A Sea of Stars Read Online Free PDF Page A

to call you Cat, because I have one of those already and she’s much nicer than you.” But I swallow my words back down when I notice her bitten nails. They’re all crusty and scabby with blood where she’s nibbled and nibbled so hard.
    Cat, Cat, Cat. Her name chinks on my teeth like silver, it sits on my tongue like a bomb.
    The waitress puts some menus on the table and I’m just about to pick one up when a text pips through to my phone.
    What’s Cat like ?
    It’s from Anna and I’m about to text back the word ‘Confusing’ when Cat leans over and tries to read the message.
    â€œTexts are private,” I say, gently budging her away with my elbow.
    â€œIt’s rude to text at the table, Maya,” says Mum. “You should know that. Especially with Cat here, so switch it off right now! OK?”
    â€œIt’s not rude,” I say, looking at Cat. “I mean, she’s my sister. It’s not like she’s a guest or anything. Anna does texting in front of Evie.”
    Dad glares.
    â€œNot at the table, Maya,” he says. “Now, be a good girl and put it away.”
    â€œI don’t care,” says Cat, twiddling her hair round her finger. “It doesn’t bother me.”
    â€œWell, it bothers me,” says Mum, pulling my phone from my hand and slipping into her bag.
    â€œCome on, my girls,” says Dad, smiling. “What are you going to have? Go for anything you like; we’re celebrating, remember?”
    I pick up the menu and stare at it. All the words are swimming about and the damselflies are whirring again. A million silvery wings whirring in nervous spirals. It’s weird because I’ve ordered food in a restaurant a thousand million times before, but never with my sister here, never with Cat’s custardy hair wafting up my nose. And my hands won’t stop shaking.
    â€œMargarita for me, please, Dad,” I say, trying to sound normal. “And some garlic bread and a chocolate milkshake.”
    â€œWhat about you, Cat?” says Dad. “What will you have?”
    Cat’s eyes slide over the menu. She shuffles in her seat. She nibbles on her nails.
    â€œAm I allowed a whole one?” she asks. “All to myself?”
    â€œYes, Cat,” Mum laughs. “Of course.”
    â€œDon’t laugh at me,” snaps Cat, turning into a shark. “I didn’t know.”
    Mum zips her laugh away and turns redder than her hair. She coughs and the air between us tugstight. “No,” she says, “of course not. I’m sorry, Cat. What would you like, sweetheart?”
    â€œMeat feast, two lots of cheesy bread and a Coke.”
    â€œMmmmm, I think I’ll have the meat feast too,” says Dad, stretching back in his chair and rubbing his hands together. “And, go on, I’ll push the boat out and have a Coke as well.”
    â€œSame as me, Daaaaaad,” says Cat.
    Her words creep under my skin. It’s weirder than weird hearing her calling him ‘Dad’ already. It makes my whole body whir and my heart feel empty and small. I know I have to share him now, we’ve talked about it loads, but I didn’t think it would feel like this. He’s my dad.
    Cat looks in Dad’s eyes and smiles. She turns her head a little bit to one side like she’s unexpectedly shy, then she nibble-nibble-nibbles on a nail. Dad smiles back and winks. And the little knife in my tummy twists and bites as a spark of love flies from Dad’s eye to Cat’s heart. I pinch the back of myhand. I should have ordered Coke and a meat feast as well, then I would’ve been in Dad’s team too.
    The waitress comes over and puts a pot of felt-tip pens in the space between Cat and me. She smiles and gives us each a poster for colouring in, even though we’re a bit too old for it.
    â€œSomeone’s birthday, is it?” she asks, tying purple balloons on the back of our