Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

we done??

?We?re done. You can put your street clothes back on after you

wash up,? he said briskly as if to banish the heavy mood he had

fallen into. He took her face in his hands one last time and examined

her former cuts. After a few moments he released her. ?You

certainly do heal fast. But you?ll still have some impressive bruises,

so if I were you I?d avoid your father for the rest of the night.?

?I?ll just tell him you abuse me,? Helen said with a shrug. She

jumped off the examining table.

?And I?ll tell him you like it,? he teased back, his voice rich and

slow. Helen looked

up at him, feeling drowsy again. For a moment

he was just a breath away from her, but then he backed away.

As he walked out of the locker room he stripped off his bloody

shirt and threw it in the garbage. Helen?s vision stabilized again,

and she watched his bare back moving away from her. The last

cobwebs clearing from her eyes, she decided that if Lucas was gay

then she was going to have to get a sex change operation. He would

be so worth it.

While she cleaned up she got a chance to examine her mouth.

Her left front tooth was still in the process of growing back in, and

Helen had to laugh at how ridiculous she looked. How Lucas had

managed to keep a straight face while he looked at her when she

was as gap-toothed as a six-year-old was beyond comprehension.

Then she realized he must have seen it so many times that he

barely noticed it. Helen thought about what Ariadne had said?that

they had grown up ?at each other?s throats.? As if summoned by

Helen?s thoughts, Ariadne poked her head into the locker room to

check in.

?Do you need a hand healing?? she asked timidly.