Starcrossed

Chapter 18a: shilcloas (part 1)

Chapter 18 (part 1)

shilcloas (shil-CLO-ahs): hearing another's thoughts; telepathy

"Didn't you hear me calling up the stairs?" Aunt Theresa greeted me when I dragged myself down to the breakfast Sunday morning after an almost sleepless night. "I was starting to think you intended to pout rather than come to church today. Here—you have time for a quick bowl of cereal, and then we need to go."

Fifteen minutes later we were turning right on Emerald, then the block past the Town Hall to the old-fashioned white wooden church I'd attended as long as I could remember. We were walking quickly, because of the cold, and my mood improved with every step. Even if the Stuarts didn't sit with us because of Allister, I'd at least be able to see Rigel and soak up some of his vibes from across the sanctuary. Maybe we'd even be able to snatch a few seconds to talk.

Almost the only people at church this early were choir members, ushers and their families. And the O'Garas.

Aunt Theresa hurried forward and, to my amazement, actually hugged Mrs. O'Gara. I could count on one hand the number of times she'd ever hugged me. "Lili! Does this mean you've decided to join the choir? I'm so glad."

"It seemed a good way to get to know people," Mrs. O'Gara replied. "Will it be all right if my family sits with yours again?"

"Of course! I can't imagine why you even needed to ask."

She led them back to our pew, where Uncle Louie seemed more effusive than necessary, too. Then Aunt Theresa and Mrs. O'Gara went to join the choir downstairs while the rest of us sat down. Somehow Sean ended up next to me.

"Hey," he whispered as Uncle Louie and his dad talked across us. "I hope you're not still weirded out about last night."

I stared at him. "Seriously? I'm way beyond weirded out. Nothing about this is remotely okay." Uncle Louie was oblivious by nature, but I still used my less-than-a-whisper voice—which I'd never used with anyone but Rigel. That I was able to use it now made me resent Sean even more.

"I didn't make the rules," he said in the same barely audible tone. "Blame history, or even Uncle Allister. Not me."

"But you knew. You've known all along, all of you." That betrayal still rankled—a lot. "Where is dear Uncle Al, anyway? Coming with the Stuarts to make sure Rigel and I don't get anywhere near each other?"

Before he could answer, Molly peered around from Sean's other side. "Did you say something?" she whispered.

I just shrugged and shook my head, her question a reminder that now there were way too many people around who could hear stuff I didn't want heard. Sean didn't say anything else and I was glad, since just having him next to me was unnerving enough.

Five minutes before the service started, when I'd nearly given up hope they were coming, the Stuarts finally arrived. No Allister, but all three glanced quickly our way—Rigel the longest—then went to sit on the other side of the little sanctuary without saying a word.

Still, just having Rigel in the same room gave me a boost, both physically and mentally, like I'd received some nutrient I'd been lacking. That sensation reassured me that no matter how much everyone was against our relationship, they could never break our special bond.

"Hey, Marsha, you and your guy Rigel didn't have a fight, did you?" Uncle Louie asked in a perfectly audible tone. "How come they're sitting over there?"

He would pick this one time to be observant.

"No! I, um, told him Aunt Theresa would be mad about me coming home late last night, so he's probably just trying to keep me from getting into more trouble."

He just nodded and grunted. "Think she overreacted, myself," he confided, "but I can't claim to know much about raising kids." Clearly uncomfortable, he let the subject drop with a shrug.

A small sigh escaped me. My life would have been a lot easier over the years if Uncle Louie had ever been willing to take my side against Aunt Theresa instead of just muttering behind her back. Not that she was easy to stand up to. In fact, very few people in town had the nerve to oppose her, since she was well known for her quick-temper and sharp-tongue.

Except with the O'Garas. For some unfathomable reason, she'd taken to them immediately. 

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