I breathe out and watch as a small, ball of white forms in front of my mouth. A smile tips up on my face and my eyes move back up to the darkened sky above. Stars dot the sky in the millions and I get chills just looking at all of them.

"Wow." I whispered. "Isn't it amazing?" I asked, my voice quiet. A sneeze beside me breaks the silence and has me jumping in surprise.

"Oh yeah," Mia starts as I look at her. She rubs at her red nose. "So freaking amazing." She sneezes again and tosses a glare towards me. I just smile sheepishly.

Mia hadn't wanted to come out here tonight to look at the stars. She's never been one for the cold, or astronomy for that matter, so as soon as I'd proposed the idea she'd said no instantly. Thankfully, with a little bit of cajoling and bribery I'd gotten her to come out.

"You know what's even more amazing?" She asked and doesn't wait for my reply before she answers her own question. "A fireplace and a nice, warm blanket and some hot chocolate." My smile falters at that and I look back up to the sky.

"We'll get there soon, but come on Mia. Just look at the sky. It's beautiful. Winter is the best time to check out the stars. Everything is so clear and vivid. It's almost like we're right there in front of the stars." Mia doesn't say anything to that and I just sigh. "You know, ever since you started dating that Elliot guy, you haven't been the same."

"What're you talking about? Of course I'm still the same." I don't try to argue with her since I know it'll get nowhere. "The only thing that's changed is that I'll drive to the beach every other weekend to go visit. Outside of that we still hang out and everything." She continues to defend her case.

"I know, it's just, you're more distant. You used to always be ready to go with a nice long conversation on the sky. Now, you can barely watch it for five minutes without checking your phone." It's Mia's turn to sigh now and I look over when I notice movement. She stands up and looks down at me, arms crossed over her chest.

"Listen, Corrine, I've never been as interested as you in the sky and the stars and all that stuff. You know this. I can't help that it's getting a bit old just coming and sitting out here. I'm down with it during the warmer months, but I hate winter and sitting out here in this horror movie, deserted field freezing my ass off isn't exactly my ideal night." I flinch at the annoyance radiating from her and her voice. For a moment her eyes soften and she gently tucks some black locks of hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry, maybe that was a bit harsh, but you need to understand these things too, Corrine." I nod and then she leaves me to sit in the field alone.

I pull my knees up to my chest and shiver, chills running over my skin. Now that Mia is gone, it's suddenly gotten much colder.

***

I decide to skip most of my classes at school the next day in favor of the small planetarium up on the hill by my house. Mia and I have yet to speak to each other after our little dispute last night. When I'd returned home she hadn't been there which leads me to assume she actually just went to her own house.

I sigh at the memory of returning to an empty and dark home. It doesn't happen often, but when it does it's never any fun.

As soon as I step through the doors of the planetarium I pull my hair back into a small, brown bob of a ponytail. It's a miserable looking one, but it's the price I pay for keeping it so short to begin with.

"Hey, what're you doing here today? Shouldn't you be in school?" A jokingly patronizing voice asked and I look towards the ticket booth where my aunt resides. She gives me her big toothy grin and I return it with one of my own as my brown eyes meet hers.

"I decided to take a sick day today." She gives me a once over as she slides a ticket my way.

"You don't look very sick." I tuck the ticket into my back pants pocket as I say,

"Sick for the stars." With that I head inside waving to my aunt over my shoulder. My smile stays on my face well after I find my seat and give my ticket to one of the employees as they come around.

The planetarium is empty for the most part except for a few adults and other teens who are skipping. I don't recognize any of them and pray that none of them recognize me. I'd hate for one of them to rat me out.

"Don't worry. You won't get ratted out." Someone leans close and whispered in my ear causing me to jump from surprise. I look to the seat behind me and find a handsome, smiling face. Amusement dances around in his brown eyes.

