The Brightest Stars

Julia

The image of Annabelle's trembling body is still on my mind as I make my way to Spanish class. A few paramedics had stayed to talk with Ms. Ruiz and the girls just whispered in their groups about what happened. It's only halfway through the day and people are already talking.

The girl with asthma nearly died. The dancer with asthma. I roll my eyes as I hear someone say this and sit at the end of the class.

My eyes are suddenly drawn to a familiar boy with short brown curls coming toward me. His eyes fill with worry and despair as he sits next to me. He gives me a quick smile as he says, "Hey Julia. Did you see what happened? How was she?"

"Diego." I lightly put a hand on his shoulder and give him a reassuring smile. "She's going to be okay. The paramedics took her before it got worse."

I lie on the last part. There was a point where Kristen lifted her weak body and laid Annabelle's back on her chest as Kristen tried to show Annabelle how to breathe. Annabelle's hands found Kristen's partially baggy pants and crumpled them in her fist as she painfully panted. Thick beads of sweat ran down her head as she gasped for air while Kristen held her from underneath Annabelle's underarms.

The moment the paramedics arrived, Annabelle had stopped moving and Kristen's blue eyes were under a sea of tears. She quickly pushed past the group of people surrounding them and ran with the medics outside. That was the last thing I remember...

Diego's brown eyes show a moment of peace as he listens to my lie. He does a sigh of relief and leans back in his chair. And for the first time, he gives me a genuine smile and observes me. His light brown eyes send shivers to my spine as he says, "Say. You were at the cafe the other night. You and your brother?"

I nod and smile at the mention of my brother. "Yes. That was us. That place is like a half cafe and half restaurant, isn't it? The place is huge."

Diego's expression falls for a quick second as his eyes grow distant. He clears his throat and nods, his face back to its seriousness.

I try to ignore his sudden disappointment and ask him another question; hoping that he'll feel better. "How long have you been working there?"

"Ever since I got here," he says. His eyes come back to their usual shine as he says, "I decided to stay with my cousins until my parents were able to come here."

"Oh! Where are you from?" The bell has rung and Mrs. Gunnette makes her way to her desk to finish up the presentations. Unfortunately, I'm part of the few who have not presented yet.

Diego leans in and whispers, "Chile." My eyes grow wide in surprise and admiration. We share a playful smile and look up front before Mrs. Gunnette separates us.

The presentations go by and my eyes can't help but steal glances at Diego every once in a while. His firm jaw and his concentrated eyes bring my attention. His smooth hair with thick brown curls. That tender and gentle look among his firmness. There's a presentation that had a joke and his smile brings his light brown eyes to life. His playful laughter makes him look younger.

"Alright. Julia! You're up," Mrs. Gunnette says as she goes back to her computer and looks for my presentation.

I clear my throat and give her a firm nod as I start to stand. My eyes go back to Diego as he gives me a reassuring smile. I return it and walk up to the front of the class. Mrs. Gunnette pulls up my presentation on the screen and I take a quick look at it.

I give the class a friendly smile and say, "Hello! My name's Julia Gonzalez and my family is from Argentina."

I straightened my back from all these years of practice presentations with my family's affairs. So with a hint of profession, my eyes look around at the class full of bored students. Some have their heads down while others seem to be on their phones. Yet, my eyes stay glued to one person.

I sit back down after five minutes of talking. Mrs. Gunnette took the opportunity to tell me that I have the sweetest voice. So I give her a grateful smile and quickly go back to my seat. Diego leans towards me once Mrs. Gunnette announces that I was the last presentation, and the class coming back to life.

"That was great! I didn't know you were from Argentina. You don't look very..."

"Latina. Yeah. I know. My mother is British."

I laugh at the way Diego falls back in surprise. His brown eyes wide as he says, "Why, aren't you a wonder? You're in the Colorguard team, right?" He falls silent and his face falls again as he says, "Of course you are. You saw my cousin today."

"Hey." My hand seems to have a mind of its own as I lay a comforting hand on his shoulder. "She's going to be okay. I plan on going to visit her after school."

"That's good," Diego says. He lightly puts his hand on mine and gives me a side smile. "You're a good friend, you know."

I clear my throat and gently take my hand off his shoulder and out of his touch. My heart falls for a split second after letting go of him. He quickly straightens his back and a hint of a blush appears on his sandy beige skin.

For some reason, I hesitate at the thought I'm about to say. But my mouth just forms into a friendly smile and says, "Do want to come and see your cousin after school with me?"

"Would you do that for me?" He turns towards me completely and his eyes show as if he's been waiting for me to say this. I laugh at the way his brows rise playfully. "It's because...I don't have a car." A hint of embarrassment crosses his expression when he says this.

I give him a friendly chuckle at this and his eyes seem to lighten at my laugh. Something seems to make us connect...

I shake my head and say, "Don't worry. I didn't have a car until late this summer. I worked about a year for it."

Another lie.

Diego shakes his head in relief and gives me that childish smile. "Thanks, Julia. You really are a great friend. I'm glad Annabelle got to meet you."

The bell rings and we start to pack up. Yet, my heart skips a beat at the sight of him waiting for me at the door. I give him a smile and quickly take a hold of my stuff. Once I get to Diego, he gently grabs my duffel bag and says, "Here. Let me help you out with this."

"Thank you," I quietly say as I try to hold on to the books in my hands.

"Where are you off to?"

"My locker. I have to drop off all these books!"

"Well, let me help you with that then!"

I quickly shake my head as he tries to grab a book from my arms. "No. It's fine, Diego. Thank you."

"Oh C'mon. I'm the man here. Let me help you."

I laugh at this and raise my eyebrows in surprise. "Really? You're the man?! I never would've noticed."

"Hey!" We both share a laugh as I start to open my locker with one hand and lean the books on my hip.

"Besides. I get help all the time at home." I say this out loud and Diego's confused eyes make me realize my mistake. "Well! I mean...you know...my parents are very...helpful. Um. They don't want my arms to get tired from Colorguard and--"

Diego gives me a light-hearted chuckle at my sudden nerves. My heart does a sigh of relief as I watch him shrug it off and say, "Don't worry about it. So I'll meet you out by the front gates after school?" I smile at his shining eyes and nod.

"Okay!," he says as he starts to walk away for lunch. "I'll see you later then! Thanks again!" And he disappears among the crowd of hungry students.

I make my way outside the building and my ears ache at the many voices talking about Annabelle. I cringe, but my mind is elsewhere as I think about Diego. The way he laughs. The way his light brown eyes seem so dreamy...

I quickly shake off the thought and furrow my eyebrows. I barely know him. But...can there be something?

I do a quiet chuckle at my silly thoughts and join Skyler for lunch. I once again lie about Annabelle as Skyler asks me about her asthma attack.

And I push down feelings that seem so true to my heart. It's what I do best anyway.