After skating practice that day, I decided to head to the local smoothie shop to do homework. Amber would be at home, probably with her friends, and instead of doing homework or something, I don’t know, productive, they would harass me as I try to do mine. Therefore, I find myself standing in a massive smoothie bar whose furniture was made of fruit and whose thatched stages were covered by awkward teenage bands trying to start their career. Yeah, like a smoothie bar is the best place to do that, but whatever. I hear people whisper behind me, my ears picking up each mention of Amber’s name and the ‘no’s and ‘shush’s that follow. I wish the awful music could drown out that chatter, but of course, it’s crystal clear like my favorite type of night. All though… this isn’t exactly preferable. I made my way up to the counter at some time and ordered - a large pineapple peach smoothie with luster dust embedded. I wanted my drink- and by proxy my insides- to shine like stardust. Edible glitter. Whoever came up with such perfection should get an award. I took my number and stood to the side, awkwardly standing in the queue like an alien in a sea of humans. I didn’t belong here, but it was the only place that was open until midnight around here, and there’s no way I’m going home before then.

It took a few minutes because it was busy but I finally got my drink and the orange cranberry muffin I had ordered alongside it. I then decided on a peach cushion in a far corner as my resting place. Plopping down into the plush pink puff and placing my items on the surfboard table in front of me, I got out my homework and started to work, drawing out the sound of gossiping students and awful guitar riffs. I hummed some cartoon theme song as I went along, time speeding along until I saw movement in my peripheral vision. From behind my thick, black-rimmed glasses, my eyes darted to the side, recognizing the dark shadow beside me as the same boy that I had left in the hallway earlier. “Hey Bea,” he said, bouncing against the banana pillow behind him. His hair was loose and so was his shirt, probably since he had tennis practice earlier and was trying to cool off. What? I was dragged sometimes with Amber, ok? A lot of her ex-boyfriends are on the tennis team. Regardless of his awkwardly loose clothing, I turned my attention towards his drink, giving me something to stare at. 

“Hey… Kahoni” I said, totally not used to just casually being talked to. My hands were twitching together in my lap. I mean, what does one do in these situations? School never taught me how to interact! Ok maybe it did but I sure wasn’t paying attention! I was reading about dwarf planets and how lightspeed is a measure of distance and not time! 

He smiled at me and leaned back more against the banana. That cannot be a comfortable shape for a back pillow. I digress. “I didn’t expect to see you here. Super cool” he said, brushing a stray curl from in front of his deep brown eyes. My face felt hot for some reason right then. Oh, right-

“What are you doing here?” I ask him. Clearly, he didn’t just come here hoping to find me. I didn’t even tell him I come to this place. No, by the looks of it, he was waiting for someone. Kahoni shifted slightly, squishing the matching peach puff under him.

“Oh, I’m here with some friends. They’re still waiting on their drinks. You mind if they come over here?”

“U-um, sure. I could use a homework break anyway” my voice wobbled slightly.

“Sweet! Thanks Bea!” I nodded, anxiously awaiting his friends’ arrival. Soon enough, three more teenagers meandered, each holding smoothies and food of varying sizes.

“Woah, Amber? I didn’t think you had time for us” said a short boy with scruffy blonde hair. Oh, I see how it is.

“Yeah. I thought you were always hanging with the Butterflies” said another boy, this one with a girl attached to his side, as he slid onto a bench on the other side of the table. The Butterflies. I don’t give them the satisfaction of calling them that. What a stupid name to call a pose, literally after your last name? Whatever, I’m not here to judge Amber’s egotistical choices.

Kahoni cleared his throat, which startled me. I forgot he was there for a moment. “Guys, this is Bea, not Amber. Remember? I was talking about her earlier.” The girl elbowed the boy beside her in the ribs, causing him to hunch over and nearly hit his head on the table.

“Oh right” relayed the first boy. “Sorry about that. You guys just look so similar and you-” he stopped himself, but I can only imagine what he was going to say. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I’m Jace. That’s Abby, and the guy in total pain is Lance. Nice to meet’cha!” He outstretched his hand towards me and I hovered for a moment. Two handshakes in a day? High score. Sheepishly, I took his hand, then just as quickly withdrew it. So awkward! The girl then leaned over the table in my direction just as Kahoni started back up.

“Yeah so we’re child-

“What’s your info?” Confused, I asked the girl what she meant. “Like, your link code? For Starlink.” Oh, Starlink. The social media platform. Right. Funny how she thinks I have that.

“I don’t have that,” I said, causing shocked reactions spinning around the table.

“You’re kidding-”
“Bea, everyone has it-”

“Yeah seriously-”

“I had no reason to get it ok? End of story” I said, shutting down the barrage of shame quickly. I was looking at the group, who, in turn, were looking at me even harder. Is this peer pressure? After a moment of intense staring, I gave in. “Fine, fine I’ll download it.”

“Yay!”

“Hey, Bea, add me first,” Kahoni said, sticking his phone out. The girl named Abby did the same. My heart fluttered. People actually wanted to talk to me? The imposter among the group? I’m still not sure why but that made me astronomically happy. After downloading the app and setting up my profile (my profile pic is a cute chibi star with a face, how cute!), I added all four of them, and the conversation went on without me. I simply stared at my phone and more specifically, the four new names registered in it.

That night, as I was lying in bed, looking up at the glow-in-the-dark stars I had installed as a kid, my phone illuminated beside me. I picked it up, wincing at the brightness in the otherwise dark room, before actually reading what was on it. Inside a bright textbox read KAHONI ;P, with another one underneath it displaying ABBY. I decided to open Abby’s first.

