glasses that were slowly sliding off his nose, and I find myself squealing a little when he pushes it up lightly with the slightest of irritation in his gentle force.

I just realized that I analyze people dear to me so detailed, treating my eyes like a microscope. But when I trace my fingertips over dust-built book covers and shove my nose into labyrinthine exercises, my hands seem to lose its nerves and joints, especially in this jaded crack of dusk.

The watch wrap lapped around my wrist glowed three fifty-seven p.m., it was only three minutes before class ends when I finalized my answer that pounded questions throughout my brain. Why do I need to learn about compounds and noble gases?

Estelle leans over to both Gray and me, making me tilt my body a little. "Hey, where do you think we should go after school? Let's go to the mall! We haven't walked our legs out in a while together, Asther."

I just nod my head towards her. Maybe I can hang out with them, and just live like what a sixteen-year-old soul should spend their time. And Gray would be a fun addition, too.

The class ends in what felt like a blink of an eye. Most ending scenes make it feel like only a second passed by before the boring credits roll on the carpet.

I hear and see the ordinary of book shoves, drowsy yawns and conversations of girls planning to paint their nails after school and meet-ups at the basketball courts float up in the air like clear bubbles reflecting golden afternoon skies. These were the daily sunsets you would await if you were in many high schools, like that creamy coffee you had this morning brewed by either yourself or someone who cares for you.

The chit-chats and tired exhales quiet down as we stepped out. The puddles were still there as we stepped on them with our shoes, perhaps a little dryer now.