Starcrossed

Chapter 6a: Rigel (part 1)

Chapter 6 (part 1)

Rigel (RY-jel): the 7th brightest star visible from Earth

I check my cell phone again. 9:37pm. No effing way M is coming tonight. Her gorgon of an aunt never lets her out of the house this late.

Without her here, "our" metal bench in the arboretum is freezing my butt off, so I stand up.

I'm dying to talk to M. Shoot, just to be with her, since it's been a while since we've had real alone time. Long enough that I'm feeling a little off. And grouchy.

But if I'm not home by ten I'll catch hell from my parents. When Asshole Allister stays at our house, they're suddenly strict about stuff like me staying out late on school nights. Like it's a point of honor to prove to him they can control me.

I grab my bike from the rack by the arboretum entrance and take one last look down Diamond toward M's house, just in case. Nope, no sign of her. Feeling like my skin is too tight, I start home. Wasted evening.

I'm not blaming M, since she doesn't have a cell or even a private landline to let me know what's going on. Another one of her aunt's archaic rules. She's probably as pissed as I am that she can't get out of the house.

I go three blocks before I realize I'm pedaling way faster than a normal Duchas, even a jock. Luckily hardly anybody is around this late, since Jewel rolls up the sidewalks after dark. If it weren't for M, this town would suck.

'Course, if it weren't for M, we never would have come here at all. I'd probably have spent the last six years in California, going to the same school with the same kids, having actual friends—

I cut off that thought with a shudder. Because my life started, in every way that matters, when I met M in August. I can't think of a single thing I'd trade for what she and I have now.

Too keyed up to slow down, I make it home in about ten minutes. Unfortunately, Mom and Dad are in the kitchen when I come in through the garage, so there's no fudging how late I am.

"It's a school night, Rigel," my dad says. Duh.

"I know. Sorry." I try to sound it, even though I'm not. "I finished all my homework before I went out."

He frowns anyway, but Mom is more understanding. "Wasn't it awfully late for M to be out? How is she?"

I shrug. "She couldn't get away, so I waited. Longer than I should have, I guess."

They both know where I go on my evening bike rides. And they were fine with it until Allister got here. Which reminds me.

"Is our guest in bed?" They nod. "So, you don't think it's weird that he never mentioned he had family moving here—that he even had any family on Earth—until they were already in Jewel?" I couldn't ask before, since he was within earshot from the moment the O'Garas left until I escaped on my bike after dinner.

They look at each other for several seconds before answering. I used to hate when they did that—communicating telepathically so I can't hear. But now that M and I are starting to be able to do it, I don't mind so much.

"Maybe he didn't want to name drop," Dad suggests. "Though of course it's no real secret what his sister's family has done, since he used it to his advantage when petitioning to be on the Echtran Council. I understand why you don't like Allister, Rigel, but I hope you won't allow that to influence your opinion of the O'Garas. They're true heroes."

I manage to nod, trying not to show how his attitude irritates me. Okay, so Quinn and Lili O'Gara were like these legendary Resistance fighters back on Mars. So my folks—especially my dad—practically idolize them. That doesn't mean their kids are anything special.

"It was pretty obvious you and Sean didn't start off on the right foot," my mom points out gently. "But your father's right. You shouldn't let your feelings—justified feelings—about Allister keep you from making friends with Sean. I'm sure he could use a friend right now. You remember what it was like, always being the new boy, and he's had to make a much bigger adjustment than you ever did."

"I guess."

Knowing they're right doesn't improve my mood. Besides, it's not just his relationship to Allister that makes me not trust Sean. He pissed me off before I knew anything about that, the way he looked at M when he met her at lunch today. Sure, any Martian would be blown away by meeting the Princess everyone thought was dead. It is a big deal.

But there was more in his expression than that. Something . . . possessive. I didn't like it. Still don't.

My folks going all fan-club over his family doesn't help. Or Allister treating Sean like the son he never had, when he always treats me like some nobody trying to worm my way into the Sovereign's affections. Like what's between M and me is all in my head.

"I'm going to bed," I say, not wanting to talk about it any more.

"Do the dishes first," Dad says.

I blink at him. I do the dishes at least half the time, but I always volunteer. I can't remember ever being told to do them.

"You promised you would when you left," he reminds me.

Oh, yeah. "Because Allister was giving you guys that look about letting me go out after dinner. Why do you let him tell you what to do in your own house?"

"He's a powerful man, Rigel," my mother murmurs. "There's nothing to be gained by antagonizing him."

"He was powerful back on Mars, in the old days. What power does he have here? Really? What can he do to you—to any of us—if we don't listen to him?"

I really want to know. But instead of answering, my dad says, "Just do the dishes, Rigel."

"Fine."

I go into the dining room—we never eat in the kitchen when we have company—and gather up the dinner dishes. It takes me like two minutes to put the dishes in the cupboard that doubles as an ionic sterilizer and push the button. Presto. Dishes are washed and put away in one easy step. Allister must not know about this little remodel, or he'd have suggested I do some other chore instead. I almost find it amusing.

Almost.

Because I know these extra chores are just one more way for him to put me in my place. A place that's miles beneath the Sovereign. One more reminder that I'm nowhere near her class. That if Faxon had never overthrown the monarchy and we were all back on Mars, I'd never be allowed anywhere near her. That I'm not good enough to speak to her, let alone be her boyfriend. Her soulmate.

The worst of it is, sometimes I worry he's right.

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