Starbound

by Brenda Hiatt

  I answered his question, which he’d clearly made up just to talk to me.

  “Thanks, M. I guess I’ll see you around. Have a great day.”

  “You, too,” My smile slipped a little at the flare of jealousy I caught from Rigel, leaving the room with Trina.

  Really? When Trina’s on your arm half the time these days?

  Even though my thought had been directed right at him, he didn’t seem to have heard me, so I repeated it.

  What about Trina? he asked belatedly.

  Never mind. I just shook my head, letting him feel my exasperation, then headed off to second period.

  CHAPTER 7

  triail (tree-AYL): test or audition; ordeal by trial

  Dr. Stuart’s strategy worked so well I kept it up for the rest of the week even though it soon became obvious Rigel and Jimmy Franklin weren’t the only boys who “appreciated” my new, marginally sexier look. Guys I barely knew went out of their way to talk to me, which was funny considering all I was doing differently was wearing clothes I’d started to outgrow, plus a little more makeup. What was less funny was Sean, who kept trying to sit way too close at lunch or any other time we were together.

  As a result, it didn’t take me long to figure out that jealousy worked nearly as well as desire to distract Rigel, since of course he noticed how Sean and other boys were responding.

  So, unfortunately, did Trina.

  “Wow, Marsha, love the new trailer trash look,” she sniped at me in the lunch line Friday. “Guess you can’t afford clothes that fit anymore?”

  I glanced back, then down at her super low-cut, clingy blue top. “What, you don’t like the competition, Trina?”

  “Comp—? Don’t make me laugh! As if!”

  I turned away from her ice-blue glare with a little smile and continued through the line, though I knew she was adding this to the list of things she intended to make me pay for. Like I didn’t have enough to worry about.

  All week I’d had to exert both diplomacy and Royal “push” to keep Rigel and Sean from fighting anytime we were all together. Ironic that now I could finally shield my thoughts from Rigel, I never had a chance to think about the Grentl anyway, I was so busy defusing the other results of my new strategy.

  Meanwhile, our training took up nearly every moment we weren’t in school. Rigel was getting most of his instruction at home while I studied at the O’Garas’ every afternoon and most evenings. Sean and Molly at least got to go to basketball and cheerleading practice, since neither of them were the stupid Princess. Besides which, having grown up on Mars, they already knew the language.

  Saturday I had my last taekwondo class, then went to watch Sean in the State 2-A basketball championship game in Indianapolis. We lost, since Sean was our only really good player while the other team had three or four, but everyone was still super pumped about it, except maybe Rigel. I was careful not to give Sean another opportunity to kiss me.

  Sunday, just three days before we were to leave for Ireland, the Council summoned us all to the Stuarts’ house so they could evaluate our progress.

  “We’ll start with the Bodyguard certification,” Kyna informed us briskly when the O’Garas and I arrived. “We thought you should observe that, Excellency, so that you will know what our decision is based upon.”

  “Decision?” I exchanged a worried glance with Rigel. “I thought the Council agreed—”

  “We agreed that if he could be trained in time, he could accompany you as Bodyguard, yes. This test will determine whether he was able to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills over the past two weeks. If you’ll follow me to the back yard?”

  You have, right? I thought to Rigel, trying to hide my sudden panic.

  Hope so. The main emotion I caught from him was grim determination, costing me another pang for what I’d put him through this week.

  Not caring whether anyone noticed or not, I moved to his side as we walked and gave his hand a quick squeeze. “Good luck.”

  He shot me a smile, the first genuine one I’d seen on him in days, and squeezed back. With you here I’ll do fine.

  And he did. More than fine.

  First, he scored perfectly on the target practice with both Martian energy weapons and Earth firearms. It was obvious now why the testing had to be here instead of at the O’Garas’—the Stuarts’ restored farmhouse was out of sight and sound of any neighbors.

  Next, he fought two trained security men, the biggest Echtrans I’d ever seen, in hand-to-hand combat. One was on the ground in under two seconds. The other grunted his surrender before the first could even get to his knees, when Rigel pinned the man’s arm behind his back. It was all I could do not to laugh at the Council members’ reactions.

