Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

thinking she might still have a chance to sneak away, when

Ariadne spotted her and waved her over.

During that uncomfortable lunch, Ariadne was as nice as could

be to Helen, and even though there was a brittle quality to Cassandra?s

smiles, there were plenty of them. Despite this genuine attempt

at friendship, Helen was so agitated by the insufferable presence

of the Furies hovering just outside the corner of her eye that

her testy behavior earned her several scandalized looks from

Gretchen and a few worried ones from Claire. As they left the cafeteria,

Claire pulled Helen aside.

?Would it kill you to be nice?? she asked.

?You have no idea how hard I?m trying,? Helen replied though

tight lips.

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?Try harder. You?re coming off like a total snob, and I know

you?re not one so don?t even start.? Claire continued over Helen?s

protestation: ?I can tell there?s something weird going on. Something

that you?re not telling me about. I?m fine with that. But

you have to start pretending you like them or people like Gretchen

and Zach are going to make sure that your life here is miserable

until graduation.?

Helen nodded submissively. She knew she was getting good advice,

but her life was already miserable enough without cozying up

to the Delos family. Still, the next day she did her best to make an

effort and smiled at Ariadne and Jason as she passed them in the

hall. The attempt wasn?t pretty?it came off more like a toothy

grimace than a grin?but it was well received by the twins.

Hector was a different story. Apparently, he didn?t share in the

opinion that they should all try to get along, and after another harrowing

day of forcing herself not to flinch when she saw Lucas,