Free Starbright (The Starbright Series) by Rachel Higginson

reason I wasn’t picking up the vibe that they would be immed iate and life-long best friends.
                  “So, are you two a…. thing?” Seth asked, his eyes narrowing infinitesimally. I bristled a little at the question, right now t he only right he had with me was to protect me from everything evil ; a human boyfriend, whether acceptable to the Elders or not, was technically none of his business. Still, it wasn’t like Tristan was just any regular person…. I mean, with every muscle on his body cut to perfection, his tall, lanky frame and his breath-taking smile I knew he could be intimidating. Although Seth was an actual A ngel…. no reason to have a superiority complex.
                  “If by thing, you mean best friends, then yes, we are. Tristan is more like my brother than anything else,” I explained lightly , grabbing onto Tristan’s bicep and shaking it playfully. I looked up at Tristan, craning my neck so I could see him clearly expecting a reassuring smile, the same smile I got every time I explained we were not a couple, but this time the only expression I got in return was a clenched jaw and narrowed eyes.
                  “So why are you here?” Tristan asked bluntly. “I thought you weren’t supposed to meet until you both turned twenty-five or something?”
                  “Oh, that’s what I have to talk to you about!” I rushed forward into the conversation , hoping the severity of my situation would distract both boys from whatever weirdness was happening between them. “But you have to be freezing! Let’s go inside, and I’ll explain everything .”
                  When neither boy made an attempt to move, I decided they would follow me if I took the initiative . I led the way around the building to the back of the school where the locker rooms led out onto the football field. Finding the window that led downward into the boy’s locker room, I jimmied the lock, like I had done for years now and removed the rectangle glass from its frame. I leaned it against the building and then turned to smile at Seth and Tristan who had followed me , although by the scowls on their faces I assumed a bit reluctantly.
                  “I’ll go first and help you down,” Tristan volunteered. “And you too, Seth, if you need it,” he finished with a challenge.
                  “I doubt either Stella or I will need your help ,” Seth countered, full of confidence.
                  Tristan faltered a little, realizing after all these years that I probably didn’t need his help. I could fly. Actually fly. Probably jumping a few feet to a cement floor wasn’t a trial for me . But he had never seemed concerned about that before and I didn’t mind if he wanted to be chivalrous.
                  “You’ve never needed my help, have you? ” Tristan confronted me gently ; searching for the truth he knew I was incapable of hiding from him . My eyes glistened against the sun as I looked up at him and I blinked rapidly hoping to keep my Star instincts at bay. Glowing eyes could be unsettling. At his direct question though , emotion flared beneath my skin, causing it to warm ever so slightly, glowi ng right along with the rest of me despite my effort to stay completely normal .
                  “No, I’ve never needed it,” I admitted, reaching out for Tristan’s fingers with my own. “But I’ve always appreciated it.” I gave him my most charming smile , hoping to distract his sour mood. I loved Tristan like a brother and I hated that he felt disappointed. He was used to human girls, raised to be gentlemanly. And I hadn’t lied to him, even if I had an arsenal of super-human abilities, it was still nice to be treated like a lady.
                  Tristan held my gaze for a moment longer before exhaling a sigh that told me I was forgiven . He slid in through