Love, Alaïa

Chapter 3-Let's Watch The Stars

Gio🤯❤️:  Hey weirdo, hope you're having a good day and you aren't sad. Please don't tell me you're listening to your depressing music. I hope you're wearing a jacket, it's super cold out. I gotta get to class now. Wanna hang out later? Your house. See you later x

Reading that text from Gio automatically made me smile. We weren't dating or anything. We've been best friends ever since I moved here when I was 5. His the most sweetest, goofiest, perfect guy I know. He is super kind and cute. His mom and my mom were childhood besties who happened to meet when  we moved here and eversince then they've been our extended family. Always in and out of each other's, having sleepovers, hanging out. But bottem line, Gio always protected me and and always make sure I'm okay and quite frankly I won't trade him for the world. His like an angel and I hope we remain this way forever.

So I reply with a : I'm okay, does your hoodie count? 🙂Yeah sure.
P. S bring oreos. We're all out.

I lock my phone and smile to myself. Argh third period. Chemistry.

                 *Few hours later*

I have Jhenè blasted through my airpods when I see my door creep open gently. There stands a Gio with the biggest smile possible on his face. Not only was there a Gio, but was there a whole load of snacks. Not just the oreos I requested. That's something else I loved about Gio. His always going the extra mile even if you don't tell him to.

"I believe you ordered for chocolates, popcorn, biscuits, green tea, me", he grined.

"I'm pretty sure the last one was just a buy one get one free special or something", I replied.

"I'm not offended at all", he said throwing his hand over his chest pretending to be hurt. "So what are going to do today?"

"Since it's raining out, how about we just watch some movies or something?", I suggested since the rain was knockig angrily at the window.

"Umm, even if it wasn't rainy out, you won't go outside. If anti-social was a person... It would be you".

"Not even gonna try to argue", I giggled.

"So I picked out some movies. We got Mean girls, Too all the boys I loved before, Me before you and Hot chick. Choose", I threw him a bunch of options setting up the player to put it on. "Not another chick flick, he complained. We just watched one"

"Oh yeah and when was that?", I crossed my arms acting as if I was upset.

"Last Thursday. But it's driving me crazy. I really dont wanna how females right letters about guys they loved. Like why can't you just confess if you feel like it!"

"Excuse me? It's not that easy. Why don't you try telling your crush that in your head you guys are already married." I defended.

"Fine we'll watch what you wanna. Bet next, it's my turn to pick out the movie,deal?"

"Yupppp", I popped the 'p'

                *3 HOURS LATER*

"I  told you it was worth it. If they haven't switched bodies, how would they have learnt their lesson?", I asked Gio.

"Guess it wasnt that bad"

I stood by the window staring outside. Ever since I was little I always believed that when a loved one dies, they automatically become a star and follow you wherever you go. I grew out of mermaids and santa but this, this stuck with me forever.

"Hey, what are you looking at?", Gio asked now standing behind me.

"Look at the stars. Isn't it beautiful? Like I've never seen anything like it before. The way it glows and stands alone yet shine even brighter."

"Still don't think it could ever compare to you", he smiled placing his hand on my shoulder.

"Hahaha yeah okay", I sarcastically laughed and looked away.

"See. This is it. Why do you do this Lai? Huh? Why do you esteem yourself so low. Everytime I or anyone tries to compliment you, you just shake it off like it means nothing. You are so beautiful inside out. You're pretty and you have the prettiest heart. Why do you deny yourself like this? " I look down." Please tell me. I'm so tired of you thinking negatively about yourself. Yes I understand, you're a girl and girls are 1000 times more picky about their every move but for once can you just be yourself?.
Tell me, why are you so not confident about yourself", he sits down on the bed next to me.

"Can we not? You're here to hang out right? Not lecture me. So I don't get why you're asking me all of this", I say playing with my fingers.

" We always tell each other the truth right? Like if you must know, I used your toothbrush to clean my sneakers last week but that's not important", he smiled.

"You what?!", I yelled.

"Please tell me why you're so not confident in yourself", Gio faced me.

"It's hard g. You don't know what it's like. I'm constantly surrounded by these girls. These girls, who are so much prettier than me and the they don't have to worry about being accepted because they are so beautiful. They drive fancy cars to school and hang with college guys. Everything just falls onto their laps without any hard work. They are able to keep straight As and maintain their diets. They are so perfect and then there's me. The girl who gets excited for new sweats. Basic, ordinary Alaïa. Im constantly telling other people how they should love themselves and practice self love and here I am judging myself every time I blink my eyes. What a hippocrite", I felt a warm tear slip down my cheek. The next thing I felt  was a pair of arms wrap around me as my head rested on his shoulder.

"Wow... Lai tell me something, you love sunflowers right", Gio questioned.

"Uh yeah, but how is that relevant?"

"You think sunflowers are pretty right? And so are roses. See the difference is Roses are stunning, used at proposals, weddings and other celebrations because they look nice on the outside. But after the celebration is over its just tossed in a vase somewhere. And yet sunflowers, just looking at them makes you feel happy. Irrespective of how old they are. My point is roses looks good, but sunflowers are super cute and immediately makes you feel happy and vibrant. In the same way a kinder and happier girl is more beautiful than one signed to Victoria Secret. Don't let you doubts destroy you Lai. And if you must know, I think the little things that you do are just the cutest. Like the way you crinkle your nose when you laugh, or when you get super excited you press your nail tips into your palm or mine which hurts by the way. How you can't sleep if you haven't drank your tea. It's the unexpected times when you laugh so hard and let out little snorts and hearing giggle at your little brother when he tries to grasp his first words. Look stop taking yourself for granted. It doesn't matter what other people think . It only matters what I think, so I suggest you stop feeling sorry for yourself and put on another movie because it's getting late and tears are so last Halloween. ", he smiled giving me the tightest hug ever. We just stood there observing the stars.

" Hey g, thanks", I smiled. At this point I couldn't be more grateful to Gio for saying all this to me.

"For as long as I'm around", he smiled back. Now turn the movie on!!!!