The Shadow of Stars

Eight

don't forget to comment/vote!!

I feel a rock hit the back of my neck, a small pebble perhaps and let out a wince before glancing around with an annoyed glare. Finding no culprit, I continued my journey until another flew with more force, making my hand slap up to cover the pain.

I take my headphones out and glare around. "Psssst!" Another rock flies towards me but I dodge it, my gaze following its path to a small shrub that tussles.

My phone begins to ring and I lift it up to my ear, not bothering to check the caller id. "Hello?" I ask, moving closer to the bush.

"Is the coast clear?"

"Henry?" I ask, louder and the bush moves again, making me purse my lips and hang up the phone. "Henry is that seriously you crouching in a freaking shrub?" I ask the bush and to any pedestrians passing by I'd look like a lunatic talking to some branches with leaves.

Henry's head pops up out of the bush, leaves and twigs stuck in his curly hair as his eyes dart to check the surroundings.

"What the hell?" I demand, moving closer to him. "You let me get thrown completely under the bus and then what? Decide to throw rocks at me as an apology?" I ask and he, with some struggle might I add, removes himself from the greenery.

"I have been staking out here all morning, I had to fend for myself—fight off a damn squirrel, look!" He says, thrusting his arm tattered with scratches and a nasty looking bite mark in my face.

"And why would you do that?" I ask.

"You're grounded aren't you? No more talking to Henry ban for the whole weekend. Our parents are trying to split us up so I'm being sneaky about it," he replies

"Yeah. No thanks to you," I retort and he winces.

"I know, I was going to go out and tell my parents you'd be with me, work with the whole cover thing we had going on... but Battlestar Ecliptica released early! I couldn't believe it and the fandom was going crazy and I just completely forgot and yeah, so I'm sorry about that," he says and I contemplate his apology, weighing up the excuse and the price I've had to pay.

"I guess I can forgive you," I mutter and his crestfallen face beams with a smile as he pulls me into his side, giving me a squeeze as we fall in step.

"I knew you wouldn't stay mad at me forever," he jokes and I roll my eyes. "What happened anyway?" He asks, slightly more serious and I let out a deep sigh.

"I'm in pretty big shit," I respond, thinking back to facing my parents last night.

"That bad?" He asks and I nod. "I take it they found out about Micah being there then," he says and I nod again, my conformation making his face twist in pity for me.

"They took his contact off my phone," I start with a sigh. "And then they just took the whole thing altogether and grounded me for a week. No going anywhere but work and school so the movies tonight is a no go," I say and he kicks the pebbles beneath our feet, watching them tumble away as he always does when we walk.

"They know trying to keep you from him might not be the wisest thing right?" He asks and I look to him with wide eyes.

"Since when did you make a turn around, Mr 'Nevereverspeaktothewolfman'?" I ask but he doesn't laugh at the joke, his face serious.

"I talked with my parents about it, when they demanded to know the truth about our scheme. They told me about some of the things they've seen happen when families—or anyone try to stop the bond," he says and my mirth slowly dissipates, too.