Never quite on time
Running late, running wild.
Looking up star signs.

~Cellophane (Brain) by middle kids~

STERLING'S POV:

Spring. Spring last year was so different from spring this year. Of course the sun is showing itself more now, but the rain seems to never ever stop. Never. Last year I looked at the rain and I thought it fit my mood. I thought it fit my person. Sad, and horribly wrecked from the tragedies that had occured only months before. It's not been over a year without my best friend. It's been over a year of not having to watch him, or play with him, or go to his basketball games, or eat dinner with him. It's been a year of learning and developing.. Learning what life is like without someone you never wanted to leave.

    Last year I looked at the rain as a depressor, something that fit me because of how horribly sad I had been. How alone I had felt. It was a part of who I was, but now I sit in the treehouse alone, the rain pattering and pelting the roof in a harsh manor, practically begging to be let in. I listen to it, my back pressed against the wall, my school work spread around me. I feel closer to Lee right here in the midst of the rain under the protection of the treehouse. I feel close to him because of the rain. Because the rain isn't sad, or harmful or depressing. The rain signifies growth.. Without rain things don't grow. Without rain things aren't washed clean and new. That's what the rain was trying to do last year... It wanted to wash my clean, and make me new but I hadn't been ready for that..

*PLAY CELLOPHANE (BRAIN) BY MIDDLE KIDS*

    This time around I don't think I could be more ready for something new, something clean. Something completely unique to the times. Something like today and everyday until I die. New, and fresh, and unexpected. We've only got around two months left in the semester. Soon I'll hopefully hear back from Stanford, and NYU. I applied to some smaller colleges in New York as well, some outside the city, and some in Connecticut too. I even applied to a few universities in Arizona. I think the stars in Arizona would be spectacular. As hard as it is to be excited about that, knowing Harry has already committed to Yale, he won't let me forget how exciting it is. He's excited so it's really easy to believe honestly. He told me to be ready when he came over today, ready to go somewhere. He told my dad too. He never gave us any inkling as to when he'd be stopping by but I got ready right when I woke up this morning.

    Jalyn, and Andrea have both committed to schools now too. Jalyn will be in New Jersey. She found a ballet school she wanted to attend and she hasn't really shut up about it since we started high school, and Andrea is going to NYU. She's been twice now just to visit, and check it all out. She's in love.. I just hope I can fall in love with a school instead of thinking about the people going there, and letting that sway my judgment. It's not about the people, it's about the place.. My education, and my future. This past year has changed my perspective though because it is about the people. Who cares about the places I'll go if I'm not surrounded by the people who love me the most?

    "STERLING SILVERRRR!" I hear his voice from below, and I know he's standing in the rain right now. Why wouldn't he come up here instead of standing out there? I move quickly, pushing my school work to the side. I look out of the window, and he's not in the rain. He stands under an umbrella, and he wears his normal black jeans as well as a normal flannel left open, and a white tshirt under it. He looks up at me smiling and gives me a wave which makes my smile spread across my entire face.

    "Hi." I lean on my hand, propping my head up as I look down at him.

    "I came out to get you... That way you didn't get wet." He smiles, motioning to the umbrella.

    "Okay, I'll be down in a second." I smile, and move from the window, marking all my books and closing them. I grab my phone, and move down the ladder, feeling the rush of harsh wind that was blocked from me when I was hidden away in the walls of the treehouse. I pull my jacket tight around me, and move under the umbrella that's spread open for the two of us. We walk briskly into the house, sure to not let Jon out because we both learned the hard way he loves to play in mud. My dad walks from his office wearing normal clothes just like the two of us, and he raises his eyebrows now.

    "So... Why am I ready?" He asks me, and I shrug my shoulders.

    "I know just as well as you do. He hasn't told me anything." I tell my dad, and now we both look at Harry. I shake my head, looking for an answer, and he smiles, sighing out as he lets his hands fall.

