Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

?Don?t you think your mom is worried enough as it is? Go clean

up before you come downstairs,? Jason said quietly.

It was a guilt trip, pure and simple, but Jason was still right. Lucas

nodded and pulled his shirt off over his head on his way to the

bathroom. He washed, dressed, and met the rest of his family

down in the kitchen. Even so, everyone stared at him when he

walked in the room, and his mother looked like she had seen a

ghost. Lucas checked his edges and realized that he was blurring

himself. His mom always got upset when he did that because she

knew that meant that he was upset. He made a conscious effort to

let the light do what it wanted, and sat down in a corner, his eyes

on Cassandra. Then the sound of bickering made him realize that

Claire was there.

?What are you still doing here?? Jason was saying in a dismayed

voice. ?Why didn?t you go back with them??

?I?m not going anywhere until we find Lennie,? Claire huffed

back at him.

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?We?? Jason sputtered, but Claire held up an imperious hand

and fished her vibrating phone out of her back pocket.

?Guys?? Claire said, looking at the incoming number. ?It?s

Helen.?

?Let me talk to her,? Lucas demanded as he jumped up out of his

chair and held out his hand to take the phone.

?She called me, not you,? Claire said gently.

She answered her phone, immediately asking Helen several questions

at once. Then Claire was quiet for a moment. She put the call

on speakerphone.

?Okay, Len, we can all hear you. What is it?? Claire asked, looking

around at the rest of his family but avoiding eye contact with