The Sound of Shooting Stars (8 page)

He breaks the silence, “Did you put those up? You did a really good job on the more known ones.”

I consider a lie telling him that yes I am gifted and I put them up myself but it’s pretty obvious by my recent mishap that it wasn’t me.

“No, David did it when I was ten.”

A few minutes later I whisper, “We would lay in this exact spot right before bed and he’d point them out to me.”

I smile as more of the memory rolls out, “He thought that once I could recognize them on my ceiling, I’d be able to spot them in the night sky.”

I laugh as I continue, “He was sadly very wrong. We tried on the balcony and I couldn’t find any. But at the beach, I did find that one.”

I point up to the great bear before us. He turns his head in my direction. I’m scared to look back at him but his stare calls to me. I turn my head and meet his gaze. I can feel his breath on my face. His expression is calm and determined. I close my eyes momentarily gathering my wits about me. Obviously I didn’t try hard enough to stay away.

When I open my eyes again a curious look has crossed his face. He asks quietly, “Beckett, what happened to our truce?”

The day comes slamming back into me. Sam, Samantha Jamison. I avert my eyes back up to the stars trying not to let him see the hurt in them.

My voice comes out strangled, “We still have it.”

His voice gathers anger, “That’s not what your dirty looks and actions say.”

I frown at his inference.
Actions? Is he referring to the kiss with Brett
? I shift uncomfortably and glance back at his intense stare.

“Jamie, why Samantha?”

This time it’s his turn to move away from my stare. He looks up at the stars and states, “Sam is family. Do you know why I know about those?” He gestures to the glistening dots above us.  I remain quiet urging him to go on.

“Sam’s dad. He was the closest I’ve ever come to having one of my own.”

He looks back over at me with a set look, “Sam is my family, the only one I’ve ever known. I lived with her family for six years.”

My breath escapes me as my heart skips a few beats.
Shit. Why me?

I turn briefly to look at the ceiling that has suddenly lost it’s pull on me. Angling on my side, I pull my body up with my undamaged hand. Once I’m sitting up I stand and look down at him. Concern is etched in his eyes but I l don’t give him a chance to ask any questions.

“I have to go and see if Marla is home. I might need to see a doctor after all.”

He scrambles to his feet but I’m already out the door skipping down the steps to put as much distance between us as I can. I knew Jamie Grey was bad news the moment I saw him. That’ll teach me not to listen to my inner voice.

Chapter Eleven

Jamie Grey

Capricornus – The Goat

Pan, the goat, helped scare the Titans away by blowing his conch shell and, later, he warned the gods that Typhon, a monster sent by Gaia to fight the gods, was approaching. He also suggested that the gods disguise themselves as animals until the danger passed.

~*~

Beckett is so infuriating and I was ready to let her have it when I got back to her house. The walk home didn’t take as long as I thought it would but I was practically soaked from the heat by the time I crossed into the frigid air of the house. I changed quickly and gathered my thoughts to give her hell. If this is my last stop, I have to make it work, and with that find some kind of agreement between us.

Her fall from the chair scared me half to death. I wanted to dive down and cushion her fall but it  happened so fast, all I could do was stand there and watch. I think she really did sprain her wrist but I didn’t want to push it. If I’ve learned anything in the last two days, it’s that Beckett Chase does things when she wants to.

When I learned why she had climbed up on the chair, my heart faltered for a moment. As if using a telescope to see a different side of her, I hurried to replace the missing star. First to make sure she didn’t attempt climbing that chair again, but also to fix the broken constellation. I think she was thrown when I laid down beside her to look up at them. But the softer side of her that I saw this morning peeked out, and it was refreshing.

 When she asked about Sam, her voice changed. It was as if Hyde was about to break free. I knew it just from her tone so I told her the truth. I don’t normally open up but in that moment it felt right and if it helps my cause of having a decent nine months, then she can know about Sam. However, the reaction she had was very unexpected. She fled the room before I had a chance to get up from the floor.

I stepped out into the hall and watched her descend the stairs, her pony tail bouncing with each movement.

Now I’m closed up in my room with my music and books spread across the desk. I’ve always done alright at school but not without a little effort. A distant goal has always been college but I’ve never dwelled on it. The chances for someone like me, not a perfect student and not an athlete, to go to college on a scholarship, are slim. Beckett on the other hand, I’m sure has a free ride. I shake my head trying to clear it of thoughts concerning her. She’s nothing but trouble, I need to stay away.

My phone starts to vibrate across the desk. I frown wondering who could be calling. An unknown number scrolls across the screen. I punch the answer button, lift it to my ear and wait.

“Jamie, are you there?” It’s Sam’s voice.

“Hey Sam, how’d you get my number?”

She giggles, “Oh I have my ways.”

My brows raise at this, wondering how she could have gotten it.

Her voice changes to a harder tone, “Jamie, I was wondering, can you get away to go to the beach. I wanted to talk to you and,” she hesitates before finishing, “school isn’t the place for what I want to talk about.”

“Yeah, I can probably be there in thirty minutes.”

“Do you want me to come and get you?”

I hesitate to answer. Sam coming to Beckett’s house is probably not a good thing.

She answers for me instead, “Cherry Street, right?”

“Yep,” I decide not to elaborate.

