Starlee's Home (The Wayward Sons 3)

I glance over at the boy I think is in my Chemistry class. He’s got dark brown hair and a shirt that says UCLA Baseball across the chest. His blue eyes skip from Margaret to me. “Sure. What’s your name?”

“Jasper.”

I scribble it on my list. “That’s great. We need signs to place around the school. Anyone interested in that?”

“What about Charlie?”

I look up from my paper. Christina’s perfectly sculpted eyebrow is raised in question. I swallow and say, “Charlie’s no longer in the club.”

She frowns and looks at her friends innocently. “Oh, that’s too bad. He was really helpful. I guess—"

“I’ll do it,” Claire interrupts. “I can make the signs.”

I smile and write down her name. “Thank you.”

Christina glares at her former friend, but I’m over her drama. “That’s it for today. We’ll need everyone’s help in drumming up interest for the school to participate.” I give Christina a small smirk. “Maybe you can work on that. I know you love spreading around information.”

She rolls her eyes in return. I know better than to think I can get a jab in with her. She’s done her damage. Jake and I are no longer a couple in any way. The other boys are just icing on her miserable cake.

After everyone leaves the room, Claire walks over and I mumble, “I really want to take her down a peg or two.”

“Patience, girl, patience.”

I shove my notebook in my bag. “I’ve about run out.”

“You still need a ride?”

I wrinkle my nose. “It’s so out of your way. I feel bad.”

“Don’t. I don’t mind at all. Keeps me from doing that stupid Health assignment.”

“Oh crap, I forgot about that.” This semester we’re alternating days between P.E. and Health. Our teacher is vegan and our assignment is to make some kind of vegan dish to share with the class. “You want to come to my house and work on it together?”

The truth is, I’d love to have Claire come to the house. It’s lonely with Leelee working and sometimes going to dinner with Tom.

“Sure, that sounds great. We can stop at the store for ingredients first.”

“Awesome.”

There’s a small buzz in my chest as I follow Claire out of the classroom and to her car. This is the kind of stuff friends do. Homework and hanging out. We walk out of the building toward her car and I can’t help but think about how I came out here for the Wayward Sons but maybe there’s so much more I’ve been missing.

11

Dexter

I’ve just finished wiping down the counters when there’s a knock on the coffee shop door. Sierra’s in the kitchen, taking a break from harassing Jake about homework. I can’t tell if he’s really that hard to tutor of if he’s making my sister pay for taking Starlee away. Either way, they’re both frustrated.

I walk over to the door, drying my hands on a towel, and peek through the window. Claire stands on the other side.

I toss the towel on a nearby table and unlock the door. “Hey. If you’re looking for coffee, I just dumped it out.”

“I’m not looking for coffee, or I wasn’t, until you mentioned it,” she frowns. “I came to get you. We need your help.”

I stand straight. “Who? Starlee? Is she okay?”

Her expression relaxes. “Oh, she’s fine, we’re just in the middle of a baking crisis.”

“A baking crisis?”