Free Starbound: A Starstruck Novel by Brenda Hiatt

calling me a slut, a two-timing tease or a pathetic orphan with daddy issues, she watched me like a hawk. Sometimes she even snapped random pictures of me with her phone. She clearly hoped to either provoke me or catch me doing something, anything, she could use to get me in trouble.  
    I ignored her completely, knowing that would bother her way more than anything I could say, but it was unnerving the way she was always there , wearing that nasty little smirk like she knew something I didn’t. Every now and then I allowed myself a superior little smile, since whatever secret Trina might have, my secret easily trumped it.
    But Tuesday, the day before our departure, Trina took things to a whole new level. Rigel showed up for English, Trina on his arm, more upset than I’d felt him yet—and wouldn’t look me in the eye. Worse, when I tried to ask him silently what was wrong, he shut me out completely. I couldn’t pick up a single thought from him, though jealousy, rage, anguish and even fear were coming through loud and clear.
    What? Rigel, please tell me what’s going on! I kept sending frantically, but even when I looked directly at him, he shrugged, still refusing to meet my gaze. As upset as he was, I doubted he could hear my thoughts at all.
    Trina walked with him to Science, patting him sympathetically on the arm while I followed a few steps behind. So she knew what was upsetting him but he couldn’t tell me?
    During class, I focused all of my attention on the two of them, right behind me, and none at all on the teacher. Neither of them said anything for most of the period, though I was still getting waves of awful emotion from Rigel. When I did catch occasional snippets of thoughts, they didn’t make sense: Can’t be true. But is that why she—? Would explain a lot…
    Finally, just before the bell, I heard Trina’s whisper. “Rigel, I really am so sorry I had to be the one to tell you. If there’s anything I can do…”
    “You’ve done enough, Trina. Thanks.” Then, straight to my mind from his, How could you, M? I trusted you!
    I sat frozen for several painful heartbeats, before glancing over my shoulder. I had to stifle a gasp at the agony I saw on his face.
    Rigel! What do you think I’ve done? What did Trina tell you? Why would you ever believe anything she tells you? Whatever she said, it’s a lie, I promise!
    For a moment uncertainty mixed with the pain, anger and jealousy I felt from him, but all he thought back to me was, Later. That one word was so harsh, it struck me like a physical blow, making me reel again.  
    Steadying myself, I followed them to the cafeteria, determined to clear things up even if I had to sit on top of Rigel to make him answer me. By now I felt pretty betrayed myself, that he’d ever judge me based on anything Trina said. Didn’t he know her better than that? Didn’t he know me better than that??
    Halfway to the cafeteria, Trina gave Rigel one last soothing pat on the arm and peeled off down another hallway. Glancing after her, I saw Sean coming our way, so I hurried to Rigel’s side to snatch a brief moment of relative privacy.
    “Rigel,” I hissed, “you have to tell me what’s going on! What the hell has Trina been saying about me?”
    He shot me a quick, pained glance then looked away. “It’s not what she said . I don’t— But I guess it explains why lately you’ve been so—”
    “Hey, you two.” It was Molly, though I’d expected Sean. “What’s up?”
    I shrugged, not wanting to admit there was a problem until I knew what the problem was. Looking back, I saw Trina talking to Sean a little way behind us. Great. Whatever she was saying to him, it was guaranteed to make things worse, not better.
    “We leave tomorrow , can you believe it? Are you all packed?” Molly whispered, apparently not noticing the tension between us in her excitement.  
    “Um, mostly.” I tried to hide my frustration at the interruption. “How about you?”
    “I