    "I guess you guys will have to see, won't you?" He asks us, and I get the same nervous feeling I always get when he does this. My stomach twists slightly, not in fear but uncertainty. I never know with him, and though I know he wouldn't put me in harm's way, it's a friday night and he could do just about anything... and my dad is coming so I don't even know what this means. "But I can promise you won't want me to drive so I'll let you have the address before we head out." He tells my dad. My dad is skeptical, I can tell by the look on his face, but he doesn't say anything in protest. He just grabs his keys to the car I wish was my own, and he walks towards the door. I say goodbye to Jon, and follow with Harry. I watch as he types in the address on my dad's phone.

    We get on the road, and the drive isn't long but that's because he's taking us to dinner first. We get out, and we go in, the three of us sitting down, and ordering and eating. Me and Harry don't cease to tell my dad everything about school, and what's been going on there. The theme for prom, and the plan we've got so far.  I haven't found a dress yet, but I know I want to do something simple, something classy. I want to look like me but not me at the same time, and I know I won't be doing much of that transformation, it'll be the girls that will help me. Harry stole the bill from my dad, insisting it was on him because this was his night for us, and my dad let him do it. We got back on the road, and continued driving until we pulled up to a place I should have suspected from the start.

    "The Moda Center.." I speak out as my dad tries to find parking.

    "Why are we here so early?" My dad asks, looking at the almost empty lot. "The game doesn't start for another two hours, I assume we're here for the game aren't we?" My dad asks, and that tells you how much I know.. I didn't even know there was a game tonight.

    "It doesn't, you're right... but we're meeting Carson, and there's something else." He tells us, holding my hand.

    "This was the last part of the bucket list wasn't it?" My dad asks, looking at me this time as he puts the car in park. I give a short nod, wondering what Harry's got planned. He texts Carson as we get out of the car but before he can even press send we hear shouting. We all turn and see Carson hurtling towards us from the other end of the parking lot. He's got his face painted, and already has a Portland Trailblazers foam finger too. He wear a jersey, and a hoodie underneath it, and jumps as he lands right in front of us.

    "I'm here." He breathes heavily as he just ran across the entire parking lot, and we look at him like he's an idiot.

    "You realize we're early... and that you didn't have to run." Harry's pats Carson on the back, and he looks at Harry like he has three heads.

    "Well why didn't you say that while I was running?" He asks through heavy breaths.

    "It was funny to watch you run." Harry laughs to himself, and takes my hand, moving me forward with him. My dad and Carson follow, the two of them talking on and on about the Trailblazer's season, and how they've done. Harry doesn't really care for basketball, and I don't really care much for sports.. Only when Lee played them did I pay attention. I watch where we walk, and as we approach not the front, but the side of the stadium there's a man wearing a suit standing outside, smiling wide as we approach.

    "Harry, what did you do.." I whisper to him as we get closer.

    "Just smile, and wait till you find out." He speaks through his teeth as he smiles at the man, holding his hand out to shake it.

    "You're Harry I assume?" He asks, accepting his hand to shake. Harry nods his head, and turns to us.

    "This is my girlfriend Sterling King, her father Jason, and my cousin, and Sterling's best friend Carson." Harry tells the man, and he nods, shaking all of our hands. Carson looks like he might pee his pants as he shakes his hands and I don't think I've ever been more confused in my entire life.

    "I'm Neil, manager of the Trailblazers." He tells us and I get it now. My dad, and Carson start talking to him, and I sigh, knowing they're just getting in the way of what he needs to say.

    "Ladies, he'll answer questions in a minute, let the man do his job." I laugh, letting him breath. He smiles at me, almost thanking me with his face, and he opens the door behind him, letting us in.

    "Harry contacted me.. Well I should say tried, and tried to get in contact with me since summer. I wasn't really paying attention to it but I noticed his persistence and I decided to hear what he had to say. He told me about this bucketlist you two made, and I figured I'd give you a tour of the moda center myself, let you see where the magic happens." He tells me, and I feel my stomach sink. He's been trying all this time just to get in contact with him for me, just to finally put a check mark on the last tally of this list. I look at him as we walk, and he's smiling to himself, knowing he did good. Carson is fangirling behind me, trying to do it silently, but failing miserably. I put my hand out, and look at my dad, watching as he gives me a highfive.