AbbyBear: Check out this meme! *IMAGE*

Beabutter: LOL love the manatee. Did you know they used to be mistaken for mermaids?

AbbyBear: NO WAY!

Beabutter: Facts ;P

I smiled through the entire interaction, like stupidly smiled. Why would a silly image of a mermai- manatee in a bad t-shirt make my cheeks hurt so much? Deciding to brush it off, I remembered that Kahoni had sent me something as well. It was a picture. Of him in bed with his hair all messy and a loose tank top. He was holding up a peace sign and smiling like an idiot but I just kept staring at the picture. My mind spiraled, like any normal girl would right? I wouldn’t know. I looked down at the chat log that came along with it, totally not saving that picture in the process. For blackmail purposes, you know? In case he turned on me or something? Yeah, that’s it.

Kahoni_ProT: Gn Bea! I’m so glad we’re friends again.

Beabutter: yeah yeah. Goodnight weirdo. Thanks for the blackmail material ;p

Kahoni_ProT: So cruel /)oOo(

Beabutter: You know it XD

That stupid smile didn’t fall from my face until I could no longer see the luminescence of my star-covered ceiling. I wake up the next morning still holding my phone. Luckily it was still on the charger otherwise I would have had a bigger issue on my hands. I glanced towards my clock and realized it wasn’t even 6:30 yet. How I manage to do that when going to bed at 1am, the world may never know. I slinked my way out of bed and pulled my unbraided hair into a messy bun. It was going to be that kind of day, I could just tell. Pulling on an old red  campaign hoodie that screamed “BUTTERVILLE BELIEVES!”  to everyone could read and my worn-out skinny jeans, I sat at my desk and started working on next week’s homework. Better early than late, right? I was already ahead in the readings. Then my phone illuminated a dim section of my desk and I immediately recognized the light color that lit up the edge of my screen. It had only gone off twice before, but I knew it was Starlink. Picking it up, Kahoni’s name blinked on my lock screen, beckoning me to open it. So I did. And was met with another piece of future blackmail material. Kahoni had his hair pulled up into a high ponytail and a tank top brandishing our school’s overly pretentious-looking emblem. He’s so muscular… no wonder he’s good at tennis. 

Beabutter: Going for a run?

It takes a second before I get a response, but when I do my eyes magnetize to my screen without my consent.

Kahoni_ProT: You know it! Gotta keep in shape, it is tennis season you know. Also gm ;D

A thought flashed in my head, and before I could think about it, my fingers were flying as fast as astronauts exiting the ozone layer.

Beabutter: …Can I join?

Kahoni_ProT: You run?

Beabutter: Sure, I mean I do figure skating. We’ve gotta keep in shape year round, you know

Kahoni_ProT: Ohhhh I didn’t know you still did that. That’s so cool! I know Amber dropped it when we were all little.

Beabutter: Yep. Still doin’ it. So can I join?

Kahoni_ProT: Sure! I’d love the company. Be by in 5.

After getting that text I spent no time relaxing. I bounded up from my chair and instantly sifted through my clothes to find workout gear that didn’t smell like last week, and hustled downstairs without (hopefully) waking anyone. So much for my lazy day. I met the brisk air with vigor, excited for once to be training. As I was pulling my hair into a more stable high ponytail, Kahoni appeared in the distance, wearing indigo shorts that matched his tennis top. I stared at my own attire- a pale yellow sports bra and dark grey high-waisted leggings with sheer cutouts. I suddenly felt very exposed. I also started wishing that I had a jacket, and not cause I was cold. He eventually reached me, breathing slightly heavier than normal. “Morning,” he said, excited as ever. I smiled back, pushing a stray piece of hair behind my ear. 

“Good morning. Ready to have me beat you?”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ll have you know I have great stamina. Comes with the territory, you know?”

He scoffed, clearly judging the validity of figure skating. They all do. “Oh yeah? Well then, race you to park. Last one there has to get the smoothies next time”.

The glint of competition lit up in my eyes. Supernova mode: ACTIVATE! “Oh, you’re on”. And with that we set off, sprinting as fast as we could to the park fifteen minutes down the road. If we were fast enough, we could make it in 10. For ages we scissored back and forth as to who was in the lead, bounding across pavement and grass, dodging cars and bikes, neither of us willing to give in. By the time we reached the front gates, we were neck and neck. We raced forward, breath heavy, legs outstretched. By sheer luck, I somehow managed to barely beat his elongated body across the line, securing my victory. “YES!” I exclaimed before doubling over in exhaustion. Kahoni soon followed me in doubling over to catch his breath, his rough breathing loud mere inches from my ears. I eventually got enough breath to add “S-so… smoothies?”

He smiled lightly before nodding his head, gaining a smile from me in response. This caused him to chuckle and confuse me. “You know, this is nice”.

“Pardon?”

“You don’t act like this at school. It’s nice to see this side of you.” 

I began blushing from the random compliment, stumbling back a little. “O-oh, well, it’s not like I act like this normally. I just- uh- um-”

“Relax, you’re good. I just like that you’re acting like yourself in front of me.” He placed a hand on my shoulder, which I didn’t know how to feel about. I mean, I wasn’t used to any physical contact with another person that wasn’t Amber being rude, never mind a male touching me in any way. He checked his phone that he had extracted from his pocket. “Wanna relax for like 20 minutes before we head back? We have to still get ready for school, you know?”

“Sure, I need to shower now thanks to that little competition.” I wiped the sweat beads on my forehead away with one swift motion. 

“Cool. Meet you on the swings.” He jogged off towards the small swing set, and I followed shortly after as the sun began to rise higher in the sky and the stars began to swiftly disappear.