The Sound of Shooting Stars

by Heather Allen

  She gets up and exclaims while I continue staring like an idiot, “You finally woke up.”

  She pulls me into the crook of her arm and introduces me, “Beckett, this is Jamie Grey and Michelle Ames, his case worker.”

  I avert my gaze to the woman sitting a couple of feet down the couch from him. I didn’t even notice her sitting there. God Beckett, pull yourself together. He’s a foster kid, probably missing teeth or something.

  Mrs. Ames says, “It’s nice to meet you Beckett. I’m so happy to finally put a face with the stories. Your mom and I went to college together and here we are finally able to reunite again.” She beams as if she really is glad to meet me.

  Yeah, right, totally under false pretenses. I smile knowing it’s as fake as they get when the anger I felt earlier starts to resurface. This is my home and he’s now invading it. I turn in my mom’s arm and wince as she tightens her grip. She lowers her face to my ear and whispers, “Beckett, please try.”

  I nod and meet his stare again. In my quietest voice I mutter, “It’s nice to meet you.”

  He looks over at Mrs. Ames as if he’s annoyed. She nods at him and he stands. His face registers no emotion as he reaches to shake my hand and tells me, “Hi Beckett, nice to meet you.”

  I pull my hand away as soon as his fingers catch mine and I glare at him. This is not going to be acceptable.

  My mom pipes up removing herself from my side and instructs in her typical business tone, “Okay you two have a seat for the ground rules.”

  Jamie sits back down as I take the lone chair across the room. He stares at me the entire time as my mom’s voice drones on. I tune her out and look down to the pale rug under my feet but I can still feel his intense stare. I want nothing more than to scream at him to go back where he came from, that he doesn’t belong here.

  Chapter Five

  Jamie Grey

  Aries – The Ram

  Aries is the golden ram that rescued Phrixus and took him to Colchis, where he sacrificed the ram to the gods. The ram’s skin, which he placed in a temple, was the Golden Fleece.

  ~*~

  The minute we pulled up to the Chase house as Michelle calls it, I tuned her out. I became defensive before we even walked in. I’m a charity case now and the resentment at Michelle permeates off of me. I know it is wrong to feel this way because I get it. I’m a seventeen year old boy. No one in their right mind would foster me. Just those lone facts would turn someone away. But here we are in front of a home fifty times the size of that where I’ve lived for the past six months.

  She takes a deep breath and turns to me before twisting the key to turn the car off.

  “Jamie, are you ready?”

  I look down at my hands resting loosely in my lap and purse my lips in a tight line.

  “Come on Jamie. I know you get it. Less than a year now, you can do it.”

  I look up reluctantly and nod.

  “Mrs. Chase is an old college friend. I can assure you there will be no violence here and if you need me, I’m just a phone call away.”

  I avert my gaze to the house. It towers over us with a Spanish-tiled roof and a four foot fountain in the center of the circular drive. The water spanning for miles behind the house peeks off in the distance. I take a deep breath and reach for the handle as the car sputters off.

  It’s dusk so spotlights at various angles across the front of the house begin to flicker. I look across the roof of the car at Michelle and she assures me once again, “It’ll all work out Jamie, I promise.”

  I reach into the back seat and pull out my duffle bag, lifting it to my shoulder. As soon as we climb the wide steps to a tiled porch, the front door opens. A woman dressed in a flowered dress steps out. Her brown hair is cropped short and she wears a warm smile.

  She gushes, “Michelle, just look at you.”

  They embrace each other and exchange pleasantries. I look through the door into the house. I can see through to the backyard where the water laps at a sea wall behind the house. How in the hell did I end up here?

  The woman turns to me, “You must be Jamie.”

  I nod and mumble, “Nice to meet you Mrs. Chase.”

  “You can call me Marla, everyone else around here does. Here, let’s get you in out of this heat. I can’t believe the sun is down and it’s still so excruciatingly hot.”

  I follow Michelle through the door noting the immense size of the room housing only a round table in the center. The floor is wood and spreads through wide doorways in all directions. This is unbelievable. I couldn’t feel more out of place in any other setting.