    "Thank you so much for this... Honestly this is so kind of you." I tell Neil. He continues to assure me it's the least he could do for my family, and he walks us through. He shows us the underground areas, the locker rooms, the soundboards, and all the technical side of things. I never really knew the effort that went into games like this. Carson is in awe of everything, and so is my dad. We continue walking, and before we know it we're walking onto the court. We're here, and we're not the only ones. The team is here too. I hear Carson squeal quietly behind me, and I smile to myself, knowing this is truly the best day of his life.

    "Meet the team." Neil tells me specifically, looking at me as he motions to the men, all already in uniform. They're warming up I assume, but there's another man on the sidelines, he sees us, and he claps his hands, and blows his whistle grabbing their attention. The guys round up, and I don't hear what the coach tells them, but two of them run off, and the rest of them circle around, facing us as we approach.

    "Boys, this is Sterling King, and Jason King." Harry pushes me forward, and my dad stands next to me.

    "And I'm  Carson." Carson speaks up, and I can hear Harry hit his chest. I'm confused as to why we're the only ones being introduced at first until one of the players steps forward, and takes a knee in front of me which makes me feel slightly less intimidated considering how tall he is.

    "Sterling, me and the boys were told about someone special in your life that meant a lot to you. They told us that we meant a lot to him and it really touched our heart.. Your boyfriend, he sent us a picture of Lee, told us his story, and told us about what you two are doing for him, and we wanted to help." He tells me, and I don't have air anymore. It completely escapes my lungs. Yes I knew we were here for a game, to complete the bucket list but this is... this is far more than I was expecting when we walked through those doors.

    "Mr. King, if it's alright sir we'd like to make Lee an official Portland Trailblazer, and display his jersey here forever to remember him by." The player looks to my dad, and my dad looks up at him as he stands up, tears in his eyes. My dad looks down, and nods his head, looking back up as he starts to cry.

    "Of course.. Yes of course you can." My dad speaks through his soft tears, and I lean into my dad, hugging him on the side. Two players walk through the rest of them, in their hands they hold a framed Portland Trail Blazers jersey within their hands, the name on the back read L. King.

    "He told us that you always carved his name, that way he could always stay in those places.." One of the other players tells us.

    "I didn't think sneaking in here, and vandalising public property would be okay.. It's a pretty big fine." Harry tells me.

    "We didn't want that either so this was our plan. Now your brother will be an official Trailblazer forever.." Neil tells us, and I wipe under my eyes now too.

    "Thank you... You truly don't understand how much this means to us.. And how much it would mean to him, he watched every single game." I tell them, and my dad takes hold of the frame. His eyes scan over it, and they take it back. He shakes every single player's hand, and I do the same, thanking all of them. We all take a photo together, and I'm sure to take a picture of the jersey too, making sure I keep this memory forever. Carson finally gets his chance, moving in to take selfies, and talk to the players, and they're more than happy to talk with him, and meet him which only makes his dreams more of a reality. I watch, seeing my dad approach Harry and I, and before I can say a word, Harry is wrapped in a bear hug, lifted from the ground.

    "Thank you." I hear my dad's muffled words, and I know the hug is uncomfortable for Harry. Not because of the touch but because of the force within it. My dad puts him back on the ground but still hugs him, and Harry moves his hand, patting his back.

    "It was no problem.. I knew the last thing had to be bigger than the others.. And I know how much this one would've meant to Lee.. so now.. Well now Lee King lives here forever." Harry tells us, motioning around as my dad backs away. Carson comes back towards us, and Harry points to the top. "We'll be sitting up there though, those were the only seats I could get on-"

    "No, no that's not happening. You'll all be courtside tonight, we've already arranged it." Neil steps in, talking to us. "We saved a seat for Lee as well. His jersey will be sat there for the night, and the game will be in honor of him." He tells us, and my heart bursts again. Even those who don't know Lee love him.. Even those who never met him would do anything for him.. Harry is living proof of that.

