7
Starlee
I’m in the middle of Lit when there’s a tap on the classroom door. I’m busy taking the notes when I hear my teacher say, “Starlee, you’ve been called to the office. Take your books, class is ending soon.”
I close my notebook and gather my stuff, slinging my backpack over my shoulder, ignoring everyone watching me leave the room. At this point I’m used to everyone’s attention, but I still hate it. It brings up all the anxiety I’ve worked so hard to bury and it’s getting harder and harder to push back down again.
There’s one set of eyes that I feel the most—Christina. She’s hyper-focused on everything I do, although if I look at her she’ll pretend to be busy; taking notes, typing on her phone, studying her nails. I sense her watching now but I don’t give her the satisfaction of glancing her way. She’s not worth it.
My teacher hands me the hall pass and I leave the room, stepping into the cooler air of the hallway. The paper says to go to room 105—which is not the office. It takes me a few minutes since I’m not fully acclimated to the building yet but it’s on the first level, next to the chorus room.
The whole thing seems super weird and I double-check the note from the again. It’s on an official slip—Mrs. Cline’s signature is at the bottom. I turn the knob and open the door, but there’s no adult inside. It’s my wayward sons. And Claire.
“What’s going on?” I say, both excited and wary. I’m still clinging to the note.
Claire smiles. “I work in the office during second period. Since you guys are banned from seeing one another, I used my limited but useful power to get us all into one room at the same time without anyone noticing.”
I’m stunned and confused but Jake doesn’t waste the moment. He walks over and pulls me into a hug, wrapping his strong arms around me. “We’re going to figure this out,” he whispers in my ear. My heart thuds erratically just being near him.
“Thank you,” I say to Claire once he releases me. I scan the boys. They all look tired. Charlie in particular. I don’t hesitate to walk over and link my fingers with his. He gives me a tight smile in return and squeezes back.
“Since you guys are all too close to this situation, I’ve decided to insert myself into your problem. Mostly because I loathe Christina and we all know she’s behind this.”
“We know why,” Dexter says, glancing at Jake, “but how? How did she get the police to listen to her or our social workers?”
“Maybe through her dad or something?” Claire says. “He’s a lawyer. He’d know people.”
Dexter’s jaw clenches tight as he nods. “Well, that sucks.”
“It does. I know you think that the rule about not seeing Starlee is the hardest part right now, but I think you need to look at the bigger picture,” she says, leaning on the director’s platform.
“Getting the twins back home,” I say. “That’s the priority.”
George looks like he’s about to argue but Charlie shoots him a look and says, “We’re fine. Starlee’s name needs to be cleared in all this so we can see each other again. It’s pointless being back at Sierra’s if she’s considered a risk.”
“Can we do both?” Jake asks. “Aren’t they sort of the same thing?”
“I made the decision to run away from home,” I explain. “I can’t change the past but we need to show everyone that Sierra can be trusted and while we’re doing that maybe they’ll start to trust me.”
“How are we going to do that?” Dexter asks, arms crossed over his chest.
“By following the rules,” Claire says. “Stay away from each other at school, don’t cross paths at home. Don’t give Christina anything she can use against you.”
“For how long?” Jake asks.
“Until my hearing,” Dexter says, catching on. “It’s right after New Year. Starlee, you should come and talk to the judge yourself.”
“So what? We have to stay away from one another for four weeks?” I laugh. “We’ve done longer.”
“And it sucked,” George grumbles. “I don’t like this plan and I don’t see how it’s going to make a difference for me and Charlie.”
“You’re going to keep your nose clean, follow the rules and wait out my probation,” Dexter says. “We’ll get Sierra’s license reinstated and after that, you guys petition Mrs. Delange to let you come back home.”
“If we make it that long,” Charlie mutters under his breath. I tighten my grip on his hand again.
Jake runs his hands through his hair. “This seems really freaking complicated.”
“Oh right, and Jake, you need to neutralize Christina,” Claire says with a grimace.