Counting Stars

chapter 2

(Justin POV)

Brown curls. That's all I could think of as I walked through the woods. The girl who checked in around noon. She's stuck in my head now.

"Hey, I'd like to check into my cabin" she'd said. I must've been staring because she had to repeat herself a few times. Thank goodness I hadn't started drooling, I would've died.

"Sorry, what site?" I'd stuttered

"I think it's 216?" her voice seemed to hold a musical tone as if she was laughing and crying at the same time.

"I can check, what's your name?"

"Amy Knight"

Even her name was gorgeous. I avoided eye contact as I typed her name into the computer, feeling my face heat up a hundred degrees.

"Actually you're in cabin 316. It's a really beautiful site. I can show you if you want." I admit I was trying to prolong our conversation.

"No, I'll be alright." she walked out as gracefully as if she'd been floating, I felt I'd died and gone to heaven.

And what was I doing now? Going to knock on the door and see if she needed anything. I did that all the time with other campers, this was purely professional. At least, that's what I told myself.

"She's gonna think you're a stalker, Justin," my inner voice told me, but I shut it down. Purely professional.

Yeah right, who was I kidding? To be honest, I just wanted to get one more look at her. Evelynn had been right, I really was a stalker. My heart gave a pang at that thought. Evelynn Johnson, with her round glasses, and her nose constantly stuck in a book. I'd done everything I knew to try and get her to like me, but she only saw me as a creeper.

When I reached Amy's cabin I took a deep breath and walked up to the stairs, fidgeting with my green camp t-shirt. Right before I knocked, I saw her on the porch swing reading a book, totally oblivious to my presence.

"Whatcha reading?" I said. I swear my whole body was on fire.

"Hmmm? Oh, sorry, what did you say?" she said.

"Stalker" Evelynn's voice struck my thoughts with a bang.

"Umm, I just came to see if you needed help, but I saw you were reading a book, so I was curious, what are you reading?"

"Oh, umm its nothing..." she looked a little embarrassed.

"Now you've got me interested"

"Really? It's called desolation."

Desolation, I thought I might've heard about it before, but I wasn't sure. "What's it about?"

"A ten-year-old who can see ghosts," she said as she set down the novel.

"Wow, I might have to check it out. Anyways, if you need anything....."

"Actually, is there a hike up to the falls?" she looked a little hesitant, as if she was arguing with herself.

"Yeah, It's actually one of my favorites, if you want. I get off at noon tomorrow, and I could show you."

"No, I'll just stop by the station and get directions if I decide to go."

"OK, well then maybe I'll see you tomorrow."

But she had started reading again.