Counting Stars

Chapter 1

Juliette's P.O.V.

It's weird. For the past few days I have had the odd feeling of being watched. Not even like I am being watched all the time, just at night when I am on the roof. I mean, it doesn't stop me from going up there. I just always look around to see if there is someone there, but there never is anyone. After a while I just stop feeling that way and continue counting. 

I have no clue where I got this obsession from. Maybe my grandma, maybe my dad, I don't know. My dad and my grandma are very... spiritual people. That is the nicest terms I can put it in without sounding mean. Not that something like that bothers me, I am just a little bit more of a realist like my mom. But I do have a little of my dad in me. 

My parents got divorced about two years ago. I live with my mom and see my dad on the weekends. It's a nice little arangment. I mean, they talk to each other as little as possible, but they do their best not to get me in the middle of it. 

Wow, here I am babbling about my life while sitting on my roof, again, counting the stars. In case you haven't noticed, I don't stay on one topic very long. There are just so many things in life that you can't just focus on one, now can you?

So I'm just sitting up here, counting away, when I get that feeling again. The feeling of being watched. I know I should leave if I don't feel safe, but I can't. I can't explain it but, I can't. At the same time, I want to know if I am truly being watched. Maybe I just feel paranoid. Who knows?

"Mind if I join you?" a British voice asked from behind. I jumped and turned around to look at the owner of the voice. 

From what I could see in the light, he was pretty atractive. Didn't look much older than eightteen. He was tall, or that could be because he is standing and I am sitting. His eyes were a beautiful shade of green in the moon light. The light shined perfectly on his dirty blonde hair. He was wearing some funny looking clothes, almost like they weren't from this time period. 

"Are you done checking me out?" he asked with a chuckle at the end.

"Sorry, what?"

"I asked if you wouldn't mind if I joined you?"

"Oh, um... sure. Go ahead." I responed trying to sound polite. In all honesty, it was a little odd that he just comes out of nowhere and ask to join me. I know he couldn't have climbed the fire escape because I was sitting right there. So the only way he could have came was through the door that lead up here, but I didn't even hear the door open. 

He didn't say anything after I invited him to sit. He just sat there next to me. It just turned from a little odd to strange.

"I'm Juliette." I try to start a conversation with him.

"Peter." Was all he replied.

"Wow. You don't get many Peters anymore." I chuckled. He gave me a dry chuckled and went back to silence.

"Well, I like the name Juliette. It's a beautiful name and it suits a beautiful girl." It may have been dark outside, but my bright red cheecks lit everything up.I gave him a small 'thank you' and turned my head away so he couldn't see my face.

"Don't hide your blush. It's cute."  

"Um," I start trying to get on a different topic. "Are you new here? I mean to Providence?"

"Somewhat." he answered as though he really didn't understand the question, or how to answer it. "I'm just... flying through." Isn't the saying 'passing through'? Maybe it's a British thing. 

"How did you find yourself on this roof then?"

"I saw you. I... uh... wanted to know what you were doing."

"It's dorky."

"Try me." I think about it. I mean, he did say he was just 'flying through' so I may never see him again. What do I have to lose?

"I come out here every night... and.. uh... count the stars..." I was waiting for a snarcky reply, but he never gave me one. He just gave me a smile. Like, a genuine smile. 

"That is actually so sweet. Though you are wasting your time with these stars." What did that mean?

"What?"

"These stars are beautiful, don't get me wrong, but where I come from, the stars shine so bright it's like the sun is out always. When you look at them through the tree branches, it looks majestic."

"Wow. That sounds increadible." I reply honestly. 

"I can take to it right now." 

"Wait, what?" He stood up and as though it were effortless, he pulls me up by my hands and we are standing with only a few centimeters in between us. 

"I can take you away from here. I can take you to a place where you can be free and it can be just us. Well, us, and a few other boys."

I try to pry my hands out of his but his grip is too strong. Is he being serious? That sounds nice... kind of. But at the same time, it's really creepy. "Peter, I think you need to let go of my hands... now."

"Why don't you want to come with me?"

"Let go of me." I almost yelled at him clearly struggling to get out.

I finally get my hands off of me and run to the door that leads down to the complex. Just as I am opening the door, he... apeared. Just out of nowhere. He slams the door causing me to scream a little.

"Please, just come with me. You will be much happier with me than you are here." 

I kneed him in the stomach causing him to double over long enough for me to run through the door and down the stairs. I find my way to my apartment door where conveniently, my mom is opening the door with a bag of take out in her hand.

I run right into her, hugging her tightly as though I would never let go. She almost fell over by the impact that I caused running into her.

"Hi Juliette..." she starts a little confused. "...I missed you too..." I let go of her and look at her.

"Sorry. I don't know why I did that." I lied.

"It's okay. Why are you coming from the stairs? Don't you normally come down the fire escape?"

"Um, yeah. I just thought I would try it this way." I lied once again.

"No questions asked. Got it. I brought home some dinner." She said holding up the bag of Chinese in her hand.

"Sounds good to me." We smile at each other as she unlocked the door letting us into the apartment. 

I felt safe here. I hopefully never see that Peter kid again. Maybe tomorrow I won't go on the roof tomorrow.