Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

went over to a pair of complete strangers at another booth. She

smiled at the two shocked tourists, pointed to her necklace, and

asked the man closest to her what he thought it looked like.

?A rose. Of course,? he said with a hopeful smile. His friend

leaned in and took a look, as if he were drawn to it.

?That?s a locket,? he said with a faraway look in his eye. ?Just like

my mom used to wear.?

?Thanks,? Helen said to them, then turned and went back to her

table with a shrug. ?You?re all wrong, except for Lucas. My mom

gave me this charm when I was a baby. It?s a heart, and I?ve never

worn anything but this heart since, like, forever.?

?That?s what I see!? Cassandra said like she had just solved a

mystery. ?I?ve been wondering what everyone was talking about!?

Helen sat back down next to Lucas. ?Personally, I think you all

see what you want to see.?

Cassandra?s mouth dropped open. ?Oh my gods! She?s projecting!

That?s why everyone is so cheerful and suddenly started jumping

on top of each other like it?s mating season at the zoo.? she

said. Her eyes were wide. She looked at Hector. ?I need to go home

right now.?

?But . . . our burgers,? he said, slightly forlorn but also aware of

the fact that he was going to end up doing whatever Cassandra told

him to do.

?We?ll need all this to go,? Cassandra said to the food runner. She

turned to Helen. ?I think I?ve figured this out, but I still need to test

it.?

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They raced back to the Delos compound, the rowdy group storming

into the library and upsetting Castor and Pallas. Cassandra

dragged one of the ladders over to a high shelf of her choosing and