What's Meant To Be by Kels Barnholdt Page A

mean really, I tell her to lay low this year so she doesn’t get herself into another situation like last year with that Tina girl and already on the first day...” She must see the look on my face, though, because she trails off.
    “Well anyway, you look totally cute today.”
    I look down at my Old Navy Jeans and light blue tank top. What looked cute and simple this morning, somehow seems boring and childish next to Alexa.
    She’s wearing black leggings, Ugg boots, and an oversized white sweater that’s decorated in some sort of silver and gold tinsil. The best part about her outfit, however, is how effortlessly it seems to be thrown together.
    “Me?” I ask her as if she’s blind. “You make me look like Nikki Hilton.
    And you’re Paris.”
    Alexa looks confused. “Who’s Nikki Hilton?”
    I sigh. “Exactly.”
    “Haha, totally kidding.” Alexa laughs. “Ashley, relax, you look great. So have you seen Austin yet? I thought I saw him walking in but now that I think about it I’m not sure it was him, I mean if it was he was wearing this awful green shirt that just did not…”
    “Alexa!” I gasp. “SHHHHHH!”
    “What!?” She looks around quickly. “Its not like he’s in this homeroom, his last name doesn’t even start with an A.”
    I grab her tiny arm and practically drag her out into the hallway.
    “Owwww,” she wails, faking hurt as she rubs her arm.
    Oh, please. I didn’t even have that tight of a grip. Did I? Hmm, it does look a little red now that I think about it. Oops.
    “I’m sorry,” I whisper, “but you need to be careful. Like three kids from the basketball team are in our homeroom and could easily tell him some crazy girl was talking about him.”
    Alexa laughs and glances around the hallway before speaking. “Ash, you need to stop worrying so much. I mean, you’re gonna see him. He’s in our grade so its kind of unavoidable.”
    “I know,” I sigh. “Its just I don’t want to be overbearing. He never answered the few texts I’ve sent him since I got home.”
    Alexa smiles. “This could be a movie. One of the most popular boys in school ends up in the same hotel as you over summer vacation, and it turns out h is mom and your mom are in the same book club....and you end up spending almost every day together and become like super close. I mean Ash--you can’t make that shit up, it’s classic.”
    I laugh and push her playfully. “Oh, shut up.”
    She laughs back and says, “You two are totally gonna end up dating.”
    I give her an annoyed look. “Me and Austin Givens are just friends.”
    Alexa raises her eyebrows. “Are you honestly telling me you don’t like him even a little?”
    “Yes, Lex, that’s what im honestly telling you.”
    Alexa puts her hand on her hip. “Best friends do not lie to each other.”
    Only I can’t answer her, I can’t speak even, because out of the corner of my eye, I see him. Austin. He’s about twenty feet away from us walking down the hall with a couple of senior boys. As he nears I can feel the knot in my stomach growing even bigger, not to mention my heart’s beating a mile a minute.
    Austin’s eyes meet mine, and for one quick moment, I feel like this is going to be the best first day of school I’ve ever had. The look on my face doesn’t last, though, and neither does the feeling in my heart.
    Because something awful happens.
    Without so much as a smile Austin looks away and walks right past me like I don’t exist.

Chapter Two
    I’m not sure I know what a panic attack is, but I’m pretty sure I’ve been having one for the past half hour. My heart is beating so fast that I’m afraid it might explode in my chest. I’m sitting in my first period class and I feel as if the walls are slowly closing in around me.
    After Austin blatantly ignored me in the hallway I felt like I was going to throw up and ended up spending the rest of homeroom in the bathroom with Alexa. “Maybe he just didn’t see you.” She tried to