I think it's the purple hair that keeps distracting me. I've seen him around, but we've never been in the same room before. It's weird seeing all the blues and deep purples blending in his hair.

"It looks like a freaking galaxy," I whisper to my friend and teammate. She doesn't really care for what I'm interested in, and I don't care for what she's into. I'm only sitting with her because this class has none of my best friends.

"I think he's weird," she says, staring at her fingernails absentmindedly.

"I don't."

I pull out my phone and sneak a text to my group message of three other friends. I quickly explain how there's a cute, tall, galaxy-haired boy in my history class.

"Get a picture!" Claire immediately replies.

I hide my phone under my jacket on the desk and try to get a picture. He turns last second as I take the picture. I start freaking out, thinking he saw me. My face heats up.

But oh god he's beautiful. I didn't expect him to be gorgeous. Hell, I didn't have expectations at all. But his galaxy hair... I want to touch it.

Class starts, and I put away my phone. His hair is so beautiful. I can't get past it. All I do is stare at it instead of listening to the lecture.

He looks at me every once in a while, and I look away quickly to avoid being caught. I'll catch him smirking before looking away and writing his notes.

The bell rings for everyone to leave, but since we have this class for an hour and a half as two class periods, we just come back.

"Okay class," the teacher says. "When you get back from break we'll be changing seats."

Everyone groans loudly as they shuffle out the door. I stay in the room and text on the group again.

Me: Guys. His hair. I can't.

Claire: Your picture sucked ass!

Kaitlyn: Send another one!

Me: Where's Grace?

Grace: Shhh I'm arting.

Kaitlyn: Send pictures!

Me: Arting isn't a word.

Grace: Shhh don't question it. I'm drawing this kid in my class.

Kaitlyn: WHO IS IT?!

Grace: His name's Luke. Got a lip ring. I'll show you when I'm done.

Claire: Ooooh I bet he's cute.

Grace: Very (;

The bell rings again, and everyone picks up their things before we get moved. The teacher points out everyone's seats. "Michael, you'll sit in front of Makenna," he says.

The galaxy-haired boy smiles before walking towards me in the back of the room. My heart starts racing and my stomach is doing something weird. He's walking towards me! He sits down.

I hide my phone again and quickly snap a picture.

Me: Galaxy-haired boy is named Michael. HE'S SITTING IN FRONT OF ME. WHAT DO I DO?

Claire: SAY HI. HE LOOKS HOT. MAYBE MAKE OUT WITH HIM. WHATEVER WORKS.

I almost choke on air as I start laughing quietly. People turn to stare at me as tears form in my eyes and I'm giggling uncontrollably. He glances over his shoulder and kinda looks at me weird. I try to stifle my laughter, but Claire's messages keep me laughing.

"Okay," the teacher continues. "Since today is the beginning of the second half of the school year, you've may or may not know many people in this room."

I only know my teammate and this Michael guy in front of me. I don't know much about him, but I really want to. I also want to touch his hair, but on the other hand I didn't want to freak him out. I can't play it cool.

"So I want you to introduce yourself to someone you don't know."

I'm literally nervously sweating. I want to talk to him, but I'd probably throw up or some embarrassing shit like that if I do say hi. Oh god social anxiety will be the death of me. Or maybe this cute boy will be.

He turns around, and in my mind I'm screaming to keep cool about the whole thing. He smiles this cute little half smile.

"I like your shirt," he says. And his voice is literally like heaven. I look down and remember my 1975 shirt.

"Oh thanks," I reply. Jesus I sound like a dork.

"I'm Michael."

"I'm Makenna."

"I like that name." He smiles. "So what're you into? Any sports, music, hair colors?"

"Hair colors?"

"I heard you talking to your friend about my hair," he says with a laugh.

"Dammit, I didn't mean for you to hear. Shit, I don't usually swear or whatever."

"I swear all the fucking time." He smiles again. If he doesn't stop I'm gonna have to make him. It's so adorable. "So yeah. Sports or music?"

"I play soccer," I reply.

"I wish I could."

"And for music I just listen to lots of everything."

"Me too. And I don't play sports. I just play too many video games."

"You can never play too many video games."

"Finally!" he says. "Someone gets it! And you're a girl, even. You're literally a unicorn."

"Thanks?"

"It's a good thing," he says.

"What about you? Who are your friends?" I ask.

"I only really have three. Luke, Calum, and Ashton. Do you know any of them?"

"Maybe Luke. Lip ring?" He nods. "Is he in an art class right now?" He nods again.

"Yeah. How'd you know?"

