Starcrossed

Chapter 12a: efrin (part 1)

CHAPTER 12 (Part 1)

efrin (EF-rin): Hell; used as a mild curse

I stared after Rigel, wondering what he'd meant by that last comment. It sounded like he already knew Sean walked me home again last night, even though I hadn't had a chance to tell him. Had Molly said something? He'd been late getting to Geometry, so he must have been talking to somebody.

Great. Just great.

I was so distracted when I sat down at my computer, I nearly forgot to ground myself on the table leg before touching it. I'd already fried one computer this semester and I knew Mr. Morrison—who was Bri's dad and really nice (for a teacher)—would be upset if I broke another one.

I hurried off when the bell rang, so I could explain to Rigel before English. Surely he wouldn't be mad once I explained how Sean had insisted because of some dumb idea that the "Princess" shouldn't be walking alone at night. And that he hadn't made any kind of pass at me or anything.

Maybe if I could convince Rigel that Sean wasn't at all interested in me romantically, the two of them could actually be friends. That would sure make my life easier, plus it would be fun if the four of us could do stuff together.

I imagined us all going to Dream Cream or over to Rigel's or the O'Garas' house. Rigel and I could both learn about life on Mars and we could tell Sean and Molly stuff about Jewel, and Indiana—and Earth. With that hopeful picture in mind, I started rehearsing my explanation for Rigel when I saw him coming toward me.

"Rigel, I really was going to—" I began, when he cut me off.

"No, M, it's okay. I'm sorry I was such an ass, saying that and then leaving." He held my gaze and took my hand so I'd know he meant it. "It's just, well, Sean made a crack this morning about you asking him to walk you home and it pissed me off. At him, I mean, so I was a real jerk to take it out on you."

He said it in a rush, his eyes pleading for forgiveness—not that there was anything to forgive. But then I realized exactly what he'd said.

"Wait. Sean said I asked him to walk me? That is so not true! He insisted, even after I told him not to."

Rigel started to glower, so I kept talking before my rosy vision of the future crumbled completely.

"It's just because the O'Garas are all about me having to be protected and stuff. Really. It wasn't like, 'walk a girl home,' or anything like that."

I believed that, didn't I? I willed Rigel to believe it, too—and his frown eased a little bit.

"Okay. I didn't really think you'd asked him. I should have known he just said it to needle me. But . . . why would he do that if he doesn't like you?"

I shrugged. "I don't know what's going on in his head. But honestly, he hasn't come on to me at all, I swear."

Finally, Rigel smiled. "I guess I can let him live, then. Though sometimes I wonder if you'd notice if a guy did come on to you."

I smiled back, my insides finally warming the way they normally did when I was with Rigel. "If I don't notice, does it really matter?"

He gave my hand a squeeze and I reveled in the wonderful rush it gave me—so much better than that stupid tingle I got from Sean.

"I guess not. C'mon," he said, still smiling, "let's get to class."

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