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Authors: Heather Allen

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BOOK: The Sound of Shooting Stars
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Chapter Thirty

Beckett Chase

Draco – The Dragon

The golden apple tree was a wedding present to Hera when she married Zeus. She planted the tree in her garden on Mount Atlas and tasked Atlas’ daughters, the Hesperides, with guarding it. She also placed the dragon Ladon around the tree so that the Hesperides would not pick any apples from it.

~*~

 

If someone would have told me a week ago that within seven days I would be both reveling at what I had found and terrified at what I could lose, I would have laughed. Now though, I’d give almost anything to go back to the feeling of loss I endured last week. If only to forgo this terror that has burrowed into the pit of my stomach. The fear of losing Jamie tops anything else that could possibly happen. But here we are with a bleak outlook as to whether he will remain living here. And all because some tight-assed bitch has too much time on her hands and some sort of vendetta against Jamie.

The hot water pouring down on my pruned body does nothing to ease the tension. In truth it fuels my anger at Samantha’s mom. Where in the hell does she get off dictating where someone can live? I step out of the shower when the water starts to turn cool and wrap an oversized pink towel around me. As I pass the vanity my reflection catches my attention causing me to turn and face the dark deep purple lining the area beneath my eyes. The usual bright blue of my eyes seems to have dulled and my skin is pink from the hot water. What does he see in me? I’ve been evil to a lot of people in the past year. And this past week…my hand runs though the damp hair on my head as I stare at the image of the person I don’t really know anymore. The girl I’ve become and the girl I want to be, they aren’t the same.

The phone call and emails I sent flash through my memory. I should have let things stay the way they were. I know that I’m using this thing with Jamie as an excuse for why I’m going to lose him when I’ve just gotten a tiny bit of happiness. It won’t be because of Michelle or Samantha’s mom, when he finds out what I did, it will be his choosing not to want anything to do with me. I turn from the girl in the mirror. She looks innocent and I am far from blameless.

After I dress in Jeans and a purple t-shirt, I climb back down the stairs. The house is eerily quiet. I struggle with the idea of going to find Jamie but decide against it.

My feet splash through the puddles on the way to my car. It was probably pointless to take a shower but at least my skin is scrubbed clean. I still feel filthy for what I’ve done. It’s time to come all the way clean.

The car inches through the opened gates into the circular drive of Samantha’s broad white trimmed house that looms in front of me as it taunts me with the lies I’ve told. The day I met Samantha pops into my head. Her family had just moved into the impressive two story bungalow . I was on my way to the beach. It was a mile long walk but I loved the way the water felt on those hot summer days. There was never anything quite as refreshing as swimming in the cool saltwater. Even the intercoastal behind my house couldn’t compare. I was walking along the sidewalk and saw the huge moving truck backed snuggly into the drive. I stopped and gripped the warm slatted bars that surrounded the property. Samantha just happened to be walking out of the house at that moment. She must have felt my stare and looked up to see me watching her family move in. Her platinum blonde hair bounced in the sun as she skipped to stand in front of me on the other side of the gate. I decided that day that she didn’t have a mean bone in her body. She invited me up to her room and we hung out for years after that. The summer after tenth grade things changed. I found Dani and quickly Samantha wasn’t important anymore.

I take a deep breath and ready myself for what I have to do. I still believe Samantha is incapable of anything evil but if there were ever a time for it, today would be that day. I’ll be the brunt of all of it I’m sure and I deserve every bit of her fury.

My feet slowly climb up the wet steps of the porch. The rain has stopped but the sky has turned darker as if predicting looming events.

My finger gingerly presses the button to alert them that I’m here. Dread spreads to my limbs creating a numbing feeling. A minute passes before the handle turns and the door swings inward. A tall thin woman with shoulder length platinum hair answers the door. Her wide brown eyes match her daughters. Recognition crosses her face and a shadow follows. Her voice seems forced, “Beckett, I’m surprised to see you here. What can I do for you?”

“I need to see Samantha. Is she here?” Her red mini is sitting in the driveway a span of ten feet away. I watch as her mom hesitates but she relents finally opening the door wider. She asks, “Do you need help finding your way?”

I shake my head and look to the floor ashamed because I’ve been a terrible person to this woman’s daughter. How do you face someone who knows how horrible you are? I walk to the staircase and slowly make my way up to Samantha’s bedroom door. I raise my hand and knock gently. A soft muffled voice calls out, “Come in.”

Slowly I push the door open and meet Samantha’s surprised look as I stand in the entrance to her room. It’s decorated differently than the last time I was here. When we were in middle school she loved purple. Everything in the room was a varied shade of the color. Now though, it’s neutral in beiges and very light teals.

“Beckett, I wasn’t… wow, what brings you over here?”

I shift on my feet and ask, “Can I come in?”

She nods and moves to the side of her bed to sit down. I fall onto the edge of a tan chair situated in the corner of the room. The back of it almost disguised with piles of clothes. My hands clasp and unclasp nervously for a few beats before I decide to blurt out, “Jamie might have to leave again.”

She smiles for a minute but then what I’ve said seems to register and she frowns.

“What?  I thought you were going to tell me…Why does Jamie have to leave?”

“It’s, um, it’s your mom. She complained to someone, I don’t know how it all works, but they are threatening to remove him from our house because your mom has a problem with him being around you.”

Her frown deepens as she shakes her head, “No, my mom wouldn’t do that. I don’t think you know what you’re talking about, Beckett. She knows it’s been really good for me, seeing Jamie again.”

