-CHAPTER 1-

September 1st, W., Florida

Stacie was on the way home after a long day of school (it was not that long, in fact, they had only four classes per day to attend during the first week, but it still seemed so long. Life was terribly boring without Chloe) with her best friend Luke, who used to walk both her and Chloe home (when Chloe was still there, obviously).

Now, they were walking alone, and Luke was telling Stacie something she wasn't paying attention to. She was too busy thinking about her girlfriend, not able to focus on anything else. Her presence was still lingering there, and she couldn't help but miss the way her perky redhead laughed, her scent, and her body. And all of the things that made her fall so deep for Chloe.

"Are you even listening to what I'm saying, Stacie?"

She suddenly noticed that she was staring at the ground, 'in pensive mood' (using Wordsworth's language), so she lifted her head and looked at her friend. He had a worried expression on his face.

"Stacie, come on, we all are sad about Chloe, but you can't live like this, just missing her and ignoring everything else... life isn't just about your love. There are so many things you can do now. You can live all this like an opportunity, or give up and spend your last year of high school missing your girlfriend. She'll come back, it's just a year. You may go to college together or something. I think you should concentrate on yourself in these months... you know... learning new things, meeting new people, trying to enjoy what you have. It's important. It's useful. You just can't live like this... it's a waste of time."

She immediately felt guilty for what Luke had just said: it was true, she had spent the whole week at home alone, ignoring her friends, focused only on books and videogames. He's right. I'm sure Chloe doesn't want me to be unhappy. I gotta do something to make her proud.

"Yeah, I guess this is true." She admitted, sighing. "Just... yeah... I'm so sorry Luke... promise I will get my shit together s-"

She played the fiddle in an Irish band, but she fell in love with an English man

Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand, said baby I just wanna dance.

I met her on Grafton Street...

"What's that?" Luke asked.

"Oh" Stacie mumbled, taking her phone from the pocket. "Just my phone ringing."

She saw Chloe's name on the screen and immediately accepted the call.

"Hi Chlo" she said, putting the speaker on "You're on speaker, Luke's with me"

"Oh.. hi love, hi Luke, damn I'm so scaaaared. I'm going to school right now. I need you to comfort me. I'm almost hyperventilating."

"Why are you nervous, Chlo bear?" Luke asked, frowning.

"You know, Luke, meeting new people... I'm afraid they won't like me. Or, just... something going wrong and all of that, I guess"

Both Stacie and Luke burst into laughter. "Why are you laughing... you don't take me seriously. You... oh... I'm ending this call in three, two, o-"

"Chloe, come on." Stacie said giggling "Everyone likes you, you're like, the most positive and attractive person in the world." she smiled "And you're mine"

She heard no response for a while, and she thought her girlfriend had hung up. She was about to end the call when Chloe spoke again. "You know, maybe you're right. I gotta go now."

"Alright, call me later" Stacie answered.

"Sure, bye guys." And she hung up.

Stacie sighed. She put the phone back in her pocket and smiled to Luke as they continued walking.

"Woah, her absence is the strongest presence I've ever felt." Luke stated after a while "As if she was here, you know what I mean?"

"Yeah, yeah I do... I still feel her arms around me when I go to sleep. And her kisses." she sighed "And something else you probably don't want to know." She added, smiling.

Luke giggled "Yeah I think I can live without knowing that"

As soon as they arrived in front of Luke's house, they hugged each other and took separate ways: Luke stepped into his house and Stacie continued walking.

She took the phone from her pocket and saw a message. It was from Chloe. "I love you" it said.

"Love you too" she texted back, as she put her headphones on and selected her favorite song on repeat.

When she received the second call from Chloe, Stacie was looking at the stars with her telescope.

She had an amazing bedroom, a penthouse just beneath the roof.

Whenever she felt particularly sad (or when she was curious), she used to look at the stars and the planets, which made her feel so small, yet incredible and unique, and had the power of making her relax.

She heard her familiar ringtone and took her phone, which was right beside the telescope.

She slid her finger on the screen and accepted Chloe's call.

"Hello" she said, as she walked towards her bed and sat on it.

"Hi" Chloe replied shyly "Were you sleeping?"

The brunette giggled "I was not, Chlo. I usually don't go to sleep at ten, you know." she smiled at how her girlfriend could be so oblivious at times. "How are you?"

"Uhm... I guess I'm fine... just... missing you so much" the redhead answered. "And you?"

"I think I have the same problem, my dear." she smiled sadly. "Now tell me, did you meet anyone? Were the classes interesting?" she asked as she laid on her bed, enjoying the softness of her pillow and the sweet smell of the fabric softener her mom used for laundry.

"Oh, yeah, they were much less boring than I thought they would be." she replied "And I met this girl, Lisa. We were in English class together. She introduced me to her friends during lunch break: Tom, Ryan and Kate. Then I had maths and art and that's all." She reassumed.

"Wow, an exciting day... but I still wish you were here with me instead."

"Yeah me too." There were a few moments of silence, then Chloe spoke again. "I haven't told you the most exciting thing yet."

"Tell me, then." she yawned.

"I kind of, you know, I've found this 'manifesto for young and talented artists' which publicizes and intresting art class I absolutely want to attend." she said, excited as a child who is about to buy a new toy. "It is amazing, isn't it?"

Stacie giggled "Yeah, really exciting, at least you've found something special to do. I'm glad that you're enjoying your life there, and I promise you I'll try to do the same." she replied.

"I love you so much."

"I love you too, Chloe, more than you'll ever know." Stacie mumbled, yawning again. "I'm tired, Chlo, I gotta go to bed. Well, I actually am, but I gotta sleep now."

"Oh... okay. I guess I'll call you tomorrow then. Goodnight, Stacie."

"Night Chlo. I love you."

"Love you too" and she hung up.

Stacie turned off her phone and put it on the nightstand.

She stared at the ceiling as she was thinking of Chloe. Her eyes and her smile, always them. She was condemned to see her face everywhere. Well, she didn't mind it that much, really, but it was like the redhead's ghost was haunting her everywhere she went.

Anyway, she got caught up in those thoughts and soon fell asleep, with the stars shining outside and the warm breeze of September coming from the window.

Author's note: Song- Ed Sheeran's Galway Girl