“Have you already read that book I lent you last week?”

That surprised me. Was she asking me? Well, of course she was. We were still the only ones there. It had been three weeks now since we first met and that hadn’t changed one bit. 

“No, I’m still on it. Why?”

“Eh… Well, the thing is I have to return it to the library. Like, really really soon. So, you wouldn’t happen to be carrying it with you right now, would you?”

I looked at her a bit puzzled.

“What? But I was really liking it. Are you serious? Why didn’t you tell me about it?”

“Yeah. I’m sorry. I realized just yesterday. I promise I’ll make it up to you somehow.”

“Agh, okay. Don’t worry about it. I’ll just give it back for you instead. I’ll have some more time to read it, then.”

“Really? You’d do that?”

“Yeah, I don’t mind.”

“Nice! Thanks.”

And there it was. Just as bright as ever. 

I hadn’t forgotten about it. 

How could I? 

Every day, every evening. Shining as the beams of light reflected upon it. A smile that could turn my whole world upside down. 

“By the way, why are you so fixated on your phone?” She asked.

Well, I had been looking at it for a long time now. I just couldn’t stop. What I’d found had me totally captivated. 

“Ah, yes. It’s about this meteor shower that’s coming next week. It says here we’ll be able to see it from the city.”

That’s what it was.

For the longest time, I thought something like that wasn’t real. I had always believed it was something you could only find written on the pages of those fantasy books I usually read.

Something wonderful that could only be visualized on those pictures that always get my attention whenever I see them. 

Something taken out of a fairy tale. 

How funny. 

Maybe that one fantasy is starting to become real. 

“Right! Hal and I always used to see them together when we were younger. Maybe we see this one together as well.”

“Have there been more meteor showers flying over the city in the past?”

“Of course there have! Have you never seen them?”

“Well, I just moved here two years ago. I really haven’t had the chance to do so.”

“Couldn’t you do it in the other place you lived in?”

I bit my lip. I really didn’t know how to answer that question. It made my heart flutter.

“I don’t know. I really never had someone to see it with. And I never found it really interesting, anyway. Not until now, at least.”

She looked straight at me.

"Then, why don't we go see it together this year?"

And I looked straight at her as well. It might seem something meaningless, common or trivial. She was just inviting me over. I got on well with Claire. We talked about many things during our time together in the club. It wasn't that strange that she would ask me to do something with her. 

But, even so, it still felt unreal. Because no one else besides Jay and Cole had ever said something like that to me. And I had got used to it. That's why I didn't really care. But now her words seem more powerful than before. And I care. I really do.

"You'd see it with me?" I asked innocently.

"Yeah, why not? We can continue talking about books under the stars if that's what you want."

She laughed. I smiled.

And that's when I knew that, in reality, I didn't really care about what we talked about or what we did.

I think I just wanted to be with her. Her sarcasm and her unique smile were starting to grow on me little by little. 

I just wanted someone new to stick by. 

Maybe she was that new someone. 

I really like how those words sound.

"Besides, Hal and I know a spot where we'll be able to see the sky very clearly. You can bring your friend Jay, too. I'm sure we'll all have fun."

"Ye-yeah."

"Ah. And, by the way, bring some spare change of clothes with you. You may need it."

"Huh?!"

But she didn't respond. Instead, she just chuckled, looked down, and kept on reading. 

I didn't insist. 'Cause if I wanted to know the answer to that, the only thing I had to do was let myself go. 

We are all teenagers after all. Maybe that's the only thing we have to do. 

Enjoying those little details is also a part of our lives. 

Smiling is okay. 

Hoping that tomorrow is gonna be better is great, as well. 

I think I'm starting to realize that, too.