seeing with stars | h.s

•Chapter 6•

{Harper}

The brown curly head turns to look at me. "Hey, I don't think I properly introduced myself last time we met. My name is Harry."

I don't say anything because I don't know what I would tell him.

"... Oh. Hi. I'm Harper." If I fake that I'm happy, maybe it will make this a little easier.

"Are you new?" He looks at me.

"New?"

"Yeah, new to Jefferson County?"

"Oh, uh... yeah. I'm from Minneapolis." Saying this really makes me sad.

"Thats a long way, don't you miss your friends?" I hear the compassion in his voice.

"Yea. I haven't made any because I recently moved here..." I trail off because I have never really talked to boys, and I don't know how. The only ones I ever think of are 5sos. I'm starting to get really annoyed.

"That must be hard. I've lived here my whole life. My parents moved here abou-" I decide to cut him off.

"Why did you care?" I blurt out.

"What? Care? About what? You aren't making any sense..." He's obviously confused.

I turn towards him. "At enrollment, when I ran into you, you seemed to really care. I mean, I was a complete stranger to you, to anyone there." This is just becoming harder and harder.

He doesn't respond, just looks down at his knees.

"I could tell... you weren't from here, after a little while of living in one place all of your life, you can see those who haven't." He is still staring at his knees.

I don't know what to say. This is a nightmare. Being in a small space with an attractive boy sitting near me, one who just told me why he cared. This is too overwhelming, I don't know what to do. I need to get out of here.

Thankfully, the bus comes to a stop. I look out my window to see the school.

"Thanks, but I think I can handle this on my own." Trying to end the conversation abruptly just to escape.

I step over his legs to get into the bus isle. I look for Macy and Jon, but I don't see them.

They must've already left.

He stands up beside me and grabs my arm. "I think you're going to need some help finding your way around this school."

I turn towards him and give in. "Alright. Heres my schedule."

He scans it as we both step out of the bus.

I wish I weren't in this situation. Being around boys makes me uncomfortable, like I don't know what to do when they are near me. My friends back in Minneapolis called me 'Dark Harper' not because I was 'scary' or 'emo', it was because I was the clean-one, the one who was 'in-the-dark' whenever they made a dirty joke. I have never heard of the things my old friends talked about, because I was never told their meaning. So when it comes to boys, I have no understanding of them.

I take a look around at the shell of the massive school. Tons of kids everywhere, reuniting with old friends and new boyfriends.

"You're lucky," His voice brings be back from my thoughts. "We have the same classes."

"What? But I'm a grade lower than you..."

"Well, not here I guess, it says that you transferred as a junior, and your higher GPA allowed it." He doesn't make sense.

"But, there must be a fluke in the system... Do you know where the counselor is? I would like to talk to them and see if this is right." This is a great way to start the first day.

"Uh, yeah, I could take you there.. we have about 30 minutes before first class starts." He starts to walk towards the doors to inside the school.

I catch up to him still trying to think out this schedule problem.

We enter into the main piece of the building. Weaving through hundreds of kids, we finally reach the councelors' office.

The lady looks friendly. "Hi, what can I do for you?"

"I am new to Jefferson County, and I was supposed to be enrolled as a sophomore, but my schedule says I'm a junior this year." I tried to make this less confusing so she could understand.

"Last name please?"

"Ah, Goffnerr. G-o-f-f-n-" Harry looks at me and all I can do is just smile and look away.

"Got it. Um, it seems that you were held back last year, but due to outstanding GPA, the system bumped you up a grade, because they thought you were academically prepared." She says with a smile.

"Oh." Harry gives me the 'I-told-you' face, and I continue my conversation with the secretary.

Handing me back my schedule paper, she says, "Looks like you are good to go!"

"Thanks for all of your help. Bye." Harry an I walk out of the office.

"Bu-bye now." she waves goodbye.

"DING!"

Harry stands outside the door."Thats the 'ten-minute' bell. It rings once for ten minutes, and twice when class starts."

"Ah, complex." I say.

"Lets find you locker. Whats the number?"

I search for it on the bright yellow sheet. "umm... 1063A..."

"Ok, thats not too far from here." He starts off, and I follow.

We walk in silence.

"Here we are, Although no one uses them because you can just bring your backpack to class." The silence between us is deadly.

"Where are we going first?" I ask him.

"English. My strongest but least favorite subjest." He brags.

We get there with about 2 minutes to spare.

Harry leans in and whispers to me, "Now a new kid here is a BIG deal, so just ignore the attention."

I walk in the classroom after him, and there are not one pair of eyes that aren't watching my every move. I take a seat behind Harry and try to blend in.

The bell rings twice, and an older woman walks in. "Welcome back. I'm sure all of you are just THRILLED to be back in school. I heard some news that we have a new student today. Harper Goffnerr, would you please come up here?" The teacher croaks.

Everyone turns to look at me.

I wish I could just disappear right now.

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Hi guys! This week is the most stressful week of my life rn. Thanks for sticking with me! Sorry about the late, late, update!

Just remember that 'Taylor' is now 'Harper'!!!!! I'm changing these on previous chapters too.

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