Written in the Stars

by Rachael Eliker

  I was in the middle of speculating about Tad’s love life, and who the mystery woman breaking his heart might be when Stella glanced at the clock on my nightstand, her eyes bulging with surprise.

  “It’s already after midnight?”

  “Yeah. And? Are you going to turn into a pumpkin because you stayed up past curfew?” I quipped.

  Stella scooted off of my bed and put her arms above her head, stretching all the way through her back and shoulders. “No, but some of us don’t live a glamorous lifestyle that allows us to sleep in until lunch. I have an early work meeting tomorrow that I can’t be late for.”

  Standing, I shooed her toward the door. “You’d better get going then.”

  “I’m just going to crash in my old bedroom for tonight so I don’t have to drive home so late. It’ll actually save me twenty minutes on my commute to leave from here, anyway.”

  “Sorry for keeping you up.”

  Holding onto my brass doorknob, she shrugged. “It’s not every day your famous older sister comes home.”

  I shook my head, reassuring her that I was still me, and waved goodnight as she shut her door. Debating whether or not I should go brush my teeth, I decided I was too tired to make the effort and instead, flopped onto my bed and turned out the light. For as emotionally and physically exhausted from the day as I was, I was surprised I couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned, trying every imaginable position to get comfortable, but still, sleep evaded me.

  At two in the morning, I heard a small bang rattle my east-facing window. I lifted my head off my pillow, listening for it again. Ready to chalk it up to a reckless bird, I heard the sound again.

  As I quietly listened, my overly tired brain imagined every possible scenario, no matter how far-fetched. Telling myself I was being ridiculous, I tried to ignore my rapid pulse and that my quivering legs might as well have been wet strings of spaghetti. I reached for my bedside lamp only to knock it over, so I crept over to the window in the dark, catching my pinkie toe painfully on the edge of the armchair. Biting my knuckle, I managed to keep from waking the whole household with an agonizing scream.

  When the pain subsided to a dull ache, I muttered threateningly to the chair, “If I have to defend myself, you’re the first thing I’m chucking out the window.”

  Tiptoeing the final few steps to the window, I pushed back the gossamer curtains. There wasn’t more than a sliver of a moon to cast light on the backyard, but I could see a shadowy figure standing outside, their arm cocked back and ready to pitch. Whoever it was threw a small pebble with surprising accuracy at my window. Of all my outlandish scenarios I’d imagined, from aliens to serial killers, I hadn’t considered it was just a guy throwing rocks.

  Opening my window, I hissed, “Who is it?”

  By his boyish laugh, I could tell it was Warren before he even answered. “I’ll give you three guesses.”

  “Warren? What are you doing here?”

  He took a few steps closer, and I heard his remaining stash of rocks land back on my parents’ landscaping. “There’s a meteor shower in half an hour, and I wondered if you wanted to go watch it with me.”

  “Huh?”

  “A meteor shower. You know, shooting stars? Have you never seen one?”

  “I’ve seen shooting stars,” I said defensively.

  “But have you seen a whole sky full of them?”

  I could almost see the giddy grin on Warren’s face as I hesitated. My silence was confirmation that I’d never witnessed a meteor shower firsthand. I’d certainly never snuck out of the house with a guy to go see it.

  “How did you know what room was mine?” I asked. If he’d have picked my parents’ room, they would’ve called the police on him in a heartbeat.

  “I might’ve gotten it wrong the first time. Stella got me pointed in the right direction.”

  I loved seeing this side of Warren and how his boyish charm made everything seem exciting, like he was making up for lost time with me. Agreeing to dinner with Robby apparently hadn’t deterred him from pursuing me.

  “So,” Warren pressed, “are you coming? Or am I going to have to do something drastic?”

  “Like what?” I challenged.

  I could see Warren’s figure walk over to the landscaping and pick up another handful of rocks. “Like toss a few rocks at your parents’ bedroom? Stella told me their window is on the other side. If you think me asking your parents’ permission to take you out will put you at ease, I’ll do it.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “Oh, yes, he would,” I heard Stella whisper loudly from her open window. “Eloise, go. You’re not a teenager anymore, and if you’re really afraid of Mom and Dad, I’ll cover for you.”

