Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

Tar was not about to forget it.

Dodging her way through the day, Helen made it to work that

evening with something like relief, until she realized that a lot of

kids from her school were coming in to buy a single piece of candy

or one can of soda.

?Why don?t you go to the back and do some stocking for me??

Kate asked, giving Helen a gentle pat on the arm. ?They?ll stop

coming in to gawk if they think you?ve left for the day.?

?Don?t they have anything else to do on a Friday night?? Helen

asked hopelessly.

?What island did you grow up on?? Kate replied sarcastically.

Helen rested her forehead briefly on Kate?s shoulder, stealing a

second of comfort before she straightened up. ?You may as well do

the inventory, too. And take as long as you want,? Kate added as

Helen headed toward the back.

Inventory was not usually Helen?s favorite job, but it was that

night. She was so occupied counting every object in the store that

before she knew it, they were locking the front and going through

the ritual of closing down.

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?So. What really happened between you and that Lucas kid??

Kate asked without looking up from the stacks of bills she was

sorting.

?I wish I knew.? Helen sighed as she rested on her broom handle.

?Everyone?s talking about you two. And not just the kids,? Kate

said with a half smile. ?So what?s up??

?Look, if I had an explanation, believe me, I?d be shouting it in

the streets. I don?t know why I attacked him,? Helen said. ?And the

worst thing is that the attack isn?t the worst thing.?

?Oh, you?re going to have to explain that,? Kate said. She put