Trailing Stars (Trailing Stars #1)

Chapter 19

On the way home, Kate and I agree I should be the one to tell Mom and Dad that I should go see Morgan's grave for my birthday. Whenever I feel like I really want to and whenever I get the courage to, that is.

"Just think about how Morgan will haunt you forever if you don't go," Kate says when we're on the front steps to Hannah's house.

I know she means that literally, but I have a feeling Morgan really will haunt me emotionally if I don't do this. "Trust me. I know." I dig my keys out of my pocket and start to unlock the door. Before I can, Kate wraps her arms around me. I hesitate before I hug her back. "What's this for?"

"I'm just happy you're back," she says, pulling away. "But don't tell Mom and Dad I hugged you or they'll expect me to do it more."

I laugh, shoving the key into the lock. "Sure, Kate." Before I turn the key, I smile at her. "I'm happy to be back for you, too."

We step into the house together. When I shut the door, Mom peeks in from the kitchen, laughing when she sees we're soaked from head to toe. "I thought you were going ice skating and then going to the open mic night."

Kate shrugs. "We had a snowball fight."

Mom studies us. "Who won?"

Kate and I glance at each other. Her eyes glimmer and she has an energy about her that hasn't really been there in a while. I think she's seeing the same thing in me.

I turn to Mom. "I think you can say we both won."

Mom raises her eyebrows, but she doesn't ask me to elaborate. "I'm glad it looks like you two had fun, but maybe you should go take a hot shower before you catch a cold."

"I call first shower!" Kate shouts, already running up the stairs.

I roll my eyes, making Mom laugh. She glances up the stairs and back to me, a more contemplative look on her face. "Kate seems happy."

I nod, feeling a small smile form on my face. "Yeah. I guess she is."

Mom leaves it at that, giving me one last look before heading back into the kitchen. I head up to my room, shutting the door behind me. I sit on the floor next to my bed and pull out my phone. I smile at all the texts I got from Nathan and Clara, all asking me if Kate's okay and if I'm okay.

The open mic might still be going, so I call Clara instead of Nathan. She picks up within the first ring. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah." I stretch out my legs. "I found Kate, and we're home now."

"How'd she take the poem?"

"Not... well..." I sigh. "It brought up a lot of feelings, but we talked about it, and I think we're okay now."

"Are you okay?"

I hesitate, tucking one foot beneath me. "I think so. I'm just happy that Kate and I are on good terms now, you know?"

"Sure, but what about with everything else? Now that you've written about your brother and talked about him?"

"I think there's more I need to do before I'm okay with what happened with Morgan."

"Like visiting his grave?"

I shut my eyes, exhaling. "Yeah. Like that."

"Just go for it if it'll make you feel better in the end." Easier said than done, Clara. I'm about to say so, but I hear a door open on her end. "Give me a second."

Her voice becomes distant, and it sounds like she's talking to someone else. A moment later, Nathan is on the phone.

"Hey," he says. "I heard things went okay."