Amalli Quinn: The Nature of Stars

James

Trigger warning: mentions of suicide

   "What's that?"

   "A book,"

   "Obviously, it's a book." Merethe rolled her eyes as she settled beside me. "What's the title?"

   "'Snow Falling On Cedars'."

   "Never heard of it."

   "You rarely engage in conversations about books. Of course you haven't heard of it."

   "Whatever, Quinn. What's it about?"

   I closed the book, tracing the edge of my handmade bookmark before doing so. I glanced up at the groups of students scattered along the border of the football field, placing decorations on posts and tree trunks. "A man named Kabuo. I'm not very sure about what happens. I've only started this today."

   Mer nodded, looking up as well. "Halloween Night is in less than a week. Are you going?"

   I shrugged. "I don't have a reason not to. How about you?"

   "Oh heck yeah. I heard Sam's parents are catering the event, and they've got some top-notch spice lattes."

   "And where did you get this information?"

   "Just overheard Grant and Sam talk it through in class. I've tried some of their stuff too. It's worth the attendance Mal, I'm telling you."

   I simply nodded. I didn't really like school gatherings or parties, or crowded places in general, but I liked to keep my attendance record straight, even if my grades were dropping below concerning. Yes, I was the girl who loved astronomy, liked books, but never got an above satisfactory grade in any subject.

   The bell rang, signifying the end of lunch break. Students gathered their things and scurried back inside the campus, including Merethe, who waved a quick goodbye before running and vanishing behind the school's steel back door. I took my time, knowing that my next class was history and Mrs. Gatt wasn't exactly punctual.

   I slipped into the classroom, making my arrival as unnoticeable as possible, which proved quite easy since all my other classmates were either chattering loudly with friends or engrossed in a mobile combat game that I had little knowledge about. I went to my seat, second to the last row, third seat from the left, right in front of Josie Anders.

   Josie looked up from her phone as soon as she heard my chair screech under my weight. "Oh, hey Mal."

   I smiled at her. "Hi,"

   She put her phone down and rested her chin on her hand. "Hey, do you know about the new guy in school?"

   "No," I said, not really paying attention.

   "You know, he's cute. Rumored to be the son of a famous boxer."

   I couldn't care less about this new kid's origins. "That's cool."

   "He used to doing boxing too, until he suddenly quit and he moved into town. People don't know why he did that without warning, but a mysterious man's always more interesting to be around."

   "Mm,"

   "Aren't you interested?"

   "No,"

   "Not even a bit?"

   "Nope. You know I'm not interested in stuff like that, Jo."

   Josie pouted. "Shame. He even wrote a letter for you."