  “Oh, well done!” Nara clapped her hands. The others wore expressions ranging from grudging respect to outright shock. Molly was clearly awestruck, her eyes huge, while Sean looked both impressed and irritated, though he was obviously trying to hide both.

  “Looks like you’ve been holding out on us, my boy.” Shim clapped Rigel on the shoulder as we all trooped back indoors.

  “Guess I do better under pressure.” But Rigel’s sidelong glance let me know our bond, my touch and nearness, had really made the difference.

  “Now dinner.” Kyna reverted to her usual calm professionalism. “This will be a practicum of sorts for all of you.” Her gaze encompassed me, Rigel, Sean and Molly. “Excellency, you and your affianced Consort will precede the rest of us into the dining room.”

  At the words “affianced Consort,” Rigel’s emotions abruptly shifted from triumphant to outraged. I stifled a sigh at the wave of jealousy that emanated from him—again—after too brief a respite.

  Under the watchful eyes of the entire Council, I placed my left hand on Sean’s right sleeve and approached the table, set for a formal state dinner. I quickly scanned the finger bowls at each place setting and identified mine by the pale green orchid adorning it. I moved to that chair, which Sean obediently pulled out for me, waiting until I was seated before taking his own seat on my left. Rigel then took up his proper position, standing at attention directly behind me. His jealousy faded somewhat as he went through the protocols that had been drilled into him—into all of us.

  Shim, as the oldest Council member, took the chair to my right and Mrs. O’Gara, as ranking Royal, sat to Sean’s left. Molly stood in her Handmaid spot to Rigel’s right, where she could serve me.

  The rest of the Council, along with Rigel’s parents and Mr. O’Gara, proceeded to take the seats their status decreed. Once everyone was seated, Sean ceremoniously lifted my finger bowl and presented it to me with a small bow of his head. I dipped my fingers the prescribed three times, then dried them on the tiny linen cloth provided for that purpose. Sean then offered my bowl to Rigel, who dipped his fingers, and used my same cloth. Rigel held bowl and cloth for Molly, then handed them back to Sean, who set them back at my place. Finally, Sean dipped his fingers in his own bowl, which was the signal for everyone else to do the same.

  The two security guys who’d fought Rigel during his test came in with platters of food and started serving. For me, that meant Molly dished a bite of everything onto a small plate, in full view of everyone, then handed it to Rigel for tasting. Only after none of the dishes made him gag or drop dead was she allowed to spoon proper helpings onto my plate.

  This is stupid, I couldn’t help thinking to Rigel. If someone was really going to poison me, they’d probably be smart enough to use something that wouldn’t work instantly. And it totally sucks that you don’t even get to sit down!

  Yeah, well, it beats the alternative of me not going at all, right? I can deal. But I could tell he’d way prefer to be sitting where Sean was, next to me.

  The touchiest bit came at the end of the meal, when we all rose (me first) and Sean turned to Rigel, who still stood at attention.

  “You can run off to the kitchen and get some dinner now.” He wore a definite smirk. “I’ll take care
of the Princess for the rest of the evening.”

  Rigel’s jealousy and anger roared back. He kept his expression carefully blank since most of the Council was watching, but I could tell he was itching to punch Sean in the face.

  It’s part of the test! I thought to him quickly. Don’t let him provoke you, Rigel. Please!

  He must have registered my worry, if not my words, because he gave a terse little nod, then bowed, first to me, then to the rest of the group, turned on his heel and marched into the kitchen, Molly one step behind him.

  I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. He’d passed. We’d all passed. In a week, we’d be on a ship to Mars!

  On Monday, Trina’s revenge campaign kicked into high gear. She needled me constantly, whispering insults under her breath every chance she got. Whenever she wasn’t calling me a slut, a two-timing tease or a pathetic orphan with daddy issues, she watched me like a hawk. Sometimes she even snapped random pictures of me with her phone. She clearly hoped to either provoke me or catch me doing something, anything, she could use to get me in trouble.