  Marla states, “Sasha is just finishing up on dinner. Jamie, are you hungry?”

  “I’m okay, Um Marla.”

  She laughs, “Well, I’m sure you could eat. Let’s go and sit at the table.”

  She leads us to a room off of the entryway. I can see a huge kitchen beyond and a woman bustling around placing food on platters.

  Marla ushers Michelle and I to sit at a rectangular dining table set for three. She apologizes, “I’m sorry David couldn’t join us. He had to go back to the office today and got held up.”

  The woman from the kitchen comes in carrying a huge spread of chicken and bowls with mashed potatoes and broccoli. Marla suggests we get started as she asks Sasha to get us something to drink. At the sight of the food, my stomach involuntarily growls. It’s been quite a long time since I’ve had a home cooked meal like this. I reach for the bowls and load food onto my plate.

  Michelle leans over and whispers, “I think you’re going to like it here.”

  We’ll see; the verdict is still out. If we eat like this every night, I might be persuaded. As I shovel the food in, I listen to Michelle catch up with her college friend, learning that Marla is an interior decorator and her husband is a lawyer. After a while I tune them out and focus on eating. This is my usual response to food because I never know when I’ll have my next meal.

  After dinner, Marla directs us to a broad room stretching the length of the back of the house. It’s fitted with large brick-red tiles and decorated with fancy white furniture. Michelle guides me to a long couch. I sink in relishing the softness of the cushions. I could probably fall asleep right here. Marla continues talking to Michelle as if we didn’t change locations. After a while, she diverts her attention to me and mentions school. My ears perk up and I turn my attention to her animated expression. She mentions that I will go to school with her daughter.

  As she mentions this a petite girl rushes in, fury across her features. My eyes meet hers and I can’t tear my gaze away. Her sandy blonde hair is piled up on top of her head and her intense blue eyes transfix me. A small speckling of freckles crosses her nose reminding me of the stars that dot the sky.

  Marla exclaims to her, “You finally woke up.”

  She gets up and reaches out to the girl. Then she tells her, “Beckett, this is Jamie Grey and Michelle Ames, his case worker.”

  Beckett moves her stare to Michelle and forms her lips in the worst excuse for a smile that I have ever seen. In that moment I can see the shallowness emanating from her.

  Michelle smiles warmly and gushes, “It’s nice to meet you Beckett. I’m so happy to finally put a face with the stories. Your mom and I went to college together and here we are finally able to reunite.”

  Her mom whispers something to her and she seems to wince briefly. Then she mutters, “It’s nice to meet you.”

  I look over at Michelle trying to send her a message with my look. She can’t possibly leave me here with this chick. I get up after Michelle gives me her own look and step forward quietly stating, “Hi Beckett, nice to meet you.”

  I reach out deciding I’ll play with her. Obviously she thinks she’s too good to have me in her house. I reach out to shake her hand but she flinches back as soon as I touch her fingers.

  I turn away as Marla announces, “Okay, you two have a seat for the ground rules.”

  I sit back down and watch as Beckett si
ts across the room from me. I stare at her the whole time hoping to make her feel as uncomfortable as possible. Her mom rushes on about school and curfews but I continue to stare. Beckett looks down; obviously my intention is getting through. This is the last place I belong but I refuse to let a spoiled brat think she can push me around. I think Michelle and I need to have a talk about a new home. I thought I could live anywhere for a year but with Beckett Chase, definitely not.

  Chapter Six

  Beckett Chase

  Piscis Austrinus – The Southern Fish

  Syrian fertility goddess Atargatis, who fell into a lake near the river Euphrates in what is today northern Syria, and was rescued by a large fish. The goddess would later punish all those who ate fish, but her priests were allowed to eat it every day.

  ~*~

  I slept fitfully all night knowing that Jamie was in the room down the hall. I stared at the stars for hours wishing my eyes would close and I could just forget that my parents betrayed me by bringing him here. But it took hours. Now my alarm is blaring signaling that I have to face this sucky situation. Why couldn’t they just go away for a week or something? That would have been much easier to handle. I didn’t even get a say in this decision.

