Starlee's Turn (The Wayward Sons 2)

“Starlee? Are you okay?”

I shake my head and stand, leaving everything on the table. The book, the tickets. I step out into the warm, rainy night and lift my face, feeling the rain drops splatter across my skin.

I walk away before my mother can catch me, tucking into the shadows and heading toward home. The walk isn’t long, and it isn’t pleasant in the rain, but when I get there and find her waiting on the porch, at least I can breathe. Or I could, for a minute.

“Starlee, get out of the rain.”

“No.”

She tilts her head, shocked at my tone. Crossing her arms over her chest, she asks, “Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”

“I can’t do this.”

“This? What’s this? The trip? We have months to prepare.”

“No, Mom. I can’t do this anymore. Me and you. This house. The homeschooling. The trip. Any of it.”

“What are you talking about?” She frowns. “Please get out of the rain. You’ll get sick.”

“Mom,” I say in a stern voice over the sound of the rain and wind, “you’re not listening to me. I can’t do it anymore. I’m done.” She recoils at my words. “I hate this life. I hate this house, and every day, you’re making me hate you, too.”

She blinks at me, shocked, as if I slapped her. I may as well have. “You hate me.”

“No, Mom, listen, it’s just…”

“No, I get it. Your grandmother, those boys… they turned you against me. I thought sending you out there would make you appreciate what we have here, but I was wrong. It just poisoned your mind. Whatever, Starlee. If you’re done, then I’m done, too.”

Of course, this is everyone’s fault but hers. Typical Star Jones.

She turns and walks into the house, leaving me in the rain. My hair is soaked, my toes and fingers cold. I don’t mind, though, because my chest has loosened and I can finally breathe. I may have turned my whole life upside down, but it’s my life to claim, and for the first time, I’m claiming it.

4

Starlee

Before I spent the summer in Lee Vines, I never would have had the courage to do what I did next. But my boys taught me that life is worth fighting for—a good life. It’s not like any one of them had it easy. They struggle too, but Sierra helped them build a home. I want that life, too. One with people that care and encourage the best for me.

After the fight in the rain I went to my room, showered, and packed my bags. I pulled out the small beaded Hello Kitty purse I’d had since I was eight and counted my money.

After I knew my mother was asleep, really asleep, I snuck downstairs, found the ticket she gave me for my birthday, and left the house. The rain had lessened, and I walked back to the business district, where I boarded the subway for the airport.

It took a little finagling at the airport, but I exchanged my ticket for a flight to Vegas. The first flight to Vegas. Six-thirty a.m. By the time my mother gets up, I’ll be somewhere over Alabama.

I didn’t call Leelee or the Wayward Sun before I left. I didn’t want anyone to talk me out of this. I’m eighteen, technically an adult, and it’s time for me to start living my own life. My best life.

The plane lands and it’s still morning in Vegas with the time change. It doesn’t take me long to find the transportation terminal. I need a bus to California. I’d rent a car if I could, but eighteen isn’t old enough. The bus ticket costs me sixty-eight dollars, and I feel the paranoia creeping up my back with every minute I’m not on the road. What if my mom calls the airport? What if she figures out I’m here?

“Miss? Are you okay?”

I force a smile through my panic. “Yes. Just tired. Long day of traveling already.”

The clerk nods in understanding. “The good news is that the bus is leaving in an hour. You won’t have to wait long.”

“Great. Thank you.”

I take my ticket and move to a quiet corner. There, I pull out the stack of letters I’d received from the boys over the last two months.

Jake—I won’t lie and pretend the sunrise wasn’t amazing this morning, but it’s lonely without you. And cold. I miss your body heat. I just finished Golden Son. At the climax, I was shaking with anger. Then wanted to cry. Then something flipped in my head, like a switch. I knew Darrow couldn’t go down that path…”