  I ignored her completely, knowing that would bother her way more than anything I could say, but it was unnerving the way she was always there, wearing that nasty little smirk like she knew something I didn’t. Every now and then I allowed myself a superior little smile, since whatever secret Trina might have, my secret easily trumped it.

  But Tuesday, the day before our departure, Trina took things to a whole new level. Rigel showed up for English, Trina on his arm, more upset than I’d felt him yet—and wouldn’t look me in the eye. Worse, when I tried to ask him silently what was wrong, he shut me out completely. I couldn’t pick up a single thought from him, though jealousy, rage, anguish and even fear were coming through loud and clear.

  What? Rigel, please tell me what’s going on! I kept sending frantically, but even when I looked directly at him, he shrugged, still refusing to meet my gaze. As upset as he was, I doubted he could hear my thoughts at all.

  Trina walked with him to Science, patting him sympathetically on the arm while I followed a few steps behind. So she knew what was upsetting him but he couldn’t tell me?

  During class, I focused all of my attention on the two of them, right behind me, and none at all on the teacher. Neither of them said anything for most of the period, though I was still getting waves of awful emotion from Rigel. When I did catch occasional snippets of thoughts, they didn’t make sense: Can’t be true. But is that why she—? Would explain a lot…

  Finally, just before the bell, I heard Trina’s whisper. “Rigel, I really am so sorry I had to be the one to tell you. If there’s anything I can do…”

  “You’ve done enough, Trina. Thanks.” Then, straight to my mind from his, How could you, M? I trusted you!

  I sat frozen for several painful heartbeats, before glancing over my shoulder. I had to stifle a gasp at the agony I saw on his face.

  Rigel! What do you think I’ve done? What did Trina tell you? Why would you ever believe anything she tells you? Whatever she said, it’s a lie, I promise!

  For a moment uncertainty mixed with the pain, anger and jealousy I felt from him, but all he thought back to me was, Later. That one word was so harsh, it struck me like a physical blow, making me reel again.

  Steadying myself, I followed them to the cafeteria, determined to clear things up even if I had to sit on top of Rigel to make him answer me. By now I felt pretty betrayed myself, that he’d ever judge me based on anything Trina said. Didn’t he know her better than that? Didn’t he know me better than that??

  Halfway to the cafeteria, Trina gave Rigel one last soothing pat on the arm and peeled off down another hallway. Glancing after her, I saw Sean coming our way, so I hurried to Rigel’s side to snatch a brief moment of relative privacy.

  “Rigel,” I hissed, “you have to tell me what’s going on! What the hell has Trina been saying about me?”

  He shot me a quick, pained glance then looked away. “It’s not what she said. I don’t— But I guess it explains why lately you’ve been so—”

  “Hey, you two.” It was Molly, though I’d expected Sean. “What’s up?”

  I shrugged, not wanting to admit there was a problem until I knew what the problem was. Looking back, I saw Trina talking to Sean a little way behind us. Great. Whatever she was saying to him, it was guaranteed to make things worse, not better.

  “We leave tomorrow, can you believe it? Are you all packed?” Molly whispered, apparently not noticing the tension between us in her excitement.

  “Um, mostly.” I tried to hide my frustration at the interruption. “How about you?”

  “I thought I was, but mum says I can only have two bags, so now I have to decide what I can do without for…however long we’ll be there.”

  Normally I’d have commented on that, since everyone had been vague about when we were coming back no matter how much I tried to pin them down. But right now I was way more worried about Rigel and whatever awful thing he seemed to believe. I just nodded and let Molly ramble on about layers and two sets of weather conditions and whatever else was on her mind while I tried again to make Rigel answer me.

  Look, no matter how Trina has managed to convince you, I promise I haven’t done anything at all to make you feel like this. Can you please, please tell me what I’m being accused of, so I can at least defend myself?