"My friend Grace is drawing him for a project. My other friends are Claire and Kaitlyn."

"Four of us, four of you," he says.

"Three friends is all I really need."

"Me too. They're like the family I don't really have."

"Do you know my friends?"

"I don't think so, but I'd like to after I know more about you," he says. "You should sit with me at lunch. Bring your friends too, if they're with you."

"Actually we sit at a table that can seat eight. Back corner of the entire cafeteria. It's just the four of us and a couple others, but they're only there maybe once a week."

"Cool. Sounds like a plan."

"Cool."

He turns around as the teacher tells everyone to settle down. I inhale deeply and mentally scream. Inside I'm throwing a party because I actually talked to him without dying. I really want to know everything about him. He seems like someone I could be compatible with on a lot of things.

I go through my morning classes, anxious to even socialize with Michael anymore than I already have today. We kept walking past each other in the halls, and he'd just give me a smile and keep going. Maybe there was chemistry, but I didn't want to assume like I usually do.

I sit at our table at lunch hoping to see Michael. I catch a glimpse of him, but he doesn't look for me.

"I'm pissed off," Grace says as she walks up to the table. She has her backpack on and an obvious rage about her.

"Why?" I ask as I sit down.

"They're moving me and Kaitlyn to a different lunch period because of our schedule change."

"Where is Kaitlyn?"

"She's already upstairs. I've got a note saying I'll be late anyways. Might as well waste a few minutes."

"So there's nothing you can do?" Claire asks, sitting next to me.

"Nope." She sighs. I see Michael and a friend of his walking with him. Grace waves her hand. "I guess I'll see you guys on the bus later?"

"Yeah. Sorry about the switch," Claire says.

"It's okay. Just got a few months to deal with it. I'll see you later."

Grace turns to leave. She almost bumps into Michael. "Oh hey, Luke," she says.

"Hey, Grace," Michael's friend replies. Grace exits the cafeteria leaving galaxy boy and his friend standing at our table.

"Are these seats taken?" Michael asks playfully.

"Nope," I reply quickly. They sit down.

"So, uh, this is Luke, and I guess that was Grace."

"This is Claire," I tell them. She puts her hand up in some kind of gesture.

But my worst fear has come to life- this current situation is awkward.

"Grace said she's drawing you in class," Claire says randomly, looking to Luke.

"Yeah. She's really good. It looks just like me."

"Yup."

"Makenna, what's your last name?" Michael asks me.

"Leeds. You?"

"Clifford."

"Oh, so now we're on a last name basis?" Claire asks.

"Shut up," I snap at her.

I get on my phone, reading various messages and complaints about Grace and Kaitlyn starving to death due to their schedule changes. I laugh and set my phone aside. I make light conversation with Claire, not knowing what the hell to say to these almost strangers at our table.

And basically that's the whole thirty minutes. We're all just sitting there kinda staring at each other before looking away quickly to avoid getting caught. I didn't know what to say! I feel like I blew my chance.

We walk back to class, and the day carries on. I get on the bus and sit with Grace. Claire and Kaitlyn sit in front of us.

"I can't stop thinking about his hair, guys," I tell them.

"This is an unhealthy obsession," Kaitlyn mumbles.

"Well, you and Claire both talk about your gingerness a lot, so could you blame Makenna for freaking out over galaxy hair?" Grace asks.

"Good point."

"Besides, his friend is hot too, so I don't even care at this point," Claire says. We all laugh. "What?" she asks defensively. "I'm not going to lie about it."

"What if I told you guys that I kinda like him?" I ask.

"Then I'd tell you to go for it," Claire says.

"Same. His hair is amazing," Kaitlyn adds.

"Can we stop talking about his hair?" Grace asks. "Next thing you know Makenna will be crying over his arms."

"No I won't!" I reply defensively.

"Don't lie. Yes you will."

"Whatever."

Grace looks down at her phone and frowns.

"Who texted you?" Kaitlyn asks.

"My dad. I've got about five hours of homework to do, but I still have to clean the entire freaking house."

"He's so ridiculous," Claire says.

"I can't wait to move out."

"Same," I agree with everyone else.

We talk a while longer before we're all off the bus. I walk in my empty house. I don't know where anyone else is. But I don't complain about the lack of people.

I think a lot about Michael. Something about him is tripping me up. He seemed so shy before he spoke to me, but now I feel as if he talks all the time. I feel shy around him. I don't know. It's something about him. Maybe it's not his beautiful hair or even his adorable face. Maybe it's his personality I'm feeling. His persona or whatever. I like him. And maybe he'll be good for me.