Starbound: A Starstruck Novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

chance. If you’d come to my party Saturday night I would have—”
    Luckily the teacher turned around right then, forcing Trina to shut up, but I could feel Rigel’s frustration and jealousy from what she’d already said, along with his worry about what I wasn’t saying. My compromise with the Council had been tougher on Rigel than anyone, no matter what Sean claimed. I’d gotten pretty good at defusing Rigel’s occasional spurts of jealousy, but keeping big secrets from him was bound to make that harder.  
    Ever since that one almost-fight last fall (which I’d broken up), Sean and Rigel hadn’t exchanged anything worse than occasional snide comments, instead making an effort to at least pretend to be friends, for my sake. I was proud of them both and hated to think that truce might be threatened now.
    “I heard everything Trina said,” I told Rigel as we left for the cafeteria, wishing more than ever I could hold his hand. Stupid deal. No, a deal that saved Rigel’s life, I reminded myself sternly—and quietly.
    “Yeah, I wish she’d lay off.” Waves of irritation poured off him, distracting him. “If she’s not trying to set me up with one of the other cheerleaders, she’s trying to get me to ask her out or go to some party.”
    “I guess she’s made a project out of you.” But my attempt at a joke backfired.
    I hate everyone feeling sorry for me! he thought fiercely. I mean, I know you still…that we’re still…
    I surreptitiously brushed his hand. I still love you more than anything, Rigel! That hasn’t changed at all ! But if it would make you feel less…feel more… I don’t know…feel better , you can go to parties and stuff. I won’t get mad. I’ll know it’s just part of the act.
    “Hey, guys.” Sean came up from behind and wedged himself between us. “No need for a Bodyguard now that I’m here.” He grinned at Rigel and threw an arm around my shoulders.  
    When the O’Garas first got to Jewel, I’d learned there was some kind of Martian taboo about people touching the Sovereign. They’d been so careful about it at first, it made me feel weird. Now I wished I hadn’t given Sean blanket permission to do this sort of thing whenever he thought it would “look good.” He was definitely taking way too much advantage of it.  
    That’s for sure. Rigel’s thought reminded me yet again how careful I needed to be. He’s the one you need your body guarded from. His irritation surged back, along with a seriously rude comment about Sean he luckily didn’t say out loud.  
    “You coming to the game tomorrow night?” Sean asked, oblivious. “First game of Sectionals, can you believe it?”
    Rigel answered for both of us, managing to sound like he wasn’t gritting his teeth, though I could tell he was. “We’ll both be there, unless M’s aunt keeps her home.”
    “She’s been loads better lately.” I wondered how either of them could even think about basketball when we were leaving for freaking Mars in three weeks.  
    “Loads better than when we —” Rigel began, then broke off.
    Between us, Sean grinned widely. “Hey, it’s not my fault she trusts me more, or likes me better, or whatever.”
    “Stop it, Sean,” I snapped. “It’s your mom she likes so much, and you know it. And you know why.”
    In addition to her lie-detector power, Mrs. O’Gara had the Royal ability to gently persuade other people to her way of thinking. Sort of a psychic “push.” It creeped me out at first, but now I was figuring out how to use it myself, it was kind of cool. Especially when it worked on super-strict Aunt Theresa.
    Sean shrugged, still grinning. “If you say so.”  
    From beyond him I felt Rigel’s jealousy surging up again.  
    I sighed audibly so they’d both know I was tired of playing peacemaker. To my relief, Sean stopped his needling and Rigel’s emotions eased back down to reasonably normal levels. When we got to the lunch table Bri, Deb and Molly had already