Counting My Stars

It flabbergasted Samantha to be beaten again by a boy. The score on her paper was 94% and the score just announced as the highest in the class was 98%.

"Mr. Collins, has the ice queen finally been dethroned from the top?" Said a boy in the back of the class with his hand raised.

"What did I say about name calling in my class Phil. I'll subtract 20% of your 15% score."

"Hey! How's that even possible?!" He objected.

"Try and do the maths and see what score you'll find."

The class laughed as Samantha looked at her maths teacher for answers. She could not hide her dismay and Mr. Collins looked at her with a smile.

"And so those that failed to reach the cut off point will have to take summer classes."

The class disgruntled in unison. It looked like the entire class failed to pass the test.

"Well you can get lessons from our top two students in the test, Samantha and Klaus. I'm sure they'll be glad to help."

His expression gave Samantha a clear idea of how sadistic this tall slender man could be sometimes. Mr. Collins was a south Asian man in the mid-30s with long black hair tied into a ponytail whose personality gave bipolar indicators.

Samantha frowned at him with a look saying 'Really Greg? This is how you throw me to the wolves again?' And his sadistic smile gave the reply 'Oh yes my dear I have salsa classes to attend'. She knew that her classmates would not dare approach her. To them, she was the introverted ice queen revered for her beauty and intelligence. She never talked to anyone unless necessary and never had any friends in her class. She was a focused girl that only thought of her dream to escape this world.

She looked back to see her partner in this impossible mission and the new nemesis in her academic life, Klaus Muller. His expression to the whole announcement was flat, as if he knew if he did not care. He was another introvert that oozed mystery since his transfer to Miles Kraber High School in the fall. He was a 6'0" blonde boy with blue eyes and a face that made all the girls in school blush but not Samantha. Ever since he transferred in the fall, he made her feel inferior to him like all her hard work was for nothing.

"What's his deal? What a weirdo." She thought. "Who happens to be cute." She admitted as she rolled her eyes away.

The school bell rang and summer vacation had finally begun. Samantha thought of all the books she was going to read. She loved to read because it gave her an escape from the noise the world offered. Her imagination was so vast in her books that she never felt lonely, just alone.

"Hey Sam!" A tom-boyish girl with a short bob cut and piercings shouted. Everyone moved to the sides of the hallway as the menacing girl who looked ready to body slam whoever got in her way as she walked. Samantha looked unfazed by the approaching girl as she exited the school building.

"I thought I told you to wait for me by your door. I hate walking alone." Said the tom-boyish girl.

"Hey Bridge, sorry I just got distracted." She said with a warm apologetic smile. Bridgette Levit, also known as Bridge, was Samantha's one and only friend in school. Their appearances were polar opposites but their personalities could not be any more similar. Bridge was in a grade below Samantha but was two inches taller than her making her look older.

"Wanna get some ice cream from Josee's?" Bridge asked. "They're selling this new flavour called double dip triple deluxe. The heck that is but I wanna try it!"

Bridge was excited to try the new flavour. "Another time. I need to study." Samantha declined.

"Your brain will fry you know?"

"No it won't."

"My uncle got brain damage from studying too much for his exams and now he's at the graveyard."

"He died?" Samantha asked concerned.

"No…" Bridge replied. "He just works there because of the brain damage!"

"Oh my gosh, Bridge." Samantha chuckled. "I thought he died."

Bridge shrugged her shoulders. "Anyway I'm still going. I'll catch you later then. Bye."

"See ya!" Samantha shouted as Bridge briskly walked away with her menacing look back on her face. Samantha thought of how food seemed to give her friend a menacing look on her face as she walked down the sloping sidewalk.

"Ouch! Come here you!"

The voice woke Samantha from her trance and she focused down the hill across the road near a traffic stop. She saw a dog being pulled out of a man hole by a group of people and at the centre was Klaus.

"Is that Klaus or am I seeing a mirage?" She muttered.

The crowd praised Klaus for his deed and he looked different. He put the dog on his shoulder and he looked so animated, happy and more charming. She continued to walk down the sidewalk hoping to be ignored by any other bystanders that might recognize her. The crowd began to disperse as she was crossing the road until she heard a voice call for her.

"Hey miss!"

She ignored it and continued walking. The voice continued to shout her name and became louder and closer until she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around ready to blast at the person for shouting girly repeatedly.

"Listen! My name is Samantha Diaz not 'miss', okay? And I'm not interested in whatever you hav-." She gasped before she could finish her sentence.

In front of her was the mysterious classmate, Klaus Muller, she hoped to ignore. His gaze was piercing and his height dwarfed her making her feel more inferior to him. However, he had a dog on his shoulder which made him less intimidating with each second that passed.

"Okay? Sorry about the name calling, however, are you crazy? You can clearly see I need some help here. How could you ignore me so feverously? " Klaus replied with a Golden Retriever resting on his shoulder as it wiggled it's tail in his face.