Starcrossed

Chapter 18b: shilcloas (part 2)

Chapter 18 (part 2)

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

The sermon seemed extra long today, impatient as I was to snatch a private second or two with Rigel, or at least get close enough for a bigger dose of the strength he always gave me. The moment everyone stood after the benediction and dismissal, I started moving in his direction. Or tried to.

"What's your hurry?" Sean asked as I attempted to nudge my way past him into the aisle.

I gave him an impatient glance. "I just need to—"

"M, dear, do you think you could introduce Sean and Molly around to some of the younger people?" Mrs. O'Gara asked before I could make something up. Not that I should have to explain myself to Sean anyway.

"What? Oh, um, sure. C'mon."

Determined to use this to my advantage, I led them in Rigel's direction, even though the only other teenagers were at the back of the sanctuary, near the exit. He saw me coming and smiled, then frowned—probably because Sean was right behind me. Still, he moved toward me, edging past his parents. We were just a few yards apart when Mr. Stuart put a hand on Rigel's shoulder, stopping him.

At the same time Sean said, "Uh, M? Probably not the best place for another showdown."

I rounded on him. "Showdown? I just want to say hi. Or isn't that allowed anymore?"

Unfortunately, I hadn't noticed that Aunt Theresa was right behind Sean and Molly.

"Perhaps it shouldn't be, Marsha, after last night," she snapped.

I stared at her. "What, I can't even be polite to him? In church?"

She primmed up her lips. "We'll discuss this at home, Marsha. Now, weren't you going to introduce Molly and Sean to your youth group friends?"

With tears pricking behind my eyes, I swung back around to look at Rigel, who was still facing my way, looking as frustrated as I felt. Apparently his parents didn't want to risk a scene in church either. Forcing down my anger and humiliation, I focused on him as hard as I could.

Arboretum? I caught the word clearly in my mind.

I nodded quickly and thought back, Midnight.

He gave me a quick nod back to show he understood, then turned away just as his mother started to frown at him.

"If that's how it's going to be, let's go." I could tell he was pretending to be more upset than he really was, so they'd be less suspicious. I hoped it worked.

Following his cue, I tried to hide my relief that we had a plan. With one longing look over my shoulder, I mumbled, "Yeah, okay, there are a few kids near the door. Come on."

Most of the teens had already seen Sean and Molly at school, but I introduced them around for the benefit of the watchful adults. Two guys started flirting with Molly, while nearly all the girls glommed onto Sean. I tried to ease away, still hoping to snag a quick word with Rigel, but Aunt Theresa intervened before I'd taken two steps.

"Lili suggested it might be nice to go out for lunch." She wore a delighted-looking smile, which looked weird on her face. "We should hurry if we want to get a table at the Lighthouse Cafe."

I blinked at her in surprise—and irritation. Two different Sundays the Stuarts had suggested going out after church, and both times my aunt had made up some excuse. I'd figured it was because of the money, but apparently not.

The seven of us walked out into the overcast, chilly day, heading for the Lighthouse Cafe, which was opposite the Town Hall on Diamond. Just before we went in, the Stuarts drove past and Rigel and I locked gazes for an instant. Even that tiny contact helped center me so I was able to smile when Molly complimented my new-ish skirt.

We managed to snag a table by the back wall as another group left and Sean maneuvered to sit by me again, even though I'd completely ignored him during the walk here.

"I'm kind of looking forward to my first snowfall," he said as I opened my menu.

Startled, I glanced at him. "What? You mean it never snows in . . . in Ireland?"

He shook his head, his expression serious, though his eyes twinkled mischievously. "Not on the coast, where we were. They get a bit inland, especially to the north."

Uncle Louie, down the table, let out a guffaw. "By March, you'll have seen more than you ever wanted, boy, especially if you're the one who shovels the drive. We get a fair bit of lake-effect snow here."

The adults started comparing Ireland's and Indiana's weather and while my aunt and uncle were distracted, Sean leaned over and whispered, "Actually, it still gives me the willies a bit, how stuff just falls from the sky here."

I was still upset, especially with Sean, but that got me wondering what kind of weather, if any, they did have in Nuath, what with it being underground and all. I hadn't thought to ask during my visits to their house.

We ordered lunch, and the conversation changed—Uncle Louie and Mr. O'Gara talking about the local economy and Aunt Theresa and Mrs. O'Gara commiserating about the headaches of raising teenagers.

"Honestly, you can't take your eyes off them for a moment," Mrs. O'Gara said with a laugh. "Would you believe, I once caught Sean climbing out his bedroom window—a second story bedroom, mind you!—after midnight? Wanted to meet up with his friends and a bonny lass he'd just met, he did."

I felt my stomach clench as Aunt Theresa replied, "If Marsha ever tried such a thing, she'd be grounded until she leaves for college."

Could Mrs. O'Gara have guessed what Rigel and I were planning tonight? That story was as badly timed as if she'd done it on purpose.

"The lass wasn't all that bonny," Sean said in a joking undertone.

I glanced at him in confusion. "What?"

He leaned toward me, a coppery wave of hair falling across his forehead. "You looked a bit upset at what my mum just said. Didn't want you thinking I'd been casting about for girls the whole while I was in Ireland."

"The thought hadn't even crossed my mind," I assured him with complete honesty.

He just grinned and shrugged. "If you say so."

**If you enjoyed this, please vote for it and share it with your friends--I'll be adding at least one more update in a week or two, then...we'll see. :)

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By the way, if you're wondering what Rigel was really thinking when he first met M in Starstruck, you can find out in a short story I wrote just for my newsletter subscribers! Sign up at brendahiatt.com/subscribe to get Rigel's Jewel, along with the most up-to-date news on my upcoming books and special promotions.