Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

back. ?Anyway. I knew about the knife thing because, well, I tried

to stab you once, too,? she continued bashfully. ?But I already

knew you?d be fine because of what happened with Gretchen and

the scissors in second grade. Remember??

Helen grimaced. ?Oh, yeah! Gretchen and the scissors! She really

was trying to kill me, wasn?t she??

?Yeah, she was. She was crazy jealous of you. But I never wanted

to hurt you, I just had to be sure I wasn?t losing my mind. It was

scary, you know?? she asked apologetically.

Helen smiled, forgiving her instantly.

?I guess I can?t blame you. But how?d you know about the

lightning-bolt thing??

?Remember when we were nine, we were going off island on the

ferry to see the Boston Aquarium, and that creepy guy with that

huge gut kept trying to talk to us? Remember how he kept ?accidentally?

bumping up against you and stroking your hair??

Helen did remember, even though she had spent a lot of time trying

to forget. There had been that horrible smell of burnt hair, and

the empty look in his eyes. Helen nodded, shivering at the thought,

and dreading where Claire was going.

?Remember how he just disappeared suddenly before we docked?

Well, he didn?t just disappear. He tried to grab you, Len, and I saw

an electric spark jump from you to him. It blew him right off the

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deck of the ferry. It looked like lightning, except it came out of

you.?

?I think I killed him,? Helen whispered, needing finally to admit

what she had done.

?Good! He was a child molester! You should probably get a

medal,? Claire insisted. Helen looked at Claire?s earnest face. The