"Can you read minds?" I blurt out the question before I can stop myself and slap my hand down over my mouth. A blush dusts over my cheeks in embarrassment and I hear him chuckling. He leans close once more and whispers in my ear,

"Nah, you're just very easy to read." I peek over at him and he points to his own smiling face. "Your thoughts are written clear as day on your face. It's actually pretty amusing." Just then, the lights in the planetarium die down and the guy leans back. I think I'm free of him until I catch him climbing over the seat and planting himself directly beside me.

What the heck?

"What the heck?" He mimics my thoughts and snickers when my mouth drops open.

"I-I could have said something other than heck." I sputter out, trying to save myself in some way.

"You don't really seem like the cursing type." The show starts and the dome ceiling comes to life with thousands upon thousands of bright stars effectively quieting the both of us.

I watch, entranced in the beauty of it all. I even forget about my seat neighbor and relax back in my seat, content to be watching the galaxy go by. After about five minutes I even start zoning out the voice of the narrator, happy to find the constellations myself.

"So, I guess your a star fanatic?" My seat partner asked, his voice quiet and floating directly into my ear. I blush at his closeness and lean away from him. I hear a chuckle. "Also shy."

"I'm not shy, I just don't like being all buddy buddy with someone I met not even twenty minutes ago." When I look over I catch him shrugging.

"Yeah, I could see how some people would have a problem with that." He smiles at me then. "It's a good thing I don't." He extends his hand towards me and his smile only seems to get wider as he says, "My name's Jacob, by the way." My eyes dart between his hand and him for a long time.

Maybe, if I just play along, he'll leave me alone.

I gently place my own hand in his and warily say,

"My name is Corrine."

"Corrine." He speaks my name slowly as if testing it out. "I like it." Suddenly I'm pulled forward and stop insanely close to his face. "Just so you know, Corrine, once something or someone catches my interest I'm pretty adamant about getting to know everything about it." My face heats up an insane amount and I pull away, scooting to the very edge of my seat to get as far away from him as possible. Jacob just chuckles behind me and I find it very difficult to focus on the rest of the show.

As soon as the show ends I bolt from my seat and hurry out of the building mumbling a simple goodbye to my aunt. I don't get far before Jacob catches up to me.

"Aw, don't tell me you thought to ditch me. That's not very nice Corrine!" I frown and speed up my pace. Jacob easily matches it which ticks me off slightly.

How is he keeping up with me?

"I've got long legs." I stop altogether and whirl around surprising Jacob.

"Stop doing that!" I said, clearly annoyed. I cross my arms over my chest as I stare him down. "Is there something I can do for you? I went to the show today to relax and simply enjoy myself, but because of you I wasn't able to do either!" Jacob can clearly tell I'm upset and his smile falters slightly.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I admit I may have gone overboard."

Obviously.

"Okay, very overboard." I glare at him more and he gives me a small, kind smile. "You just looked kind of down so I thought I'd try and cheer you up. It obviously had the opposite effect." At his explanation my anger diminishes and I sigh.

"I...may have overreacted so, I'm sorry for blowing up at you." Jacob chuckles.

"If you call that blowing up than I'd like to see you explode." He taps me on the nose and bends down. "It was absolutely adorable." I blush furiously at that and it only seems to amuse Jacob more. He turns me around and, before I can protest, drapes his arm over my shoulders, leading me down the hill from the planetarium. "Now then, tell me what has you so down today. I'm honestly surprised since, every time I see you in school, you're always smiling brightly with that friend of yours. What's her name? Mya?"

"It's Mia." My voice is soft and has a defeated note to it that can clearly be heard.

"Yeah, her. Did you guys fight or something. Shouldn't she be here with you instead of my devilishly handsome and smart self." I can't help but snort at that last bit. "Ah-ha! There it is." Jacob said, drawing my eyes upwards. "There's that thousand watt smile I've seen so many times at school." I blush more and look forward. The arm he has around my shoulders is suddenly very noticeable.