  After the way you’ve been shutting me out? Anyway, I can’t, not now. Not with— He jerked his chin toward his shoulder, in the direction of Sean and Trina half a hallway behind us. Or…I might do something we’d all regret.

  I nearly stopped walking to stare at him, remembering just in time that I didn’t want to alert Molly to any of this. So it was something to do with Sean? Something Trina told him I’d done with Sean? I knew he was jealous, and that was partly my fault, but there was still no way he should believe anything like that.

  “I’ll be there in a minute,” I told Molly when we reached the doors to the lunchroom. I needed to pull Rigel and Sean aside and make Sean tell him that whatever it was wasn’t true. How could Trina think a ridiculous lie like that would hold up once I found out? It seemed stupid, even for her. Not that it made me any less furious with her for upsetting Rigel like this.

  “Oh, um, okay.” Molly looked curious now but, to my relief, didn’t ask questions before heading off.

  I immediately grabbed Rigel’s arm with both hands. “Stop. You have to—”

  Sean’s snarl cut me off. “So, now you’ve passed their stupid test you’re not even bothering to pretend anymore?” He stared at my hand on Rigel’s sleeve. “Are you trying to ruin everything? To make me look stupid?”

  Rigel turned and he and Sean glared viciously at each other for a long, tense moment. Then Rigel made a convulsive motion with one clenched fist and wrenched away from me to follow Molly into the cafeteria. Trina was nowhere to be seen.

  “Are you crazy?” I practically yelled at Sean. “Are both of you crazy? What has Trina done to you two today?”

  “She’s shown me what’s really going on.” He glowered down at me from on high. “If Stuart’s that upset, I guess he’s not so proud of what you two have been doing behind my back. How does that make you feel?”

  “Doing—? What are you—?” But he spun away from me before I could form a coherent question.

  More confused than ever, I entered the lunchroom, bypassing the line to go straight to our table, though neither Rigel nor Sean were there yet. Off to one side I saw Trina again, this time talking to Molly and a couple of other cheerleaders. It looked like Trina was showing them something on her cell phone, while her pals Nicole and Amber squealed, giggled, then turned to stare at me.

  Molly stared too, her expression shocked and upset. After looking again at Trina’s phone for several long seconds, she shook her head violently, then hurried away—toward me. I assumed she was going to tell me what was going on, but as she neared the table, she veered away, not making eye co
ntact.

  Sick of all the secrecy, I leaped up and moved directly into her path. “Molly, stop!” Like I had with Rigel, I grabbed her arm, forcing her to look at me.

  For a second I thought she was going to pull away, too, but then she jerked to a halt, so upset she seemed on the verge of tears.

  “You have got to tell me what’s going on.” I used all the Royal persuasiveness I could summon. “What is Trina showing people?”

  Molly blinked rapidly a few times, her lower lip trembling, then seemed to get a grip on herself. “It’s… She’s… M, she’s got pictures, on her phone, of you and some guy half naked, like you’re right in the middle of…of…” She stared helplessly at me. “How—? Who—?”

  “Yeah, I want to know both of those answers, too.” I kept looking Molly in the eye. “She obviously faked the picture somehow, but who is the guy?”

  “Faked? But… Oh! Of course!” Her relief was so great, so obvious, that for a second I could almost feel it, like I did Rigel’s emotions. “The picture doesn’t show the guy’s face, or even his hair, so there’s no knowing who it is. But she’s definitely got your face on there!”

  “That obnoxious little—!” Rigel’s and Sean’s behavior suddenly made sense, though I was furiously insulted either of them could have possibly thought the picture was real.

  Molly flapped her hands apologetically. “I’m sorry, M. I…I should have known the second I saw it that she’d stuck your face on somebody else—maybe some porn picture she found online, I don’t know. But…it looked so real. Whether she faked it herself or had someone do it for her, they did an awfully good job.”

  I glared in Trina’s direction, where she and a few others were still giggling over her phone. “I’m pretty sure Trina has shown it to Sean and Rigel and they both assumed it’s the other one in that nasty picture with me. She probably even told them that.”