Reaching the Stars

Chapter 3: The Hike to the Moon

I managed to get a ride from Ella, trying to ignore Jacob as much as possible. I know that I like him but just meeting him before tonight it would just be awkward. Like what's there to talk about? When I finish telling Ella what had happened, her eyes don't move from the road one time.

"He's probably planning to murder you", she says stern.

"No. You can tell he's serious about this."

"Whatever" and with a roll of the eyes, the conversation ends.

When we arrive at school, I'm half asleep from the silence of the car. Right when we stop, I get out quickly. Silent rides with Ella means she's upset which means I start going crazy because she never wants to talk about it. Or talk about anything.

I reach my locker in enough time, I get time to wonder. Days like this, when a hint of fall is in the air but the days are still mild are my favorite. I head out into the cloudless sky and sit on a bench. When the person plops down next to me, I don't realize at first. My eyes dart all around, looking at the beautiful scenery. La-la-land. Then a hand grasps mind. I jump but then Jacob smiles and starts to chuckle. I don't try to push him away. I just smile back.

"Hello beautiful", he whispers in my ear.

I blush then say "Hey."

"Well just wanted to say hey. I gotta go. Be late for class if I don't hurry up." then his lips brush against my cheek and it brings me back to last night. When he jumped out the window and I realized my unavailing love for him. The bell takes me away from my daze as I scurry up and run to class.

First period goes by fast. I don't learn anything because after I sit down I go straight back into La-La-Land. Mr.Himpton doesn't bother me. Which I'm glad about.

The day goes by in a breeze. Easy Friday. This is a perfect day. The clock hits three o'clock and people start running outside into the wind and air and the beautiful day. I start to make my way to my bus, when a car honks. I look to my left to see Jacob sitting, breeze ruffling his hair, playing some punk rock music. Climbing into the passenger seat, I turn the loud music down. Not my cup of tea. The trip is silent but the feeling is different from the morning trip with Ella. He's welcoming but exciting. My stomach back on the roller coaster. When we arrive at my house, we just sit in the car for a few minutes. He stares at me and I stare right back. I think about kissing him but then decide not to. Then I see my mom open the door. I grab my bag and jump out of the car. I don't want my mom to get into this.

"Thanks for the ride", I yell, walking up the sidewalk.

"No problem, see ya at midnight", he says just loud enough for me to hear. I pass my mom and smiles. "Going to run some errands. Be good." she kisses my forehead and speeds walk to her car. Jacob walking through his front door just before I catch him wink. What a flirt!

I see Harold and reach down to pet him as the door rings. When I open the door, Ella stands there, tears running down her face and a big bruise on her forehead.

"What happened", I exclaim while looking up at the big yellow/purplish bruise.

"Some boys started pushing me and hitting me."

"Why", I feel anger pushing through me.

"I have no idea. I was just walking to my locker and they shoved me into the wall and walked away laughing", she said I between heavy breaths.

I guide her to the couch and sit her down. Then I make my way to the fridge and get some soda and start popping popcorn. The popping sound in my ears then a piercing ding. Lastly I text her mom, asking if Ella can stay the night. This is going to be a girls night

I hand her the bowl and she grabs a big handful and stuffs her mouth, popcorn falling between her fingers and gathering in a pile in her lap. I don't stop her even though she's making a mess. I'll just clean it up later. I turn on the tv to pretty little liars and she's set to go. Every once in a while she takes big gulps of Coke and carry on watching the episode. She eats when she's upset. And I mean she eats.

The next few hours go by fast from monitoring Ella. She goes through a whole season of PLL. Mom finally got home around 8:30. What she was doing? I have no clue what errands would take five hours. I glance at the clock and in my surprise it's 11:09. Fifty-one minutes. I don't have to worry about mom because she came home and went up stairs to take a shower and go to bed. She's out. But Ella is a different story. I spend the next thirty minutes heavily thinking about what in the world I'm going to do. Ten minutes till midnight, she looks to me and says "What time are you gonna meet him."

"Midnight"

"Then go, I'll be fine"

"You sure"

"Positive"

"Love you El", I kiss her on the cheek and make my way upstairs. I brush my hair and toss some gum in my mouth. Then I put on a sweater, colored jeans, knee high socks and my brown combat boots. When I open the door, Jacob is there smiling and I smile back.
Then I feel the heat rising up in my cheeks. Oh great I'm blushing! He holds out his hand and I gently take it.
The walk is long, I have to admit. But he makes it perfect.
"How much longer," I ask, cause I was kinda getting tired.
"Just a few more feet. It'll be beautiful."
And he was right. We come across an opening and it wasn't beautiful. It was magnificent. It was a cliff that hunger over a river under the stars. I didn't know such a jaw-dropping place just a few miles behind my house.
"You have to look for true beauty."
Jacob looked at me and smiled.
"It took me along time to find you but it was worth it."
Just as I was figuring what he meant, we were kissing. The same spark went through me. There was fireworks in my brain. We were kissing. And I felt like I was floating on clouds. It was the most picture perfect kiss. It lasted for about a min when we broke away. I had a sparkle in my eye.