The Brightest Stars

Kristen

Since we're gonna start school tomorrow, it's about time we go shopping for clothes. Belle needs it urgently.

As we make our way towards the mall, I do a quick glance to see what Belle is doing. I've always found it funny how Belle's face is a mixture of peace and firmness. Her straight posture and lifted chin remind me to straighten my own back sometimes. I find strength in every aspect of who she is. Her selfless smile. Her dark eyes always shine with determination. I can see my inner "lion," as she likes to call it.

She senses my watching and looks at me with a smile. I've noticed that whenever she smiles, her brown eyes shine. Yet when it leaves her face, her eyes go back to being sad.

The feeling of home stays close to my heart whenever I'm with her. Ever since my father died, I've lost so much of that feeling. I don't know what I'd do without her. The journey we've been together just proves how much we need each other. I realized this when she shared a family secret with me just this last year.

"Are we there yet?" Belle says.

I smile and say, "Yup. We're almost there."

Belle looks at me for a moment then says, "What about your sister?"

"Yeah. Where is your sister anyway?" Diego comes next to me and smiles widely. His crush on my sister is a fun thing to play around with. He knows I always tease him, yet he still falls for it. It seems to run in the family.

Belle watches my eyes shine as I smirk. She chuckles lightly, knowing I will start my teasing.

"She's getting ready for a date."

"What?" Diego's eyes go wide in surprise, but hides it quickly as he says, "She never talked about any date."

"Yup. It's this super hot nerd from her nerd school." AJ looks at me with an eyebrow raised. AJ can be a little overprotective, so I reassure him this isn't true. A smile starts on his face as he watches Diego go distant.

When I start to see the mall, AJ turns around and says, "We're here guys!" I can't stop smiling every time I remember the reason why he decided to wear a sleeveless shirt. I warned him that Belle wouldn't notice the increased amount of muscles he has put in this summer. But I gotta admit. That handsome charm is starting to grow on him with that playful and quiet smile of his. Dad would be proud of him. He would be proud of Sky, too.

After buying an outfit or two, we start walking to the food court. It's incredible how the day goes by so quickly when you're in a changing room all the time. This is probably why Belle hates shopping for clothes. She hates wasting time "in useless activities." While that is the time when I work best.

We choose a table in the far corner of the large and noisy room. We set our stuff down and wait for AJ. I text him a few times, but he doesn't respond. Frustration makes me push my phone away from me.

"I wonder where your brother is," Belle says as she looks around the place. "There's a lot of people today."

"How perspective of you, Miss Hendrix," I say with a playful smile. "There's usually less in the day. But it's a good thing because this time, I won't drop a smoothie on anyone's head." Belle rolls her eyes at the memory yet a smile still reaches her eyes. She goes back to her concentrated observation of the place.

As I look around, I can feel someone tap me on the shoulder. I turn to see a boy.

"I'm sorry. Is anyone using this chair?" He touches the chair next to mine.

Belle looks up at the boy and says, "No. You can have it."

He looks at Belle for the first time and seems almost amazed by her. A warm smile starts on his face as he nods and quickly takes the chair.

When he finally sits at the table next to us, he studies Belle for a quick moment and says a soft "Thank you."

Belle smiles and nods back firmly. "You're welcome." The slightest blush mixes with the seriousness on her face.

The boy takes out his phone without another word and forgets that we're here. I look at Belle at the same time she looks back at me. She raises her eyebrows and I chuckle at this.

Finally, AJ and Diego come back. They each hold five bags from various stores. Both of our eyes go wide in awe as they smile proudly. The boys take a seat next to their designated relatives.

"Did you guys go buy clothes for the school year or for the rest of your lives?" I say with furrowed brows. I take a french fry from Diego's basket of food.

"Well," Diego says. "You girls don't understand, but we guys need to have lots of outfits. Each outfit for each day of the year."

"Well," Belle says. "You boys don't understand, but us girls need to eat. So what are we eating today?" I give Belle a high five and she smiles proudly at me as she steals a fry from her cousin's basket. "Did you get fries for yourself or for everyone?"

"Seems like it's for everyone now," Diego says, giving Belle an annoyed roll of eyes.

As they discuss what they're gonna eat, I look at the boy from the corner of my eye. He's distracted for a bit, looking around the food court. Probably looking for someone. That confidence and straight posture stay with him at all times. I notice him take a quick glance at Belle and stand up to leave.

I do a quiet chuckle that grabs Belle's attention as the boys leave to get our plates. "What's so funny or have you gone crazier?"

"Crazier? Never mind. How much do you want to bet that I've found the love of your life?"

"I'll bet my next paycheck."

"You don't even have a job."

"Exactly." She does a small chuckle as I sigh.

"He's sitting right next to us."

"Yeah right." She doesn't even look at me as she keeps her eyes on Diego's fries. But I look back at the boy that has made his way out of the food court.

"You just missed your opportunity, Belle!"

"I am so sad."

"You're no fun. When will you ever get married if you're so hard to flirt with? I can't even get to you!"

"He will have to take my breath away first."

I smirk at this and take a fry. For some reason, I have a really strong feeling that I'll get this one right. I mean I'm always right about these gut feelings. But this one...I know it'll finally turn her life upside down. Man! Why didn't I ask for his number?! I would've gotten extra cake at her wedding as her wing woman!

I snatch the basket of fries from her side and playfully say, "I'll have your inhaler ready when the time comes."