The Sound of Shooting Stars (28 page)

I shift from one foot to the other at a loss for words. Marla runs her hand through her short hair and looks out across the water. Exasperation fills her voice when she asks, “Beckett, is there anything else I should know about? I don’t know if you realize but all of this can affect whether Jamie can stay or not. Do you not think before you do these things?”

Jamie stands up and answers before I have a chance to respond, “I’m sorry Marla, things seem to have gotten out of hand with everything. I just want you to know that we will do whatever we have to. I really do want to stay.” To my shock he grabs my hand and squeezes.

Marla chuckles, “I would imagine you do. But really both of you, what happens if we go through with the adoption and this,” She gestures to our hands, “Doesn’t work out? You’ll be stuck with each other for the rest of the year, on holidays, always for the rest of your lives.”

She continues before I have a chance to respond, “This isn’t a game Beckett, this is real and it’s Jamie’s life.”

I look over to Jamie. A smile has spread over his lips. This is the most real thing there has ever been in my life. I look over to Marla and tell her, “Mom, I love Jamie, that won’t change. I look forward to holidays, and being in his life always. If things don’t work out between us, well that won’t happen. But, I will always want him in my life. I know it’s not a game.”

“Good, because I don’t need one more thing right now that I will have to explain to your father. I am going to request that you don’t pursue this until after we know what will happen with the adoption.”

Jamie and I both nod but he doesn’t let go of my hand.

Marla turns to go back to the house but stops to look back at us, “Oh and Beckett, you better hope that this internet stuff doesn’t interfere with our case. Dinner will be ready soon. ” And she turns to walk back up to the house.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Jamie Grey

Aquarius – The Water Bearer

Ganymede, the son of King Tros, was a beautiful Trojan boy who caught Zeus’ eye, which prompted the god to disguise himself as an eagle and carry him off to Olympus to serve as cup-bearer to the gods.

~*~

After dinner I settle into my room with my headphones staring up at my ceiling, but it won’t do. I push up from my bed and walk out onto the balcony to find Beckett leaning against the railing. She is looking out to the water and the setting sun. She glances over at me and smiles. My heart skips a beat. I will never get tired of the sight of her.

“Hey, I was wondering if I can borrow those stickers left over from your ceiling.” She nods and walks to her door but pauses.  After a moment with her hand on the door handle she turns and asks, “Do you think what I did to Dani will have any effect on whether you get to stay?”

I know this is spurred from the conversation at dinner. Beckett had to tell David the gory details of posting the video. She gave him the barest bits of information. He wasn’t amused.

I close the distance between us and look down at her, the heat rising between our bodies. My fingers raise to brush her hair back off of her forehead, “I’m not sure, but you shouldn’t worry. Your dad will do everything he can.”

She blinks rapidly as her eyes fill slightly, “I know. I don’t want something that I did to be the cause of your dream going away.”

I lean in and kiss her softly before pulling back just an inch and whisper, “My dream has recently changed. I’m happy with everything just the way it is.” I push her against the door gently and our bodies touch in every place possible. I can feel her heart pounding in her chest just as hard as mine is. Her hands wrap around my neck and she kisses me as if her life depends on it. The sun setting at my back lights the deck with dim rays angling against her face in the most perfect way.

When we pull apart to catch our breath she mumbles, “What constellations were you thinking about putting up on your ceiling?”

I move her to the side and pull the door open to her room. It always smells so sweet in this space, just like Beckett. I pull her in with me and ask, “Do you want to help?”

She nods and walks over to her desk to open a drawer. She pulls out the sheet of stars and walks back to the door exclaiming, “Let’s go.” I stand still watching her for a moment, her long hair falling down her back and her small little body slipping through the doorway. It’s amazing how dreams can change so quickly.

In my room she pulls out a chair and begins climbing it. I pull her off of it and into my arms. She starts giggling the whole way as I carry her over to the bed and toss her onto it.

“Oh no, you get to watch. The last time you climbed a chair, it didn’t end so well.”

She leans back into my pillows still laughing and watches while I climb the chair and place the stickers strategically across my ceiling. She saunters over to my IPOD and scrolls through the music. Finally settling on a song she places it into the dock onto my clock and Shooting Stars by Owl City comes through the speakers.

“Ah, rather an appropriate choice” I call down to her.

She smiles while climbing back across my bed and settling on her back to look up. It takes every bit of my will power to continue placing the stars instead of lying down next to her. She looks adorable surrounded by my pillows and blankets.

When I’m finally finished I slide the chair back under the desk and ask, “Will you join me?” As I point to the floor. She slips down from the bed and lies down on the wooden floor beside me. I grab her hand and ask, “So, do you recognize anything up there?”

She places her finger to her lip as if deciding something before pointing, “That’s Cassiopeia.”

“Yep, any other ones?”

“Not sure.”

I point to the stars configured next to Cassiopeia, “That one next to her is the crab. In that story Hera sent a crab to distract Hercules while he was fighting the hydra. He kicked it to the sky where it rests today as stars.”

