Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

help. ?I think I should get a pretty good athletic scholarship for

track. I got much faster over the summer. Really.?

Mr. Hergeshimer stared at her earnest face begging him to let it

go, and finally conceded. ?All right. But if you feel like you need

more of an academic challenge, you are welcome to join my AP

English class at any point this semester.?

25/395

?Thank you, Mr. Hergeshimer. If I feel like I can handle AP, I?ll

come to you,? Helen said, grateful to be let off the hook.

As she went back to her desk, it occurred to her that she had to

keep Hergie and her father away from each other at all cost. She

didn?t want them comparing notes and deciding that she needed to

be in special classes and go out for special awards. Even the

thought gave her a bellyache. Why couldn?t they all just ignore her?

Secretly, Helen had always felt she was different, but she thought

she had done a pretty good job of hiding it her whole life. Apparently,

without realizing it, she?d been sending out hints of that buried

freak inside of her. She had to try to keep her head down, but

she wondered how she was going to do that when she kept getting

taller and taller every damn day.

?What?s up?? Claire asked as soon as Helen returned to her seat.

?Just another motivational moment from Hergie. He doesn?t

think I?m applying myself,? Helen said as breezily as she could.

?You don?t apply yourself. You never do your work,? Zach replied,

more offended than he should have been.

?Shut it, Zach,? Claire said, crossing her arms belligerently. She

turned and faced Helen. ?It?s true, though, Lennie,? she told her

apologetically. ?You never do your work.?

?Yeah, yeah. You can both shut it,? Helen said, chuckling. The

bell rang and she gathered her things. Matt Millis gave her a smile