  “I’m not afraid of our parents,” I said grumpily, making Warren chuckle below.

  “What is it then?” Stella pestered.

  Again, I couldn’t answer. The thought of sneaking out and running off with Warren to do something incredibly romantic felt like a bad idea. Everyone seemed to forget he’d broken my heart once before, and because of that, I had the right to keep it guarded.

  “Do I have to come up and get you? I’m an excellent climber, you know,” Warren threatened playfully.

  “Fine!” I hissed in exasperation. “This is pure manipulation, you know.”

  Warren’s low chuckle drifted up to me, and he said, “I promise you’ll thank me for this.”

  Chapter Ten

  Five minutes later, I was tiptoeing out the back door. I’d thrown on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, grabbing a cardigan I had hanging in the closet in case any chilly air came blowing through. Passing my purse on the way out, I found an old piece of spearmint gum and popped it in my mouth, gagging at the gritty texture, but it had to be an improvement on my unbrushed teeth.

  Warren was still waiting for me in the backyard, and up close, I could see enough details of his face by the pale moonlight to know that he was grinning ear to ear that I’d finally conceded to go with him.

  “Ready?” he asked, clapping his hands and rubbing them together vigorously.

  “Let’s get this over with.”

  “Well that’s not a very good attitude to have while stargazing,” Warren ribbed.

  I sighed and settled my hands on my hips. “I need to be back before sunrise or I’m going to have a hard time explaining where I’ve been. If my parents find out it was with you, I’m not sure any amount of building homeless shelters or volunteering at hospitals is going to redeem you in their eyes. You’re already on rocky ground with them, which has sucked me into their disapproval.”

  “I don’t think so,” Warren disagreed, shaking his head. “What’s bothering them about you is all your own doing. Being a confident, independent woman who knows what she wants for some reason ruffles their feathers.”

  “Is that what you think of me?”

  Warren smiled roguishly. “I know that’s what you are.”

  “You sound like my sister.”

  “Then she’s a smart girl. Now, c’mon or we’re going to have to watch it from your parents’ backyard.”

  “Would that be so bad?”

  “No, but I guarantee it won’t be nearly as spectacular as where I’m planning on taking you.”

  He led the way out the side, held open the gate for me, and quietly shut it behind us, putting a finger to his lips before he tiptoed across the pavers to the front of the house. I was expecting his friend’s truck to be parked in the driveway, but it wasn’t anywhere to be seen. He took a left at the sidewalk and started walking briskly, fast enough that I had to almost jog to keep up with him.

  “I don’t see your truck, so where exactly are we going? If we’re walking, there aren’t any open spaces for miles, so yeah, we might as well watch it from my parents’ backyard.”

  When uncomfortable, I knew I tended to verbally spew, but there had to be something to fill the silence other than his clunking cowboy boots. The tension between us was suffocating. Was it all in m
y head? Or did Warren not realize how romantic this whole situation had the potential to be?

  “Truck’s right there,” Warren pointed another block away. “It doesn’t exactly have a quiet start, and I didn’t want to startle your parents by firing it up in their driveway.”

  “Ah. Makes sense.” I chewed my fingernails, then admitted. “I’ve never snuck out before, so I don’t know how it’s done.”

  We reached the truck, and Warren put his hand on the passenger door handle, slowly nodding. “That was mentioned. Don’t worry. I’ve got plenty of experience.”

  He pulled the door open and waited for me to slide onto the cracking leather seat before shutting it behind me. I wondered how many girls he’d snuck out of their parents’ homes before me, and that thought made me feel a lot less flattered.

  Warren was right about the truck—it roared to life, backfiring once, and a loose belt squealed painfully before the engine settled down and it started running smoothly. He pulled away from the curb, draping his arm on the headrest behind me. I shifted away and leaned against the door, unsure if he was trying to be smooth or simply get comfortable, but Warren didn’t seem to notice. He whistled a low, sporadic tune and drove without any rush.