“Is that the big and little dipper?”

“Yes, good job.”

“What about that one over there?” She points further away from the others.

“That one is Aquarius, which means the water bearer. Steve told me the story when I was eleven. Ganymede was the son of King Tros who gave Troy it’s name. Ganymede was the most beautiful boy alive so Zeus sent the eagle to abduct him and bring him to Olympus where he lived forever after. I used to think Sam’s house was my version of Olympus and Steve was the eagle that saved me.”

“I’m so sorry Jamie.”

I sit up and look over at her really seeing her. Beckett, the girl I’ve fallen for. The last time we laid like this on the floor looking up at the stars, I wasn’t sure how she would act, genuine or the fake version I met the first day we laid eyes upon each other. I lean over her face where her shallow breaths warm my face.

“Beckett, everything happens for a reason. I have to believe that. If I would have stayed there, we never would have met.”

Her lips turn up in a sweet smile. I lean closer and gently nip her bottom lip before kissing her softly. A hard knock on the door breaks us apart. Beckett scurries to the french doors leading to the balcony just before I can answer and sit on my bed, “Come in.” And the door to my room moves forward.

I’m shocked to see Sam standing before me. She looks around the room, taking in the space. Her brown eyes meet mine and she asks, “Can I come in?”

I wave her in but refuse to move from my spot. I’m a little peeved at her now that she’s here. There is no reason why she should be hanging out with Dani. She crosses the room and sits next to me on the edge of the bed.

“How’d you get up here? Does your mom know you’re here?”

She shakes her head and looks to her feet.

“Then why are you here Sam?”

“I had to see you.” She hesitates, “I don’t understand why you’re still with Beckett after what she did to me.”

I stand and run my hand through my hair frustrated with her.

“Really Sam?
I
can’t believe you’re hanging around Dani after what
she
did.”

Anger flourishes her words, “Jamie, it wasn’t Dani. Beckett set the whole thing up.”

“And whose choice was it to go through with it? I think we’ve had this conversation before Sam. Beckett didn’t make either one of them make that choice to sleep together. That was all on each of them. And Beckett thinks they had been together way before she got involved.”

“But she recorded it and posted it online Jamie, for everyone to see. It’s humiliating.”

I settle back beside her, angry that she’s been hurt. I grab her hand and explain, “Beckett had a good reason.”

She leaps to her feet and her voice comes out fierce, “Apparently Beckett always has a good reason. She goes around hurting people and doesn’t give a damn. Did she have a good reason when
she
slept with Jake too?”

“Dani drugged her when she slept with Jake. I know it’s hard to hear but he took advantage of her.”

“And you believe that?”

“I do.”

“Of course you do, she’s probably sleeping with you now too.”

I shake my head tired of fighting with her. There is more at stake here than just this teenage shit that will be gone soon enough.

“Sam, if no one knows you’re here then you should probably go. Elizabeth, um, your mom, isn’t making things very easy right now.”

She laughs sarcastically and asks, “Jamie, have you even considered why my mom doesn’t want you living here?”

I look to my hands clasped between my knees and shake my head.

“Let’s just say, she knows Beckett and how evil she is. It would be better if you went to a new home somewhere else than to be exposed to these people.”

I look up unable to believe what she just said to me. It’s not about me, but about Beckett. Before I can ask anything else Sam crosses the room to the door and turns one last time before softly telling me, “Bye Jamie, I’m so glad we got to see each other again.” And she quickly skirts out the door.

The door to the balcony opens a tiny bit and Beckett peeks in with tears running down her face.

I look at her pained face and ask, “Were you there the whole time?”

She nods unsure how I feel about it all. I open my arms to her and she charges into me almost knocking me off of my feet.

“Jamie, I’m so sorry. This is my fault.”

My hands run through her hair trying to calm her down. This isn’t her fault. There must be more to all of it and I think there is only one person who will be able to explain.

Chapter Forty

Beckett Chase

Carina – The Keel of the Argo Navis

The main body of the Argo Navis, the ship sailed by Jason and the Argonauts to find the golden fleece.

~*~

After hearing part of the truth from Sam I fell asleep in Jamie’s room. He woke me up and walked me back to my room. I still can’t believe all of this is because of me. First Dani and Trina and now Sam’s whole family. I’m just a screw up. Somehow I’ve managed to alienate everyone except Jamie.

My alarm wakes me just before sunrise. I open the doors to find it cloudless and a sure wind coming in from the water. Tiny white caps roll through the river making the sun glisten in reflecting rivulets. No school for me today but hopefully I can catch Jamie before he goes. A half an hour passes but he doesn’t emerge from his room. By this point I’m sticky from the rising sun even though the wind is steady. I finally gather enough courage and knock but he doesn’t answer. I try the handle and it turns easily in my hand. The room is still darkened, his shades are drawn but he’s nowhere in sight. On his bed though is a folded piece of paper with my name written across the front. I hesitate before grabbing it carefully. Underneath is his IPOD.

Beckett (My Princess),

I had to leave early to get a ride with Marla.