"We...had a little disagreement last night. Mia isn't as into the stars and the sky as much as I am so she always ends up just getting dragged around and having a bad time, especially during winter. I kind of blamed her annoyance on a her changing ever since she started dating this guy last summer." I pause momentarily as I remember the anger and annoyance in her voice. "I was in the wrong. I know that Mia doesn't like the cold and she hates it even more when I drag her around to go star gazing in it, but I still pulled her along. I should have been more considerate of her own feelings."

"Well, you're right on that front." Jacob's instant agreement hurts like a spear to the chest. "Though, I don't think it's all entirely on you." I look up at him. "Mia chose to go with you all those times, right? Even if you say you dragged her along, she always had the choice to say no to you. So, it's also partially her own fault for not properly voicing her own opinions and wants." I look away from Jacob as soon as he smiles at me. My gaze goes to the ground and I can't stop my own smile from tugging up at the corners of my mouth.

Somehow, he knows exactly the right things to say. 

"That's because I'm a genius and a handsome one at that." I chuckle at that.

"More like an egotistical one. So, what are you doing today? Why are you skipping school?" I asked, suddenly very curious. When I look up at Jacob he's still smiling widely and my heart stutters in my chest.

"I'm being your Prince Charming."

***

Jacob drags me around all over town today. Despite my attempts to get out of going along to places with him, I still wind up there. I learn, today, that he can be a very persuasive person.

By the time the sun is setting on the horizon I'm completely worn out and ready for my bed. Jacob has other plans, though. He leads me to his truck where he blind folds me. My stomach knots in unease as the nerves come to life within me.

Maybe this isn't such a good idea. I mean, I don't really even know Jacob.

"Don't worry. I only plan to murder you in the most terrible way possible before dumping your body in a field."

"What?!" I squeak, fear evident in my voice. Jacob just laughs as he starts up his truck.

"I'm joking, Corrine. Geez, calm down. Trust me, you'll love this." Despite his reassurances, I can't calm down at all.

We drive for what feels like hours but it, in all honesty, isa probably only twenty minutes. By now, my nerves are so bad I'm fidgeting in my seat and sweating slightly. The sun has long since sunk below the horizon, making things worse.

"Alright, we're here." Jacob shuts off his engine and everything around us goes silent. Every sound is like an explosion and I swear that he can hear my heart thumping wildly in my chest. "Here, let me help you out." Jacob's suddenly at my side and I jump when I feel his hand slip around mine. "Calm down." He whispered as he helps me out of the truck. I lose my footing and my free hand comes up and grips on dangerously tight to his shirt. "All good?" He asked after a moment.

"Yeah."

"Alright, we're going to walk a few steps forward and then I'll take the blindfold off." I nod at that and let him lead me. A moment later we stop and he comes around to behind me. I listen as he undoes the loose knot. As soon as the fabric falls away from my eyes I blink a few times and look around.

We're in a completely deserted field, one different from the usual one I go to. When I look back at Jacob he's smiling cheekily and pointing upwards. My eyes move to the sky and I gasp as I look at all the stars above.

"Oh my god." I whispered as I take a few steps back. "Holy crap. This is amazing!" I squeal in delight and grab onto Jacobs shirt sleeve, tugging on it like a child. "Can you see all of them? Can you see all those stars?"

"In your eyes." He said and I stop my excited fit to look at Jacob. I just smile widely.

"Geez, you're so cheesy plus, I don't even think that made sense." Jacob chuckles and turns me around, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me closer.

"It doesn't have to make sense. It made you blush, didn't it." I don't respond and he only laughs some more which pulls a smile from me despite my embarrassment.

Surprisingly, this has been fun.

"That's because I'm here." I frown up at Jacob. It's still freaky that I'm so easily readable. He just continues to smile away and it's absolutely contagious because I lose my frown entirely. I stand up on my tip toes and press my lips to his cheek as I say,

"Yeah, I guess it is."

Story 10, day 10 complete!!! So, your thoughts? Did you all enjoy this one? What are your thoughts on the characters? Drop some comments below and let me know your thoughts. Also, don't forget to hit that little star button and absolutely share this story, or the collection, with someone you believe would enjoy it! Until tomorrow!