  A soft knock echoes through my room. I glance around watching as the shadows rise slightly with the rising sun.

  “Beckett, are you awake?”

  I sigh and roll over, “Yes, mother.”

  She pushes the door open and walks quietly to my bed. The mattress sinks as she sits on the edge and rubs my back.

  “Sweetie, I know this is rough on you. It’s the right thing for us to do though. Even if Michelle wasn’t my friend, he still needs a place to live,” She takes a deep breath, “And he hasn’t had the best life. It’s up to us to change that.”

  I roll over glaring at her as my frustration rises, “But why does it have to be us? Why do you always have to do this Marla? When I was thirteen you had the competition at my school, I think it was who could bring in the most cans. Do you remember? John Penny cleaned out the entire pantry at his house. His mom was so mad. It was so embarrassing.”

  “Beckett, the Penny’s could have done without all of that food and he won the contest. Regardless of what you may or may not think is right, this is something we are doing. Jamie is staying.”

  She shakes her head and whispers more to herself than to me, “Maybe we should have had another child so you weren’t the only one.”

  I roll back over ignoring her implication. She pulls this crap when she thinks I’m acting selfish. What the hell? I am selfish. I’ve had them to myself my whole life and now at almost eighteen and I’m supposed to share.

  When I hear the door close, I hop up out of bed and wash my annoyance away in the shower, at least temporarily.

  I dress in my plaid uniform skirt, a white button down shirt and navy blue knee socks. I slip my phone into my sock and head down the stairs to the kitchen. Hesitantly, I enter ignoring the beautiful boy sitting at the kitchen table. What is my deal? I greet Sasha and pull the chair across from him out from under the table. I’m sure to make a show of it. I refuse to look up and meet his gaze but I can feel his stare on me. Sasha sets a plate of eggs down in front of me and I concentrate on eating. It’s probably record timing for me to finish. When I’ve eaten a few bites, my appetite has suddenly disappeared and I decide that I’ve had enough.

  I look up while setting my fork down. He is staring intently at me with the greenest eyes.

  “What are you looking at?” My voice wavers slightly.

  His eyebrows go up as if offended and he looks away. His hand moves from his own fork to the edge of the table. When he looks up again he states in an even voice, “Just so we’re clear, I didn’t choose this.”

  He falls silent as if waiting for me to say something. My contempt for him heightens even more. I push away from the table and storm off towards my room to brush my teeth. Before I make it to the doorway though I call over my shoulder angrily, “I’m leaving in five minutes.”

  I swear I heard him chuckle as I left the room but I can’t be sure. He doesn’t know who he’s dealing with. He better not laugh at me if he knows any better. Maybe he doesn’t but I will be sure to show him.

  Five minutes later I stroll out to my car eager to leave him behind but he’s already standing beside the passenger door with his arms crossed over his chest. This is the first time I’ve seen his full height. Last night was brief and I was so uncomfortable.

  His shoulders are broad and he’s not as thin as I had originally thought. The chambray uniform shirt Marla must have given him shows a firm build beneath it, lending stray thoughts to my imagination. The khaki pants fit him perfectly and pool at his shoes. I look up and catch him staring again, this time with a slight tilt of his lip. Dammit Beckett, why do you always do this to yourself?

  I huff around the car pissed that I got caught gawking. He climbs in as I unlock the door. I start up the car and sit for a moment before turning to him and state, “Just so we’re clear, I didn’t choose this either so stay away from me.”

  He doesn’t respond which infuriates me further. I shift into drive and speed the short five minute drive. Usually I try to prolong this drive, savoring the feel of my car. This is the first time I’ve ever wanted to get out of my baby as fast as I can. I suddenly can’t breathe. The car feels claustrophobic.

  When I pull into the lot, I get out as fast as I can and head to the wide doors without a backwards glance. Of course when I look up Dani and Trina are standing there waiting for me but they both start ogling as Jamie gets out of my car. Fuck! When am I going to get a break?

  Once I’m up the steps to the entrance Trina starts, “Oh Beckett, I think you have some explaining to do.”

