My Life Under the Stars-Chapter One

If the world were to end in fiery explosion at this very moment, I think I'd be okay with that. It's not that I want to die, it's just that life isn't exciting. And I've always wanted to know what lies after this life. 1

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But then something came that turned the way I see things, upside-down. Maybe it's love, but a kind you wouldn't expect.3

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My name is Kelli, lets get that out there. There's not many things I love, and I know that sounds bad, but it's true.5

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Tonight I lay under the stars with my best friend Lena. We tried to count them, but it was a lost cause. Although chasing lost causes could be quite amusing sometimes.13

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We had been doing this more, lately. Just something to get rid of the little dramas in your life, for a night. The stars made you feel so small, and your problems even smaller.15

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"Kelli?"She asked, turning on her side to look at me.17

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"Yea?"I replied.19

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"Do you ever think about love?"Her voice was strangely tentative. 21

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"Nah, why? Do you?" 23

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"Well....kinda, and I think I am. Y-you know, in love,"She spoke as if I would scold her for saying this.25

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"Really? Hmm....with who?"Now I was a bit anxious for the answer.27

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Lena took a deep breath, but her breathing was still uneven. "Ari."29

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I didn't say anything at first, all I could think was, wow. We had both had crushes in our 14 years, but if she had fallen in love.....I didn't know what to say.31

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"Wow, that's great,"I managed to get out. She stared at me for a moment."Really? You think that?"33

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I shrugged,"I'm not really sure what to think."35

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"Oh. Yea but Kelli, you don't understand. I really love him!"She started to stand, but realizing it was useless, sank back onto her knees."I'm only a friend to him, what do you think he'd say?"37

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"I don't really know." But I don't think she heard me, now lost in thought.I don't think she had any idea either. And I started to wonder about Lena, and how she was acting toward Ari. And also, what if he didn't love her back, what would that do to her? Finally I awoke from my thoughts, and looked up. 39

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Lena still sat in front of me, but now a steady trickle of tears was making its way down her cheek. I leaned over to hug her. She was my best friend, and one of the few things I loved. It really bothered me to see her in pain. But I had a feeling this would not be the worst of it.41

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I lied her gently down again. Her eyes were still weeping, but I knew that somehow I had made it a little better. Just having a friend there, who you knew would help you with whatever happened, made a difference. And even I knew that.43