Frustration takes hold of me. I wasn’t prepared for her denial. More words rush from my mouth, “Samantha, it’s true. His case worker was at our house this morning threatening to take him away.”

“But I don’t understand. Why should anything my mom says, have anything to do with where he lives?”

“I don’t think it normally would but he lived with you for a long time. They say it’s in his best interest not to have contact.”

Fear takes a hold of her features as what I’m saying registers.

“He can’t have contact? As in I can’t talk to my best friend anymore?”

I look away ashamed that I was feeling so sorry for myself. What I did will tear her apart if I confess after dropping this bomb on her.

“Samantha I’m sorry.” I look up with as much hope as I can muster and explain, “I came over here to tell you this and ask if you think there is any way you can talk to your mom. Maybe if she recants her complaints he will be able to stay.”

She stares at the pale white rug covering the dark wood floor underneath.

“I don’t know. This morning when Jamie came over, she was weird. This explains it. Actually Jamie acted odd too.”

“Jamie was here this morning? Why?”

A small smile plays over her lips, “He came over to bring me my car but I think he wanted to tell me about you.”

My eyebrows raise in surprise.

“He really likes you Beckett.”

My heart falls at her words. It should be soaring but instead my secret is killing me. He will hate me when I tell them what I did.

I stand abruptly and mutter closing the distance to the door, “I um, I have to go. Please talk to your mom.”

I don’t wait for a reply. Instead my feet move as quickly as they can down the broad stairs and out the front door. If I stay any longer I’m liable to confess every detail of what I did.

When I get home Jamie is sitting on the front porch waiting. I can tell his nerves are shot. He looks completely broken. I hesitate getting out of the car but he doesn’t waste time. He opens the driver’s side door looking at me miserably. My face must mirror his because he asks, “Was it that bad?’

I shake my head and look up at him in silence. His dark hair is still damp and messy. The set line of his jaw makes him look so serious most of the time. But his eyes still blaze with life, just like the stars in the night. They twinkle and shine regardless of the type of night. And on occasion the clouds still can’t mask them. Jamie’s eyes are like that. They won’t ever stop shining.

“It wasn’t as bad as you think. Samantha is in shock just like we were.”

“I should call her to make sure she is okay.” He pulls his phone out and starts thumbing the buttons. I hop out of the car and place my hand over his phone.

“Jamie, her mom is going to expect you to call her. It won’t help your case. Can you just wait a little while until we hear from my dad?”

He turns the phone off and looks down at me. His stare makes me squirm forcing me to take a step away. I look out to the water and notice the dark clouds rolling in from the west. When I turn back to him he is still staring at me. A smile spreads over my lips.

“Beckett, I don’t want to lose you or Sam.”

I look away because of the guilt weighing down on my chest. I can’t tell him now. It will have to wait until we get through this thing with Michelle. I can’t add to his pain.

 

 

 

Chapter Thirty-One

Jamie Grey

Scutum – The Shield

Hevelius, who created the constellation in 1684, named Scutum or Shield of Sobieski, to commemorate Kingm John III Sobieski’s victory in the Battle of Vienna in 1683.

~*~

 

Beckett arrived back from Sam’s house not in the way I had hoped. She looked defeated as if it is hopeless. I’m beginning to feel that it just might be. But she assured me that Sam will try and talk to her mom. I doubt it will have any effect. Elizabeth can’t be swayed easily once she’s made a decision. When she decided to send me back into the system she told Sam and I a few days before I had to leave. There were yelling and screaming fights between Sam and her mom. They didn’t seem to have even a slight effect on Elizabeth.

Beckett does something to me and now that I’ve acknowledged my feelings for her I can’t seem to stop some of the things that come out of my mouth. Luckily she hasn’t been scared away yet. I meant it when I told her I can’t lose her or Sam. Not talking to Sam this week is going to kill me.

Beckett shifts and tells me, “Hey, I need to go and get some homework done, will you be alright?”

I nod and watch as she walks up the steps and disappears into the house. I forgot to ask her about the text that was sent to Sam but right now it’s not important. Instead of going into the house I make my way to the back porch and undress to my baggies. I dive into the cool water refreshed by the rain. My body savors the feel of the water as I slide in and out across the length of the pool. It feels good to let the exercise loosen the tension that has settled. I hope David can find a way for me to stay. If not, I’m not sure what I’ll do. Michelle has relished in reminding me over the years that after all I’ve been through, all the homes and people, that I’m still so even tempered and not full of problems like so many others in my situation. I chalk it up to not caring. If you care too much, when it’s taken away you react. I now understand why so many other foster kids have problems. They want to fight for what they care about. This time I’m not going without a fight.

***

My alarm rings with the rising of the sun. I lay staring up at the bare ceiling. If I do get to stay I will have to remedy that ceiling. I’ll have to get Beckett’s stars and put some constellations up there. Beckett. I didn’t see her again yesterday after we parted on the porch. She stayed in her room for the remainder of the day even telling Marla that she had a bad headache and wouldn’t be down for dinner. Maybe she took Sasha’s warning seriously, which is probably the best for both of us.

Once I’m dressed in khakis and a white button down shirt, I step out into the hall. It’s dark and silent. I cross the distance to her door which is still closed. I linger there wondering if I should knock but decide to go on to the kitchen. I realized this morning that we will have to ride to school together. Sam can’t come and get me today.

I slide into the chair at the rounded table in the corner. Sasha comes over and asks, “Hey you, how are you holding up?”

Her grey hair is in a tight bun at the crown of her head which pulls at her face making the wrinkles at her eyes more pronounced.

“I’m alright, I guess.”

BOOK: The Sound of Shooting Stars
11.65Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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