COUNTING STARS

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Ariel’s P.O.V

Barney parked the car into the drive way, I leaned forward in the seat looking up at the school. “Well aren’t I lucky to be back here” Barney added a layer of lip gloss in the mirror. “Don’t cut yourself short from luck babe….hahaha” I smiled it off and got out the car. She trailed behind me scrambling up her things as well, closing and locking her car. I rounded to her side. “Hey have you seen my schedule?” she said digging through her bag. “Now tell me, how I would know

where your schedule is?” She glared at me. “Ha ha very funny, well fine I guess I’ll just get one from the office” I rolled my eyes. Barney’s always losing something every week from her favorite shoes to her favorite jacket. From her favorite lip gloss to her favorite eyeliner it never stops.
She shrugged her bag up onto her shoulder. Before I could put one foot in front of the other a car came charging down the street, it wasn’t quite the looker and it could use a little TLC I couldn’t help but crack a laugh at it. Barney nudged me in the elbow “Do you see what I see?” I nodded. I wanted to see who was masked behind this car; I’ve never seen this type of

downgraded transportation at school before. “I bet it’s a nerd….. watch” I nodded my head towards the direction of the vehicle. The car parked and a guy came crawling out he turned back around to lean in to grab his backpack. “Ooooooohh Ariel that boy is a looker” He slammed his car door closed. He wore black skinny jeans and a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow and a dark black cardigan to top it off. In one hand he had his heavy books and in the other a black jacket with his hand held tightly around it. He was different the way he walked told a story, he was mysterious too I could tell he wasn’t form around here.

I’m used to seeing cowboy boots and light blue jeans obviously he didn’t get the memo dressed up incongruous clothes from the others. “Ariel!” Barney grabbed my shoulders shaking them. “Well why dontcha just kiss him already” I bumped into her shoulder. “Shut up!” We started walking towards the school a couple of inches ahead of the new guy. “I think he’s cute” I slightly looked over my shoulder at the boy; he was now wearing black glasses to where I couldn’t see his eyes. “I should tell him” I grabbed her arm pulling her closer to me. “Tell him what Barney?” She released herself out my hold and turned around. “Those glasses look good on you…and don’t forget that…” It took him a minute to form the corner of his lips up into a thank you smile. Barney turned back around. “Well look at that, he even have dimples” I shoved her in the arm again.
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I waited outside the office as Barney grabbed her schedule; I counted the pretty stars that were painted onto my nails picking at them every now and then. My body stiffened up as I heard footsteps coming down the hall, you never know who it could be I looked up for just a second but that quickly turned into minutes. I saw the same guy from this morning come walking towards me with the same books in his hand and his shades still blocking his eyes; even those were black.

He smiled at me for a second before turning the corner, a wave of his cologne flew up under my nose. I closed my eyes and took my time breathing in the scented air, whatever that was smelled expensive; I imagined myself snuggling up to him at night burying face into his neck and smelling slips of his cologne. “What? Why can’t I talk to the counselor, she’s here I know it!” I fluttered my eyes open and turned around looking into the office. Barney was standing with her hands on her hips; I know that stance from anywhere. “I’m sorry I just can’t let you in right now” I walked over to the entrance of the door getting ready to interfere.

“She….can have my spot” Everybody’s eyes looked over at the boy who was leaning up against the counter watching the bickering. I forgot he was even there. “Are you sure mister?” he nodded surely. I small smile came across my lips; his voice was so calm and husky even inviting. He seemed like the type to sit back and observe a situation instead of jumping fully hearted into it. “See!” Barney said. The lady rolled her eyes and wrote down a pass. I shook my head, oh Barney always have to have her way. “Thank you maim” She grabbed the pass and made her way over to me, her skirt swaying with every direction her hip moved. “Are you

happy?” She nodded with a gullible smile. We made our way down the hallway, I took one more look back at the guy he was just now rounding to the front of the desk gesturing that he was about to talk. I moved my hair behind my ear to hear more; I slowed the paces in my walk.
“That was very nice of you boy to do that” he didn’t respond.

“I’ll make you another appointment name please” He removed his glasses off his eyes and slipped it into his top pocket on his cardigan. “Harry Edward Styles” The words fell out of his mouth like a poem like a lullaby, now I know his name….Harry. I repeated it in my head over and over again trying it in different tones; matching our names together. He smiled lightly and looked over his shoulder slightly but not enough for me to see his eyes, just enough for me to see his long beautiful eyelashes. “Are you comin Ariel or not?” He knew I was watching him, or he wouldn’t have looked back. He caught me ease dropping and that slithered chills threw my arms…..but why did he smile?

Notes