  I chuckle inwardly as her pronunciation of ‘explaining’ reminds me of the old Lucille Ball episodes my mother made me watch when I was young.

  I shake my head and walk past them into the building. Both girls hurry to catch up. Dani whispers close to my ear, “I think there’s a story here that you need to share.”

  I turn to both girls and in a rush of breath exclaim, “His name is Jamie Grey. He’s a foster kid that Marla took pity upon. I’m stuck with this shit for the whole school year so don’t either one of you even think about it. It’s bad enough that he has to live down the hall from me. I better not see any more rubbernecking.”

  Trina looks offended and then a slow grin spreads over her full lips, “Actually Beckett, I think you owe me one for the Nick thing. This might be exactly what I need as payback.”

  I glare at her and look to Dani for backup but she smiles and nods her head in agreement. I throw my hands up and tighten my hold on the strap of my bag.

  I call over my shoulder on the way to my locker, “You people are impossible.”

  When I glance up it’s too late. I stumble and my face is flush into a wide, solid chest. Warm hands grasp my elbows to steady me. Once I’ve caught my balance, I step back and look up into Jamie’s amused face. I frown and let out a breath of total irritation. I don’t look back after getting my books. They can all go to hell as far as I’m concerned.

  Throughout the morning I refuse to acknowledge Dani or Trina. I share a class with each of them but ignorance is bliss today. As I stroll into the cafeteria at lunch I’m shocked to find neither of them at our usual table. I may have pushed the limits a little too far. Instead of looking for them Brett catches my eye. He looks pretty yummy today in a white button down shirt and navy blue pants. I swiftly walk over and glare as Jessica gets up from the table when I approach. She’s still not over our little misunderstanding that happened last year. She was dating Brett and I kind of messed around with him. In my defense, he could have looked the other way but he made a choice just as I did. So the chick needs to get over herself. Obviously Brett isn’t into her anymore.

  His breath tickles my ear as he leans in and whispers, “Hey beautiful, did you reconsider our conversation yesterday?�
�

  I look down and shake my head. When I look up my eyes meet Jamie’s. He is sitting across the cafeteria at a corner table by himself. My face turns red. I look up at Brett and tell him in a determined voice, “Actually Brett, how does Saturday night sound?”

  His face moves an inch away angling to gauge how serious I am. When he realizes I’m not going to back down he leans in and asks, “Can we seal it with a kiss?”

  Unintentionally, I look across the room at Jamie again. He looks away as soon as I meet his gaze.

  “Um, why don’t we wait until Saturday?”

  “Whatever you say Beckett.”

  His hand softly caresses my thigh making me shift further away from him. When I look over at Jamie again he is staring at me with a curious gaze. What is with him? Just get out of my life.

  Trina and Dani glide in during the last five minutes of lunch. I look up at them once again feeling guilty that I treated them so badly. They shoo Brett away and sit on either side of me.

  Dani grabs my hand and explains, “Beckett, we’re sorry for gawking at your new boy toy this morning but giving us the cold shoulder isn’t going to fly.”

  My mouth gapes open at her reference.

  A smile spreads over my lips as I explain, “Um, he is definitely not my boy toy, in fact the opposite. I can’t wait for him to get out of my life. And I’m sorry girls. This whole thing was sprung on me last night. I’m obviously having a hard time handling it.”

  Trina laughs, “Since when do you not have a hard time handling things, Beckett? We forgive you but seriously, he is HOT. You have to admit it.”

  Dani chimes in, “If we didn’t have the girl code, I think we would have a fight on our hands.”

  I smirk and wrap my hands around theirs just as the bell rings, signaling the end of lunch. When I look up Jamie is passing us with his head down and music blaring in his ears.

  Chapter Seven

  Jamie Grey

  Cygnus – The Swan

  Spartan Queen Leda, who gave birth to two sets of twins, the immortal Pollux and Helen and mortal Castor and Clytemnestra, after being seduced by the god Zeus, who had transformed himself into a swan. The immortal children were fathered by the god and the mortal ones by Leda’s husband, King Tyndareus.