  I noticed Warren was still wearing the same clothes he’d had on at Sunday dinner, an unassuming flannel shirt rolled up to the elbows, showing off his fantastic forearms, and a pair of jeans that had seen him through what looked like a few years of use. They fit him like a glove, and I was grateful he’d kept them, the faded knees and torn cuff only adding to their character. The best part of all was the scent of his cologne that filled the cab. It was just the right amount to make butterflies jostle around in my gut. I was glad I’d thought to spritz myself with perfume on the way out the door, hoping perhaps I was having the same effect on him, too.

  “Here we are,” Warren spoke as we pulled into a gravel drive, surrounded by a wall of trees not far from the outskirts of town. A few feet in, it opened up into an endless meadow that felt as secluded as if we were driving through the empty expanses of Wyoming. He drove slowly along the grass, scaring a doe and her fawn, who darted away from the beaming headlights.

  When he killed the engine, my leg started jiggling, and I asked apprehensively, “Are you sure this is alright? I think the last thing either of us needs is to have to have Mandy bail us out of jail for trespassing.”

  “You worry too much,” Warren said, chuckling.

  “Well, one of us has to. That’s what keeps reckless people from doing dumb stuff. They have a friend who has the sense to think about what might go wrong.”

  Warren got out of the truck, walking around to my side and opening the door for me. “Remember the buddy who lent me this truck? This is his grandpa’s patch of land. Used to run cattle here, but now, it’s more of a nature preserve. He gave me the green light to come out here tonight. If you don’t believe me, I’ll give you his number, though I doubt he’ll answer so early in the morning.”

  Extending his hand, Warren offered to help me out. I shyly placed mine in his, feeling that familiar tingle his touch caused. The second my feet were on the ground, I retracted my hand, putting on my thin cardigan, and tucking my fingers into my back pockets. Warred grabbed a quilt from the back of the truck, and spread it out over the hood of the car. He easily jumped up, then lay on his back, tucking his hands behind his head. When he was situated, he tapped the spot next to him in invitation.

  “Need help up?”

  “No.” I snorted. “I can climb onto a truck hood on my own, thank you very much.”

  Putting my toe on the bumper, I pushed up, only to slip off. I hit my shin hard and landed with an unladylike oof on the hood. I clawed at the hood for some traction but ended up sliding off and thudding helplessly on the ground.

  “You alright?” Warren asked, looking down at me from his perch, his voice equal parts concern and laughter.

  Looking up at the night sky, it seemed like I could see the whole of the galaxy without the city lights drowning out the stars. “It really is beautiful out here,” I said.

  As I started to giggle, lying in the dirt and being anything but impressive, Warren joined in, too.

  “That was surprisingly graceful,” he joked.

  “I aim to impress.”

  “Here,” Warren said, jumping down next to me. “Let me help you up.”

  “No, really. It’s fine,” I protested. “Maybe it’d be better if I stayed on the ground. No risk of falling if you’re already down.”

  Warren didn’t listen and grabbed my wrists, yanking me to my feet. Making sure I was steady, he moved his hands under my arms to help me up onto the hood, but his fingers tickled. I squealed and flailed a lot like how a squirrel would when it found itself in the mouth of a dog. Immediately, he dropped me and took a step back, one eyebrow arched in question.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah. Sorry,” I said, still snickering lightly, glad he couldn’t see my cheeks reddening. “I’m super ticklish. Like, even the threat of being tickled is almost enough to make me pee my pants. Did I not mention that?”

  “Not that I remember,” Warren said, faking a solemnness that wasn’t really there. “Guess I’d better be quick then.”

  Before I could retreat a step backward, Warren scooped me up in his arms and placed me on the hood of the truck. Flustered at his strength and being held so closely to his warm body and wrapped up in his arms, even if it was only for a brief moment, all I could do was gurgle an awkward laugh as he climbed up next to me. Nothing like easily being tossed around to make me feel dainty and feminine. My gaze tricked down to his lips, and heat flushed from my neck up, remembering how it felt to be wrapped in his arms while kissing him. Reminding myself we’d already had our chance and that our love story was a tragedy, I retreated away, to the far side of the hood under the guise of getting comfortable.

