The Lighter That Shone Like A Star (Story of The South) by Dan Cash Read Free Book Online

said nothing and let her mother continue the conversation.
    “So, what’s new with you?” asked Marie.
    What’s new with you? Something must be really wrong.
    “Oh, nothing. Same as always, lots of school work and revision for the final exams, but not much else.” She was unsure what she had said to trigger it, but Marie was suddenly crying. “Mum, what’s the matter?”
    What’s dad done?
    “Nothing, I’m just glad you’re okay,” her mother lied, turning back to the oven.
    “Mum, just tell me what’s wrong.”
    Maybe it wasn’t dad… maybe mum did something this time.
    Sofia looked at her mother until her mother finally looked back. Mrs Vassallo took a deep breath and said, “I saw Jill today and she said she saw with that Myers boy and you were holding hands and then I got a phone call from the school to say you had skipped classes and I don’t even know who you are anymore, Sofia.”
    “What?” Sofia exclaimed incredulously.
    “Skipping school with a boy you barely know! Did you smoke? Drink? Take drugs? Let me look at your eyes…” Marie made her way over to Sofia, her eyes wide, surveying her daughter.
    Sofia laughed for over a minute. At first, Marie appeared to be overwhelmed with worry, but when Sofia eventually managed to deny the claims, both mother and daughter fell into a fit of giggles. Sofia ordered her mum to sit down in the living room while she made them each a hot chocolate topped with marshmallows and whipped cream.
    She rested next to her mum on the sofa and talked about her day with Max, the boy who was no longer her mystery.
     
     
     

Max
     
    A week had passed since the day Max and Sofia had escaped school. Max was still in a state of disbelief, as was everyone else. He was unsure how the entire school had learned of his and Sofia’s day together, but he thought he had an idea; Sofia always confided in Anne-Alicia, who could keep nothing to herself.
    The rumours about the pair were too accurate to be guesswork. Whispers seemed to follow Max and he swore that more than once he heard the words ‘fire’, ‘window’ and ‘kiss’, although he admitted that it could have been imagining it.
    Max did not care much about the rumours, though, nor did he care whether people were impressed, envious, or dubious that he had kissed Sofia.
    The only thought that had worried Max was if Sofia would be bothered by the rumours and whispers and would decide she did not want to see Max again. Sofia was the most beautiful woman in Pipton and Max knew that he was not the most handsome boy. He was not even a man yet, but his sixteenth birthday was in one week and only then he would perhaps start to feel more worthy.
    Max was especially excited about his sixteenth birthday because Light on the Landing had announced that their tour date in Pipton was to be on that same day. He could not believe his luck when Matthew told him the news.
    The day after he skipped school with Sofia, his two best friends shocked him by arriving at his house ten minutes early. The insecure boy had assumed it was because they wanted to know where Max had been the day before, but that was only partially true. Light on the Landing had scribbled their announcement early in the morning and the two friends could not wait to tell Max.
    People had only hoped that they would return to Pipton , fully aware that the boyband were en route to becoming the biggest celebriti es in The South. For Max, as well as every Hurburtan teenager, it was a dream come true. To add to his excitement, Jimmie’s parents lived next door to the Myers family so Max was positive that he would be able to meet at least one of his idols again.
    Russell had not said much during Matthew and Max’s conversation, but when Matthew asked about Sofia he became much more alert. Max began to confide in his friends, hoping they were still friends enough to keep secrets.
    “We jumped out of the window and she kissed me,” he began, evoking grins from each of his