Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

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Chapter Five

The next week at school was nothing short of torture. On

Monday, Helen tried to stay away from the Delos family,

but every effort she made to avoid contact seemed to lead

her right to them. She went to school early to try to beat

them there, only to see them pull up behind her in the

black Hum-Scalade she had seen at the market. She rushed to lock

up her bike and get her bags together, but her rush only put her in

stride with Jason and Hector. Slowing down to let them get ahead

of her, put her next to Lucas who was helping his little sister get

her cello out of the back. Helen took a flustered step forward, then

went back toward her bike to stand and wait there as long as it took

for them to go inside and get out of her way.

Later that day, she got permission to eat lunch outside, only to

find Cassandra was already out on the patio practicing the fingering

without using her bow on her cello. When she saw Cassandra,

Helen pulled up short. As she turned to go back inside, she

smacked into Ariadne. The contact made Helen?s skin prickle so

tight that her pores hurt, and although she tried to be gracious and

smile apologetically, Ariadne?s hands balled into fists around her

violin case. Helen stumbled to get away from her, both of them

mumbling apologies.

?Cass and I got an outdoor pass to practice. We?ll be out here

during lunch for the next few days,? Ariadne explained quickly,

avoiding eye contact as she moved away from Helen.