  “You sure you’re alright? That was quite the tumble,” Warren asked as he lay back.

  I rubbed my hand along my throbbing shin but downplayed the pain. “Who needs skin on their shins, anyway?”

  Shaking his head, I could see Warren’s white teeth as he smiled at my attempt to be casual about what felt like a near-mortal wound. “Here. Lie down. It’s easier to see the stars that way,” he said, encouraging me to follow his example.

  I hesitated. Lie down on the hood of a truck under the starry sky next to the best-smelling, sexiest man I’d ever set eyes on, and who had the musical talent that made legends out of mere mortals? I was drifting into dangerous territory, where I didn’t know if I could keep my resolve.

  “C’mon,” Warren encouraged. “I won’t bite.”

  Reclining against the windshield, I tipped my head up toward the heavens and was immediately rewarded with a glimpse of a meteor streaking through the sky before it burned up.

  “Oh, wow,” I breathed.

  “Kind of magical, isn’t it?” Warren asked, looking sideways at me. “Told you you’d be thanking me later.”

  Smacking him in the abs, my hit didn’t do any damage as my hand met with his tight stomach. “Have a little humility.”

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself, that’s all.”

  Turning my attention back to the night sky, I made myself comfortable. Each time I spotted a shooting star, an excited little breath rushed out of me.

  Ten minutes in, I whispered, “Sorry I’m not much good for conversation.”

  “That’s alright,” Warren murmured. “It almost seems wrong to interrupt the silence, doesn’t it? I wanted to ask, though, how are things on the home front?” Warren asked, his eyes still fixed on the stars. “Your mom really couldn’t have walked in at a worse moment before dinner.”

  “Ugh,” I groaned. “Tell me about it. I think I have them convinced that getting all tangled up like that was a genuine accident, but they were on my case all night about everything else in my life that they disapprove of.”

  “Such as?”


  “My career choice, what I’m doing with my life, the fact that I wear makeup.”

  “They don’t like you wearing makeup?” Warren asked, his head turning toward me.

  “My dad says it’s too much. He told me I looked like a blood-sucking vampire.”

  “He didn’t,” Warren said, barely hiding his delight with a rumbling laugh.

  “Oh, yes, he did. It was a conversation I could have lived without.”

  Warren fell silent for a moment, then offered, “He’s not totally wrong, you know.”

  I pushed myself off the windshield into the sitting position and glared down at Warren. “Excuse me? You’re not seriously going to side with my dad on this one, are you? Because if you are, you can take me home right now.”

  “Hang on,” Warren said, holding his hands up in surrender. “Hear me out. What I meant is that you’re beautiful both ways.”

  I snorted. “That’s not what it sounded like you meant.”

  “I always think you look fantastic when Wanda and Casey and Harrison are done with you. You’re breathtaking every time we go on stage together, but I don’t think a woman should ever feel like her beauty is solely based on whether or not her hair is made up or she’s wearing makeup. Remember when I snuck in on you during your lesson with Tad, when I’d agreed to go on the concert tour?”

  Folding my arms across my chest, I stubbornly jutted my chin out at him. “Yeah.”

  “You were worried that your hair wasn’t washed and you didn’t have any makeup on? You were just as drop dead gorgeous as you are when you’re all dolled up. I guarantee you’d look just as remarkable in a gunny sack as you would in Gucci.”

  I blushed, tittering a small, involuntary laugh. “Okay, that was a pretty suave recovery. I’ll forgive you. This time”

  Warren shot me a lopsided grin. “Thanks. There is one downside to when you’re wearing makeup, though.”

  “Oh, really? What’s that?”

  “Your freckles always get covered up when Wanda does up your face. It’s a real shame. Your freckles across your nose and cheeks are adorable, like you have your very own constellation on your skin.”