Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

to be unbearably weak and slow.?

?And we spend as much time making sure no one gets hurt as we

do playing,? added Jason with a rueful smile. ?The truth is we?d

much rather be beating each other up than pretending to beat up

mortals, but that wouldn?t look normal at all.?

?Well, good luck on the whole looking-normal thing,? Helen said

briskly, stepping aside to let Jason and Hector go past her.

?I?ll find you after school,? Lucas promised her as he followed his

cousins. He glanced back and gave her a concerned look. Helen

tried to smile for him, but her expression was so phony she

wondered if Lucas could feel the lie in it.

140/395

Helen slouched into the cafeteria, hoping to duck across the

room without attracting too much attention. She saw Gretchen say

something to Amy Heart and then the whole table of cheerleaders

started laughing mockingly at Helen. It took Helen far too long to

recover, and by the time she got herself oriented, everyone in the

cafeteria was staring at her. She retreated to her usual table with

Matt and Claire, sure she could feel a cramp coming on.

?Would you please just stand up straight!? Claire barked at her.

?There?s nothing more pathetic than watching you try to dissolve

feetfirst into the frigging floor, and I swear if I catch you doing it

one more time I?m going to lose it.?

It was the last straw. Helen spun around on her heel and fled the

cafeteria. She tried to eat her lunch in the restroom, sitting on a

sink, but the venue was so unappetizing that she gave up on her

sandwich after a few bites.

She made it through her last three classes and practically ran to

the girls? locker room when the final bell rang, but Claire was

already there waiting for her.