Trailing Stars (Trailing Stars #1)

Chapter 5

The second Nathan and Clara nod, I take off. I don't want to be mean, but it feels so nice going faster than Nathan's speed. As always, it's just me and the expanse of ice. I attempt tricks and spins, smiling every time I stick the landing. I'm tempted to try a triple axel, but I know I'll definitely fall. And when I fall, Morgan won't be there to laugh and help me back on my feet. I don't know if I can handle knowing for sure that'll never happen again.

Suddenly, the high leaves me, and everything around me seems to dim. The bright lights above me suddenly seem clouded and the voices around me sound muffled. I let out a shaky breath as I skate back to Nathan and Clara, glancing around the rink like I'll be able to find my high again. But at least I know I won't have unnecessary energy writing a poem. So hopefully that means I won't say anything I'm not supposed to.

"Ready?" Clara asks, glancing up from her phone.

I nod, sitting between Nathan and Clara on the bench. "Yeah, sorry that took so long."

She furrows her eyebrows. "It took less time for you to make ten rounds and give a figure skating show than for Nathan to make one round."

That's true, but I don't have it in me to make fun of Nathan. I barely know him. So instead of adding on to Clara, I ask Nathan, "You'll try again later, right?"

Nathan's eyes widen, and he cringes. "When I forget how horrible this experience was."

I laugh. He blinks before giving me a contemplative look, those silver eyes taking me in. I tuck my hair behind my ear and focus on putting my shoes on. No matter how much I focus on lacing up my shoes, I can't get that look out of my mind. I don't think anyone ever really looked at me like that before. At least not in a while. It makes me want to put my skates back on and go another few rounds.

Once I'm ready, we return our skates and leave. The sun is completely down at this point, and the moon and stars are on full display. Nathan pauses, staring up at the night sky, that contemplative expression on his face again. I think Nathan is always contemplative, but I like to think this means he finds me just as captivating as the night sky if he's pausing to stare at it like he paused to take me in earlier. If Nathan, who is always lost in thought, can take a moment to think about me, maybe other people find me worth thinking about, too.

Nathan inhales and shakes himself from his thoughts. He turns to me. "Do you need to go home?"

I pull out my phone. No texts or calls. "I don't think so. I can write that poem now if you guys aren't too tired."

Nathan and Clara wave me off, ushering me back towards the car. I sit in the back again, texting Hannah that I might be another hour or two. She responds almost instantly, telling me to be careful and to try and come back sooner if I can.

By the time I tuck my phone away, Nathan is parking in front of Poems and Tales. When we walk back inside, I'm a little surprised at how quiet the place is, especially considering how many people were here just an hour or so ago. Now only one or two people are scattered throughout the room.

Nathan excuses himself and goes to get a journal, disappearing into the back room. When he's gone, Clara turns to me as we walk towards the most secluded corner of the room. "You know you don't need to write this poem, right? We can just hang out. Nathan will understand."

I shrug, pulling a chair out. "He skated, so it's only fair if I write the poem."

She stares at me, giving me a look that's equal parts respect and judgment. "I guess."

Nathan comes back and takes a seat directly across from me. Clara rests her head on the table, mumbling something about waking her up when we do something more exciting. Nathan lightly hits the back of her head with his journal before setting it on the table. He doesn't slide it over to me right away like I expect him to, though.