Cat's Out...a Darla The Alpha Cat Novel

Chapter 6 - Starlight Starbright

Grant has managed to grant me temporary asylum from my otherworldly concerns. But that all comes crashing down the moment I step into my princess pink summer bedroom. If it were possible to feel any farther from home, I'm not sure how. Jacques told me about how he came to America before it was even the US of A. As a French soldier stationed at Fort Michilimackinac, he was about as far from France as a man could get in the 18th century.

I try to imagine him standing watch on a cold January night, overlooking the Straights of Mackinaw, nothing but blackness and the stars overhead. I can see why he was driven to make a deal with that devil. But it only earned him another 275 years of loneliness. When you're half man and half wild dog, you don't get invited to many ice cream outings.

A stuffed tiger, complete with Detroit Tiger ballcap and shirt, sits in a chair in the corner of my room. I noticed him earlier but didn't give him any thought. Just another peace offering from my so-called mother. But as I stare into his black eyes, I feel a bit of a bond.

"How long you in for?" I ask.

He stares.

"Whatja do?"

More stares.

"Yeah. I'm innocent, too. Well...innocent of any felonies that I know of." I roll off the bed and plop down in front of my Macbook. Apparently, all my friends realize that I've skipped town, because I've got twenty-three emails waiting for me. Some kind of record.

Cassie sends her love, as does Jessica. I vow to read her blog every day. Actually, Could Be Wertz is often quite funny. I've told her as much and suggested she become a writer. Only one that publishes things. Not like Jack's dad. Angela informs me that cheer camp will be lonely without me. She graduated, but volunteered to "whip some freshmen butts into Cherry Hill's finest." Evan tells me he's saving me a seat in the castle. And Josh Baker hopes I'll be back before he leaves for Florida State later this summer.

An odd collection of friends I have. We couldn't be less alike if we came from different solar systems. But we are a family. Probably the only real family I have. I scroll down past a few other names and freeze.

The last email is from Starbright1997. No way. I open it.

Hey kid! I called the house and Dad said you were staying with Mom over the summer. I wish I'd have known sooner. But I know now. So let's get together. I miss my little sister. I'm staying with a friend I met through my Saturday night church group (Harvest Community Church in the city...you'd love it!). She won't mind if you visit. I don't have a car, but we can figure it out. Give me a call as soon as you read this, okay? Love you to the stars! - Star

Her phone number is typed in at the bottom. Followed by "Sent from my iPhone, which explains the typos."

I don't hesitate. I whip out my cell phone and dial the number, cursing myself for not checking my mail from my phone earlier. But I was a bit distracted by a deep tan and bottomless eyes. I didn't even know Star had a new phone, or email for that matter. Heroine addicts tend to lose all that stuff as they graduate from one level to the next. But she sounds fine in her email. And a church? I can't even wrap my mind around that one.

After five rings, I get her voice mail. After the greeting, I leave her a message and tell her to call. I go back and read her email again. Star. Wow. I'd been certain I'd never see her again. It's been two years since she ran away to live here with my mother. But that arrangement fell apart quickly and she just disappeared one day. Neither of my parents saw fit to track her down. "She's made her choice," Dad had said. Nice parenting.

And then I notice the time on her email. 2:43 pm. Only ten minutes ago. Why hadn't Dad given her my cell number? Probably worried that she'd pull me into her dark world. As if I'm too stupid to "just say no" all by myself. She must have her phone with her, though. I dial again and get her voice mail again.

It's silly, but I can't shake the feeling that something's wrong. I'd developed a bit of an intuition since Jacques bit me. He didn't say anything about that, but maybe dogs and wolves didn't have it. My more feminine alter-ego may include a sixth sense.

And it was clamoring at me now.

My phone chimed.

I hit accept and yelled into it. "Star!"

Silence for a few seconds. "No, but maybe the moon. Is this Darla?"

Oh. Grant. Crap on a cracker. "Umm...yeah. Sorry. I was expecting a call."

"Maybe I should call another time then, I can--"

"No!" I sit on my bed. While talking to a boy. Which is about as close as I've ever come. "It's fine. Really."

"Doesn't sound fine. But I just wanted to tell you that practice was cancelled. So maybe you'd like to catch an early movie?"

I'm no expert, but the words "matinee" and "hot date" aren't normally used in the same sentence. "Oh...I...sure." I catch my laptop out of the corner of my eye. Star's letter still fills the screen.

"Great," Grant says, "I can pick you up at--"

"Wait!"

"Uh...yeah?"

"Does it have to be a movie?"

"I suppose not. Plenty of options on a Saturday. Is there somewhere else you'd rather go?"

"Yes!" I move closer to my laptop and read part of the email again.

"Name it."

I take a deep breath and pray I'm not overreacting. "Harvest Community Church."