Under the Strawberry Moon

Striking Blue Eyes

Danielle grabbed the final few items from her locker and sighed as she slammed it shut for the last time. Finals were over, grades were posted, and graduation was tomorrow. All of her classmates were running around getting the last few signatures for their yearbooks, but she hadn't even gotten one.

Sure, she could have asked Christina to help her out, but truly she hated asking for so much. Even if she said it was not a big deal, Danielle hated feeling like she was a burden on anyone. She leaned back against the row of lockers to wait for her friend.

Suddenly she felt a shiver run down her spine and felt like she was being watched. She tried to resist the urge to look around her, but was unsuccessful. When she glanced up, she noticed a guy about 20 feet away who was casually leaning up against the lockers as well. And he was staring at her.

She'd seen him around but they'd never really talked one on one. He was tall and lean, but she could see the muscles defined underneath his basic white t shirt. His pale silvery blonde hair and striking blue eyes looked almost unnatural. He didn't look away when she made eye contact and she suddenly realized she couldn't stop looking at him.

She noticed what looked like a tattoo peeking out from under the sleeve of his shirt and without thinking, began to step towards him with the impulsive thought to get a better look at it.

"Hey!" came a familiar voice next to her, pulling her out of the trance. "Are you ready to go?"

Danielle hesitated then shook her head lightly to clear it before turning to her friend. "Yeah, sure. I forgot to bring my gown though, I'll need to go back home and get it."

"Sure, no problem," Christina said as they headed towards the exit of the school. "I can't believe it's over! We've been going to school so long, it's almost weird..."

Danielle's thoughts drifted back to the guy as her friend cheerfully rambled. How had she never really noticed how striking he was? His strong jawline dusted with light stubble. His piercing blue eyes and the way he didn't look away.

Suddenly there was a hand waving in her face. "Hello, Earth to Danielle, were you listening to anything I just said?"

"Uh... no, sorry," she admitted sheepishly.

"I was asking if you wanted to get food before we went to get your stuff. Where were you just now?"

"Um," Danielle chewed on her lip debating if she should bring up the guy to Christina. Her best friend had been trying to get her to go on dates for years and might take it the wrong way if she mentioned that she had noticed him. She had to word this just right.

"Yes?" Christina asked, hands on her hips.

"Well, while I was waiting for you I noticed this guy-"

Christina cut her off with a little squeak then quickly held out her hand saying, "sorry, sorry, continue."

"He was staring at me. I don’t remember his name or anything, but that one guy with the almost white blonde hair and intense blue eyes? You know, kind of a loner, but sometimes hangs out with those guys who are always skipping class and causing trouble?"

Christina raised an eyebrow. "You mean Seth Williams?"

"Is that his name? I don’t really know him."

Christina snorted. "You’ve met him, like, at least a dozen times. Our parents are super tight. His dad and mine go way back. You’ve been at a few barbecues with him, remember?"

Danielle paused, thinking. "Wait, that was him?"

"Yeah. He’s not super talkative unless you get him going, but he’s not some sketchy bad boy or anything. Just... kind of intense sometimes. Quiet. Doesn’t really do the small talk thing."

"But he hangs out with those guys."

Christina shrugged. "Yeah, and I still don’t get that. Maybe it's a proximity thing, or maybe he just doesn’t care what people say. He never struck me as the party type, though. We’ve hung out at family stuff, and he was always polite, kind of thoughtful when you got past the awkward silences."

"So... you don’t think he’s trouble?"

"I think he’s complicated," Christina said honestly. "But not bad. Just not super easy to read. Well, I can read him. But I can read anyone."

"I don't know. I don't really know him. But he was just staring at me so intensely."

Christina laughed, "yeah, you said that already. He doesn't usually stare at people. Maybe he was just looking at you because you were there." She paused, then shifted. "So anyway, did you want to get food?"

"Sure, then swing by my place to grab stuff," Danielle said as they reached Christina's car.

They both hopped into the car and Danielle found herself lost in her thoughts about Seth as they drove. Maybe Christina was right and he was just looking at her because she was there, but there were other people in the hallway as well. He might not have really been on her radar before but he was dead center now.

Christina went through a drive through and got them a bunch of cheeseburgers and fries and before she knew it, they were at the beginning of the hiking trail. Danielle quickly grabbed what she needed, still thinking about Seth the entire time.

When they finally arrived at Christina's house, she turned off the car and looked at Danielle.

"That was the quietest car ride we've ever had, you nervous about tomorrow?"

"Yeah," Danielle said quietly, "but actually I hadn't thought about that till you just mentioned it."

"Are you still thinking about Seth?" Christina wiggled her eyebrows up and down suggestively.

"Well yeah, and stop giving me that look!"

"Trust you to pick the last day of school to finally be interested in a guy," she said, rolling her eyes as she playfully shoved Danielle's shoulder. "Would you like me to try to play matchmaker then?"

Danielle blushed profusely and so her head no. "I don't even know him...I just... I don't know... he just got in my head or something..."

"Isn't that the point? To get to know him?"

"He probably doesn't even like me. Like you said, he was probably just looking at me because I was there. We have basically never talked and I didn't even know his name until you just told me."

"But you knew he hung out with those guys, and you've been thinking about him."

"Because it's weird he was staring at me, ok, not because I like him. I mean, he's not ugly or anything, but why would he like me anyway?"

"Because you're pretty and funny and smart and creative and resourceful and kind and strong and-"

"Ok, ok, I get it," Danielle cut her off, "but I'm also homeless, orphaned, poor, and have no idea what I'm doing with my life."

"News flash, babe, none of us really know what we're doing with our lives. Yes, there's plans for college and careers, but we're young. We're all lost."

"Well at least you guys have families," Danielle muttered.

"And you do too, me," Christina said seriously. "Now let's go scarf down these burgers and watch some superheroes kick butt while we do our nails, ok?"

"Ok," Danielle agreed. "Promise me you aren't going to do anything about this Seth thing."

"I don't make promises I can't keep. But I won't do anything crazy, ok?"

Danielle pouted slightly but nodded her head yes and got out of the car. The two spent the evening giggling, watching movies, and reminiscing about good times.