counting stars

c h a p t e r 3

"Sir, would you fancy some peanuts?"

That's when it hit me, we were in a aeroplane.

We were in a aeroplane to Amsterdam.

"Sir?" The flight attendant started to get a bit impatient.

"Oh, sorry, yes please."

As the flight attendant laid a bag of peanuts on the tiny little table in front of me I nudged James who was sleeping in the seat next to me.

"Oi James!" James didn't react.

"What?" He growled.

"This isn't a dream right? We are actually going to Amsterdam? We are actually going to see the girls again?"

"Yes, you wanker, now let me sleep." And he turned his back on me.

Now you may want an explanation to why we were in an aeroplane to Amsterdam. Just a fortnight ago James and I both got an email from the international boarding school of Amsterdam, the school Poppy,Grace and Alex went to. They had two spots open for the upcoming school year and as James and I were on the waiting list we could have them if we wanted. It was insanely difficult to convince my mum to let me go but when Mrs Amoroso, James' mum, talked to her, she surprisingly said yes.

I grabbed my phone and in ears and scrolled to my favourite playlist.

The drums and the bass started the rhythm, the guitar joined them and started the melody.

The singer began to sing the lyrics and the music and I were one.

"Lately I've been, I've been losing sleep. Dreamin' about the things that we could be."

I felt like the singer was reading my thoughts.

I imagined how we would be together all five of us, partners in crime.

How we would have fun, make music and be there for each other once again.

Poppy and Grace were probably doing fine without me though, I did worry a bit about Alex.

Alex and her mum had never had a particularly good relationship. Alex soon learned to be very independent because all her mum cared about was alcohol and gambling. She often shut herself off of everyone around her. And now that she was in Amsterdam I feared she would shut herself apart completely.But I was sure Poppy and Grace took good care of her and could prevent that from happening.

The playlist went on and soon it was time to leave the plane.

While I waited in line to pick up our luggage James said goodbye one last time to his mum who had insisted to drop us off and make sure we got there safely. I quite liked Mrs Amoroso, she was a kind and caring woman, she'd  always make sure that neither of us got into trouble.

When I had finally got our luggage, Mrs Amoroso left and James joint me we walked to the entrance of the airport where our new headmistress would come pick us up.

"Well if that aren't our newest students, I am Mrs Folkes your new headmistress and welcome in Amsterdam!"

She seemed genuinely happy to see us and before I knew it she was shaking my hand.

"Now if you follow me we I'll lead you to the taxi. You two should be exhausted."

She led us to the end of the parking lot where we met Willem our chauffeur for the day. Willem helped us put our luggage in the taxi and we were headed to our new school, and our friends.

"So, it must be a big step, going from London to a boarding school in Amsterdam aren't you going to miss everything?"

"Yes we are, well at least I am" he added "but our best friends are here and it isn't the same there without them." I nodded confirming that it was true.

"Ah tell me more about these friends of yours dear, are they students of mine?"

"Yes they are: Poppy Garcia, Grace Lively and Alex Guerrera"

Mrs Folkes' eyes lit up as she heard the girls' names

"How wonderful, I'm sure they are going to be delighted to have you back they have been talking about how they missed you."

"Do they know we're coming? " Asked James "It was supposed to be a surprise"

"No dear they don't know yet. We could still surprise them if you want"

James and I didn't even hesitate before we almost screamed "YES!"

"Well that's all set then" Mrs Folkes checked her timetable. "When we arrive the girls will all be in my class, you two can wait in the hallway while I let the class know that there will be a surprise for them."

"Thank you Mrs Folkes that would be wonderful!"

"Absolutely, thank you Mrs Folkes!" James added

"My pleasure dears, my pleasure. Ah look we arrived. Why don't you two go freshen yourselfs up and rest for a bit then when it is time for our big surprise I'll send somebody up to your dorm to come get you?"

"Wow" that's the only thing I could say when we arrived in our dorm.

"Bloody hell mate we get to live in here?!"

"Believe it or not, yes we do, James"

The dorm had five big beds in it, three of them were already taken by our new roommates we were soon going to meet which left two beds by the window, next to each other.

"Are you thinking what I 'm thinking?" James asked with a big smirk on his face

"JUMP!"

We both jumped on the beds and landed on the soft, comfortable mattresses.

"I could get used to this"

"Me too mate, this place is wicked!"

"Yeah you'll be saying that until another girl will start fancying you and 'messes up your hair'"

"That's different!'" James seemed a bit offended. "My hair is too beautiful to be touched by someone who is only going to mess it up anyways" James said, flipping his shoulder length hair over his shoulder. "That you don't care if your hair looks like a bloody birds nest isn't my fault."

"Well at least I don't freak out every single time every single time I have a crush on someone"

"Oh I could say the same about you, it's clear to everyone with eyes that you fancy Poppy, Sam"

"I do not"

James snickered and went inside the bathroom.

I went to the other one and when we both came out and had dressed I just wanted to ask James one question.

"Just don't get disappointed again by somebody, alright? Just don't let your feelings get a head of you." James frowned and his brown eyes went from excited to a bit hurt.

"No, I won't, I learned my lesson, Sam"

James hated to admit it but he had always been a hopeless romantic and often fell in love. Not with the silly girls who always ran after him, no, he always seemed to see the good in people, the underdog. But not everyone could handle his energetic way of being and James often got hurt. I just didn't want that to happen again. Grace always used to say that we were the selfless ones of the group.

Soon it was time for our big surprise.

Mrs Folkes kept her promise and send someone to come pick us up.

My hands were shaking and I saw James playing with his hair. We were waiting in the hallway when suddenly the door opened. Mrs Folkes let us in the classroom and an angelic sound filled my ears.

"Sam!"