The weekend passed slowly after that, but it was one of those dream like weekends. After the game we all went home, and despite the rain I felt warm. I felt warm,and happy, and just right. The dream continued on into Saturday as we spent the day together, me and Gemma, and my dad with Harry, and Carson too. We baked all day, cookies, and cake, and we had ice cream too. We made a mess, but we had fun doing it so it wasn't dreadful to clean. Then sunday was a lazy day. A day I spent on the couch with Harry as my dad finished working in his office. I finished the rest of my homework with my head resting against Harry's lap, and he had already finished his so he watched dateline for the entirety of the day and I never minded that. Which brings us to today.. Monday.

    "Did you?"I look over my shoulder as Harry drives us home, and I raise my eyebrows.

    "What was that?" I ask, and he smiles, pulling my hand up to press his lips to the back of it.

    "You keep spacing out on me... I asked if you had a good day baby.." He looks at me quickly, before looking back to the road. I nod my head, and shrug.

    "I just keep thinking about the weekend is all.. It was a good weekend.. I didn't really want it to end." I tell him, and he nods his head.

    "I never really want the weekend to end anymore... I used to hate it but it's not the same anymore.." He tells me, and I can relate to the feeling. I didn't see a difference in weekdays or weekends because everything seemed to blur and bleed together.

    "I guess it helps that we live right next to each other and that my dad likes you, and your parents like me. Because I don't really have to go without seeing you so that's good." I try to brighten the mood, and he nods his head.

    "Sterling I know it's dumb but I need to do it considering it's in two weeks so.. Will you go to prom with me? I know I'm supposed to ask, and I saw everyone making signs, and doing all that crazy stuff but I don't think you're the kind of person who would want me to make a spectacle so.. Will you.. Will you go to the prom with me? You don't have to.." He tells me, and It makes me smile seeing how nervous he gets about this kind of thing, even still.

    "No, I don't feel like it." I shrug, and he looks at me like I just killed a puppy. His brows are furrowed and his cheeks are slightly red, and I look back to the road, trying hard, but my smile appears. I can't keep it up like this, I know I can't.

    "You're not funny.. That's sadistic you know." He chastises me, and I shake my head.

    "It's only a joke... Of course I'll go to prom with you, I was already planning on it. And I'm getting my dress tomorrow with the girls so I'll tell you what color to wear." I smile, and he shakes his head.

    "No, causing fear and panic inside of me is not a funny joke. I still keep questioning when you'll break up with me because you realized how completely weird I am.. You can't joke about things like that with me Ster.. because you're out of my league." He explains, and I roll my eyes.

    "First of all the entire terminology of leagues is stupid, and I don't want to ever hear about it. Second of all you're incredibly attractive, and scientifically speaking your face is perfectly symmetrical meaning you fit the Egyptian standard of beauty.. You'd be seen as perfect actually. And though I'm not egyptian, I'm still smart and I know that you're beautiful, and smart, and funny, and incredibly annoying but in the best way.. And I am also all of those things.. So we're a perfect match." I correct him, and he's blushing once more, roses pouring from his cheeks as he pulls into his own driveway.

    "I'm coming over to do homework." He tells me, and I get out of the car, watching him walk around.

    "I didn't expect anything less." I take his hand, and walk with him towards my house. Jon jumps with excitement as we walk through the doors, and my dad is in his office I assume. We walk into the kitchen, and sit at the island in the midst of it, both of us pulling out our binders filled with pages, and our laptops as well. I get on mine, schoolwork piled in my lap, and plenty of pages scattered around. My email pulls up automatically, a notification popping up, and my eyes bulge.

    "What's wrong?" He asks me instantly, noticing my silence, but a shocked expression.

    "NYU just emailed me..." I tell him, and I click on the email, not hesitating to look like I did last time. I stand up, my school work falling to the floor in front of me, my hands covering my mouth as I look at the screen. "NYU accepted me..." I turn to Harry, and he looks at me with lifted brows, and a soft smirk on his lips. "NYU ACCEPTED ME!" I speak up louder, and I watch as he stands up from his