As if she can hear my inner thoughts she makes the decision for me.

“I’ll pick you up at the end of the street.”

I hang up wondering what Sam could possibly want to talk to me about. We just reunited and we don’t have much in common at this point in our lives except attending the same school. Not able to focus on homework any longer, I close my book, slip my feet into my flip flops and make my way down to the first floor. It’s quiet, something I’m not used to. All the homes I’ve been in have either had a load of kids or lots of yelling. Silence was hard to come by.

I stroll into the kitchen to find Sasha alone making dinner. She turns as I enter and smiles, “Hi Jamie, how are you?”

I hesitate but ask anyway, “Did Beckett… I mean did Marla come home yet?”

“Yes, I guess Beckett fell and did something to her wrist?”

I nod unsure what story Beckett gave, there’s no predicting what she told them.

“Marla took her to the doctor. They’ll be home later. Are you hungry?”

I shake my head and ask, “Can you give them, Marla, a message when she gets home?”

She stops what she’s doing and looks at me suddenly interested.

“Can you tell her I went to the beach and I’ll be home…back in a couple of hours.”

She smiles and repeats my statement, “I’ll let her know you’ll be
home
later, Jamie.”

I turn ignoring her
home
reference and walk out into the thick humidity. Once I make it to the end of the road, I spot a red Mini-Cooper that can only belong to Sam. I lean down to her open window and ask, “Can a guy get a ride?”

She chuckles and unlocks the door. When I’m settled, she takes in my attire, “You took the beach thing literally, didn’t you?”

I look down at my pale blue baggies and shrug my shoulders. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the beach. I’m looking forward to it. She’s dressed in jean shorts and a tank top.

She’s quiet during the short ride. Our reunion from earlier in the day flips through my mind. She’s still my Sam but she’s different. I can’t quite put my finger on exactly what it is but there is something.

When we pull into a metered space, she turns the car off but doesn’t move to get out. Her hands remain on the steering wheel, holding tight.

I want to ask her what’s wrong but it might not be my place anymore. I don’t really
know
her anymore. She shifts in her seat and turns to face me.

“Why didn’t you tell me you’re living at Beckett Chase’s house?”

I shrug my shoulders not really having a good reason for keeping that information from her. But I think I was right on. Beckett had an odd reaction to Sam today. They have some sort of history and judging by their reactions, it can’t be good.

She blurts out, “Jamie, she’s evil.”

I wait for more but she falls silent. Finally reaching for the door handle, she climbs out before loading change into the meter. I get out and stretch my legs that were cramped in the small space. A sweet smile spreads across her lips when I look up. There is the Sam I know.

She reaches her hand out. I grab it and follow her down to the water’s edge. We dip our feet and splash each other with the chilly salt water. She squeals with laughter reminding me of another time we had a splash fight with her dad.

After a while I follow her back up the beach. We sit side by side as she rests her head on my shoulder.

“God Jamie, I’ve missed you.”

I grab her hand and raise it to my lips. She pulls it away and sits up with a serene expression.

“I really love Jake. I want you to know that.”

I nod and my eyebrows knit together wondering why she’s telling me this. I love Sam but I’ve never loved Sam like that. She’s my best friend, the one person who knows me better than anyone else. Concern etches itself across my face and I tell her, “I know. We’re friends right?”

Relief seems to wash across her face. I start laughing at her reaction. I lean over resting flat on my back. I take in the bright blue cloudless sky. She leans over me claiming, “Of course we’re friends, I just had to make sure.”

She lowers herself onto her back with our shoulders touching slightly. I turn to glance at her and admit, “Sam I love you and I always will but not in that way.”

Her smile is genuine but a cloud seems to wash her features. She lifts up from the sand in a sudden movement.

“Then I need to tell you something.”

“Okay, tell me.”

“It’s about Beckett.”

I raise my chest up and rest my elbows on my knees. I knew there was something between them. I am curious but also leery to hear what she has to say.

She turns her face to stare out at the ocean, “Jake and I have been together since ninth grade. We have a lot of history together and we’re planning our future together. And as I told you, I really love him.”

She takes a deep breath, “About a year ago, Jake went to a party with Gabe. I couldn’t go because I had to babysit that night. Anyway, Beckett was there. Both Jake and Beckett had a lot to drink from my understanding and they ended up sleeping together.”

I hold in my shock, although why I’m surprised, I don’t know. Beckett seems to get everything she wants whether it belongs to someone else or not.

Sam’s voice grows softer, “It took us almost six months to get through it. I trust Jake but I don’t trust her, not for anything.”

Maybe I’m misunderstanding something. I turn to meet her pained eyes, “Sam, but he had a part in it. He didn’t have to sleep with her. You do understand that, don’t you?”

Exasperation fills her voice, “Of course I do Jamie. But Jake isn’t the only one she’s gone after that belonged to someone else. She’s evil and she’ll sleep with anyone. She has no remorse and I, I hate her.”

A lump forms in the pit of my stomach. I’m not sure Jake is good enough for Sam if he cheated on her. I raise my hand to her shoulder and she snuggles into the crook of my arm. Flashes of Beckett from earlier in the day on the floor of her room play through my mind. There are many sides to this girl and my decision from the day I laid eyes upon her, to stay away, still rings true. Now, more than ever.