When Stars Come Out (When Stars Come Out 1)

This is the first time I've been in the Headmaster's Office. It's exactly what I pictured: an ornate, cherry wood desk sits in front of a set of bookshelves full of leather-bound volumes. The only decorations on the walls are three framed diplomas. A window overlooks the front of campus. An officer stands slightly behind Mr. Rivera’s desk as he takes a seat.

“Please, sit.” Mr. Rivera indicates to two chairs in front of his desk, and we do. “Miss Silby, we were notified you were recently in an altercation with Miss Martin.”

Those words sound strange, though they are true. Mom stiffens beside me. I glimpse a flash of betrayal in her eyes before it melts into disbelief. As if the officer catches it, too, he says, “We have video footage.”

“She attacked me,” I say in defense, mostly for Mom’s sake. I need her to understand I haven’t been walking around here picking fights with people.

“Did you have any previous encounters with Lily?”

“No,” I shake my head. “We were going to be friends, I think.”

The policeman and Mr. Rivera exchange a glance. “So, her behavior toward you was...out of character?”

“Yes.”

There is silence and then Mr. Rivera says, “But you do have a history of instigating fights, Miss Silby.”

“Was that supposed to be a question?” Mom interjects. She’s frustrated, and I'm not sure if it's at me or them.

“Miss Silby has had a previous altercation with another student.”

“That was one time!” I argue. ?

?And Natalie started it. Did she tell you that?”

Mom looks at me, her gaze flickers—she can’t decide what to believe. I never had any reason to tell her about the fight with Natalie. I didn't get detention and hadn't had to go to the Headmaster's Office. I just kept it secret. Until now.

Lennon said Natalie would destroy me with her connections. Is this the beginning?

Mr. Rivera and the policeman seem to reconsider where they are taking this conversation. “What happened when you found Miss Martin?”

I shake my head a little. “I happened upon her outside at lunch. She...was staring up at the roof, saying she needed to be seen.”

The words sound bizarre. I can’t tell by anyone’s expression whether they believe me.

“What else?” The officer prods.

I don't respond immediately. I'm trying to keep the tears burning my eyes from spilling down my face. I take a shaky breath and say, “She just seemed to think she wasn't supposed to be here.”

“Thank you, Miss Silby,” Mr. Rivera says. “If we have any more questions, we'll be in touch. If you would like to speak to a counselor, they are available to you. In the meantime, all homecoming events are cancelled. Classes will resume Friday.”

Once we’re outside Mr. Rivera’s office, I glance at Mom, whose face is unreadable.

“I didn't tell you about Natalie because I didn't want you to think I couldn't do this,” I say. “Please don't send me away.”

Her face falters at that. “Oh honey,” she says, wrapping her arm around me. “None of this is your fault.”

She has no idea.

From this moment on, I’m not looking for a coin. I’m looking for a murderer.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – SHY & THE LIFE THAT GOES ON

I want Lily down from there. I consider doing it myself—just shifting in front of all these people, cradling her against my chest and cutting her down with my scythe. Jacobi knows what I’m thinking, because he puts his hand on my shoulder. It’s his way of anchoring me, yet I feel anything but grounded as I stare up at Lily, lifeless, tethered to the end of that rope. I think I should have expected this—well not this exactly

Never this.

Jacobi and I leave Lily when we’re forced inside the school by officers and medics. She hasn’t been dead fifteen minutes and I’ve already been summoned to the Compound. At some point, I’ll have to answer the summons, but right now, I really just want my mom. As I climb into my Jeep to leave, Natalie calls my name, running toward me. I tense, and it makes me realize that anytime I hear her voice, I expect a fight. My stomach clenches.