Written in the Stars

Andy approached the girl he had been sharing a heartfelt romantic moment with a few minutes earlier as if he were about to speak to her for the first time.

"Hey, you figured out where anything is yet?"

"Oh hey" she smiled, stepping away from the map "Not really. This place is a lot bigger than I expected, and I'm terrible with directions. Do you have any idea where the cafeteria is?"

It was remarkable to Andy just how different Gemma looked on a regular day, especially as he had spent most of his time with her while she was done up for the social.

She was still super cute, and Andy could easily have seen himself crushing on her anyway, but she wasn't going to turn heads the same way she did at the social with her current look. She probably preferred it that way, though.

"Yeah, I think I know where it is. Why don't I walk you there? I'll even buy you a coffee"

"Wow, what a gentleman!" Gemma beamed "I'll happily take you up on your offer, kind sir! I'm Gemma"

"Andy"

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Andy!"

They walked together a short while until, inevitably, Gemma's phone buzzed.

"Is everything okay?" Andy asked, already knowing the answer he was going to get,

"Yeah, but I have to deal with something urgently. I'm really sorry, we'll get that drink another time, I promise!"

Andy had no doubt about that, but unless he could get to the bottom of what kept torpedoing most of her week, he was never going to get the time with Gemma that he really needed. He didn't like doing it, but also didn't have any better ideas so, after giving his romantic interest a reasonable head start, Andy subtly followed her.

After a while Gemma found a secluded spot round the side of a building where she would have assumed nobody was in earshot. Andy remained far enough away not to arouse any suspicions, but close enough to listen in.

"Hi Mum, this had better be as important as you made it sound. I was right on the verge of making my first friend here. He was cute too, exactly my type"

Wow, she really did like him. Still, that wasn't the important thing right now. There was a pause before Gemma continued speaking.

"Okay, but why does it have to be me who deals with it? I've literally just arrived at University and I'm more than two hundred miles away......Of course I care, but why am I the one person in the family who always had to fix everything?.......He always says that when he's been drinking, it's bullshit.......Actually. the first week is important, Mum. It's where everyone gets to know each other. If I'm not around for Freshers' I'll probably be a social outcast for the next three years........Fine, I'll come home. Though it's going to take me nearly five hours to get back to Brighton, and I bet it will have all blown over by then"

Andy walked away, feeling he had heard more than enough. Family shit - it didn't sound great. Poor Gemma - no wonder she was in such an emotional place by the end of the week. It also sounded like she probably wouldn't even be in town again from now until Thursday. There wasn't much he could do about that though, unless he could somehow raise her affection level so crazily high she would agree to take him to Brighton to support her with private family issues a few minutes after they officially met.

For now, he was better off putting her out of his mind and preparing for his meal with Leah.

---

"So, this is an important one. Let's see if you can guess what star sign I am"

Andy pretended to study Leah for a while, as if that could somehow help him guess what month she was born in. It definitely wasn't a hardship gazing into her pretty eyes though.

"You've got to be a Taurus"

"Oh wow!" Leah lit up with a sudden wave of excitement that was quite out of character for her "How did you guess?"

"I know we didn't spend that much time together at school, but you always came across as composed, gracious and strong-minded. Typical Taurus."

"I'm seriously impressed, Andy. Most guys dismiss astrology as nonsense, but clearly you know your stuff"

Not really, but he had memorised some positive character traits for Taurus and Libra, and also had the following gem prepared and ready to be deployed.

"I think it's something everyone should educate themselves on. Quite apart from the fact it's been relied on for centuries in countless societies across the globe, recent studies have shown the season of a mother’s pregnancy can influence fetal development due to variations in sunlight and vitamin exposure, which absolutely creates baseline similarities among children born at the same time of year. So astrology isn't just mysticism, it's proven science"

"Holy shit Andy, how have we never hung out together before?" Leah asked with wide eyed amazement "Okay, I now need to know what star sign you are"

"Virgo"

Leah had totally lost her legendary cool by this point and was acting almost like a giddy schoolgirl.

"You have to be kidding me! We're basically a perfect match. In fact, I only date Virgos!"

Andy briefly pondered how nice it must feel for someone to be so in demand they could afford to dismiss more than ninety per cent of the population as potential partners purely for not being born within a specific thirty day period.

"Okay, I have to head back to my room now to unpack, but this has been awesome. I'm so glad we chose the same Uni!"

"It almost feels like it was written in the stars" Andy smiled smugly.

"Totally! Let's swap numbers. We'll hang out again soon, right?"

"For sure" Andy confirmed.

---

An hour or so later, Andy was wearily unpacking his things yet again when his phone buzzed. He was excited to see the message came from Leah and had an image accompanying it. It was a picture of her posing in a University branded hoodie in her room.

hey i need an opinion from a guy on my first day at uni post for insta do i look cute enough? Lxx

Almost instantly, Andy began overthinking his next move.

Did she really want an opinion or was she flirting with him? Was he being tested? Should he play it cool? Maybe he shouldn't answer right away - though in his excitement to see what she had sent, Leah would have received a blue tick almost instantly, so it might look bad if he didn't.

Andy calmed himself, realising he had as many goes at getting this right as he needed. She asked for honesty, so he would take her at her word, and replied right away.

bare cute as always w u x

Now he wondered if she would play it cool. She didn't, the response was quick.

awwww stop im actually blushing rn xxx

Then another text came moments later.

Just posted it!! wanna follow me? @leahthrualens xx

Andy decided he should keep pace and replied quickly.

already on it, followed u

His phone buzzed again thirty seconds later

yesss followed u back!! speak soon mwah x

Wow, it was only Monday and Andy was flirt-texting with Leah Caldwell like it was the most natural thing in the world. Already this run felt like it was going to be even better than the last one.