Starcrossed

Chapter 7b: Bailerealta (part 2)

Chapter 7 (part 2)

Bailerealta (bay-luh-ree-AL-tuh): an all-Martian village on the west coast of Ireland

    Neither Sean nor Molly were on the bus that afternoon. I assumed he had basketball practice and Molly must have gone to talk to Trina—who maybe convinced her to try out for cheerleading after all. I tried not to mind.

I spent the half hour before I had to leave for Taekwondo doing a little bit of homework and listening for Rigel's bike—not that he made any noise before ringing the doorbell. I bounced up and raced to the door.

"Hey!" I greeted him. "Come on in while I get my bag."

"I'd better not," he said, cocking his head. "Your neighbor's watching."

I looked over his shoulder and saw Mrs. Crabtree across the street spreading mulch under her front hedge and peering nosily at us. She'd definitely tell Aunt Theresa if she saw Rigel come into the house—in fact, she'd already done it once and I'd caught holy hell for it. I suspected my aunt had enlisted every neighbor who was home during the day to spy on me when she couldn't be here.

"Fine." I gave Mrs. Crabtree a pointed glare that at least made her glance away. "Be right back."

Leaving him standing on the porch, I ran up to my room, grabbed my gear bag and ran back down, not wanting to waste a moment I could be spending with Rigel.

"That was quick," he said with a grin when I rejoined him, then took my bag to carry it for me.

I locked the door and we headed into town, all of a block and a half away. "So, tell me what you think the deal is with the O'Garas," I said, once I was sure Mrs. Crabtree couldn't hear.

"I really don't know any more than I already told you," he said—evasively, I thought.

I looked sharply at him, trying to decipher the mix of emotions I sensed. Uneasiness and irritation definitely, and maybe something else.

"I didn't ask what you know, I asked what you think," I pointed out. "This morning, you sounded like you had a theory."

"I have several theories," he said after just a slight hesitation, "but they mostly involve wildly improbable political and military scenarios. I've probably been playing too much Starcraft lately. Until we actually know something, there's no point assuming there's more going on than they've told us."

He transferred my gear bag to his left hand so he could hold mine with his right. Though his touch gave me the same thrill as always, it also let his emotions come though more strongly and I was sure now that he was keeping something from me.

"So you don't think they're conspiring with Allister to ship me off to Montana or Ireland or something?" Those were the two main Martian settlements on Earth—and that was the possibility that worried me most.

Rigel gave my hand a squeeze. "I don't think so, no. If they are, we definitely won't let them get away with it."

"Promise?" I stopped walking to make him look at me. He did.

"Promise," he said, holding my gaze until I was sure he was telling me the truth. "Haven't I sworn I won't let anything happen to you, M?"

I relaxed enough to start walking again, but said, "There's more you're not telling me. Can't you at least share one theory? What did you start to say this morning?"

"You're a little too perceptive sometimes, you know that? Okay, probably the most likely thing I can think of is that Allister's hoping you'll spend more time with Molly . . . and Sean . . . and less with me. That they'll have an easier time getting you on board with the whole Sovereign thing than he's had. Get you invested in it."

"And that worries you." It was a statement, since I could feel it from him.

He just shrugged, and I let it drop. For now. I'd get more out of him eventually. But as long as nobody was trying to take me away from Rigel, I could face whatever political machinations they might be planning.

"So, want to try meeting at the arboretum tonight, since last night didn't work out?" I asked after we'd walked a little way in silence.

Rigel grimaced and I could feel a new frustration emanating from him. "I don't think I can. My grandfather arrives tonight so they'll expect me to stick around."

"Oh, that's right. But . . . I thought you were looking forward to seeing him?"

He shrugged. "I am. But I'd much rather spend time with you. It feels like we never get any time alone lately."

It did feel that way. I mostly blamed Aunt Theresa and all her stupid rules, but Rigel's folks didn't seem quite as eager to have us spend time together as they used to, either. Or maybe I was just being paranoid.

"Once Allister leaves it'll be better," I said, willing it to be true.

"Yeah." But he sounded less than positive about it.

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