Watching The Star | On Hold

Chapter 1

"I can't wait until we get there!" A big smile rested on Susan's face; she was so enthusiastic about the trip. "I haven't seen my family in weeks and it will be so much fun having you all there!"

Meanwhile, I stared out the window, trying to see shapes in the clouds. I listened in on what Susan, my best friend and her friends that I didn't know talked about but didn't join the conversation, friends of Susans who lived near her ranch had come to pick us up because neither me or Susan had our drivers license.

"Lorena! You're so quiet." Susan said, trying to have me join in, I guess Susan isn't very used to me not talking with her, but she should know I'm not likely to join a conversation with strangers and that is basically what the others are to me...

"Yeah, please, come talk with us, we won't bite!" Kara intervened.

"I know..." I wanted to say it but it only stayed in my mind as a thought.

I let out a sigh. I should try to enjoy the ride a little more, but I wished it was just me and Susan on the trip, not the others too, I didn't know them, but I better put in some effort to enjoy this trip and not ruin it for Susan.

I glanced around me, at Mike with his firm grip around the steering wheel, at Kara in the seat in front of me, at Lance sitting next to the left window, all people I had only met several minutes before as Susan introduced us. Reluctantly and with shaking arms I took out my notebook and wrote the first thing that came to mind.

"How was your day at school?" I turned the notebook as I looked at Kara, who I'd never before spoken to, I wonder if I ever will... I felt out of place with this group of outgoing people.

Kara's eyebrows raised at the sight of my notebook but a smile quickly appeared on her face. People are always confused when I have to talk via writing in a notebook. I guess it is odd but I can't help it that my body completely freezes in conversation, it's all because of my social anxiety, I can only talk with people I completely trust, like Susan, I don't exactly know why.

"You really want to talk about school?" Susan said, probably surprised that I would be the one to mention school.

I brought up my notebook again but wasn't sure what else I could ask, I was too nervous.

"That's okay, mine was alright!" Kara chirped. It looked like she was pleased to have me join in the conversation.

"You can hang with us at school, no need to be shy." That was Lance, sounded like he meant it, but well... maybe not, I'd only cause trouble.

Lance also went to the same school as me and Susan but he had his own group of friends so I had never met him before.

"I don't want to cause trouble," I wrote down, playing around with my pen.

"I'm sure you won't!" Kara said, her voice sounding surprised. "I'm sure Susan doesn't think you're trouble either."

"Of course I don't!" Susan gasped.

"But people think I'm strange, I'm sure that'll cause trouble." I stared outside through the window and felt my heart being crushed.

"No, it won't," Mike said, keeping his eyes on the road and a firm grip on the steering wheel. "And if it becomes a problem, you shouldn't have to worry about the actions of others; I don't."

"Thank you."

Again I stared out the window, looking at the countryside. I often dreamed about living outside the city. I was excited about this trip. Susan's family ranch was a while away from the city, with mostly nature surrounding it and a small town nearby. I loved horses, and I knew that Susan's parents had them at the ranch.

During the week Susan lived with her grandparents in the house next door because it's easier for her, it's closer to school. On the weekends, Susan often went to the ranch, but not always.

Two years ago, I had gone with Susan to see a barrel racing contest. It was where my love for horses and my interest in barrel racing started; I remembered seeing this girl, her name was Jasmine Miller, and she won the contest with a beautiful Red Roan Quarter Horse mare. Since then, Jasmine had become an idol to me, and I wanted to learn horseback riding too. So far, I hadn't had the chance because my mom wouldn't let me. She didn't want to put money into any lessons.

I never had the chance to go to Susan's ranch before, but I had met Susan's parents when they came over to visit the grandparents, so it's not like everything there will be unfamiliar.

"We're almost there!" Susan chirped and clapped her hands.

We were driving on a sand road and I saw fencing in the distance with two horses grazing on the paddock. I also saw a building that would appear to be the house.