The Star Group by Christopher Pike Read Free Book Online Page B

grateful, too.
    Jimmy called for our class to throw our caps in the air.
    Five hundred blue birds flew for the sky.
    I caught Gale's as it fell and returned it to her.
    She kissed me on the lips and laughed.
    “But you're not as brave as I am,” she said.
     
     
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    DISNEYLAND WAS COOL AT LEAST AT THE start. First off, the place was reserved only for graduating high school seniors and a few teachers that night, which I only learned when we got there. There weren't two dozen senior classes celebrating but several hundred. It was fun to walk around and see so many people all the same age. It was a warm clear night, with a half moon hanging in the sky. As Gale and I strolled up Main Street, we couldn't stop smiling.
    “We're going to have a blast,” she said. “And I want to spend money on me. I want a Minnie Mouse T-shirt and a Minnie Mouse baseball cap.”
    “I'm lucky my parents gave me money for graduation,” I said. ““You sound like an expensive chick.”
    “I am an expensive chick,” She paused. “How much did they give you?”
    “A hundred dollars.”
    She waved her hand, “That’s not much.”
    “For my parents it is,” I said.
    She poked me again. “I was just teasing. I told I adore your parents.”
    “Thanks. I wish I'd met yours.”
    Gale was watching me. “They weren't there.” She didn't explain and I didn't ask.
    “Really? That's too bad.”
    “Did you know I'm adopted?”
    “No.”
    “I've never met my real parents.” She paused and her voice faltered. “Maybe they would have come if they'd known.”
    I was hesitant to probe. I squeezed her arm.
    We met Sal, Teri, and Jimmy as planned. They had told us they wanted to stop by Shena's house to try to persuade her to come. Then we'd all meet us in front of the Matterhorn. When we gathered, I asked about Shena, Teri shook her head.
    “There was no talking to that girl,” she said.
    Jimmy wanted to change the subject. He always did when it was about Shena. He asked how I felt about his speech. I hadn't had a chance to tell him. I shook my head.
    “If I wasn't in such a great mood tonight,” I said, “I'd have killed you.”
    “That means you owe your life to me,” Gale told Jimmy. “I put him in the good mood.”
    “And how exactly did you do that?” Sal asked, smoking a cigarette.
    Gale grinned. “I have my ways.”
    The others howled, and I tried not to blush. But, of course, I failed.
    We got in line for Space Mountain. Teri insisted on riding it before we ate anything—she said she didn't want to throw up on us. The line was long, but I didn't mind because Gale stood close the whole time. Then when we were inside the dark roller coaster and going down fast, she instinctively put an arm around my waist. I liked to think it was instinct, that she already trusted me.
    We hung out in Tomorrow Land for a while and then made our way over to It's A Small World. It was the one ride I couldn't stand, but Teri and Gale seemed excited about it so I acted excited, too. Yet it was odd, in the middle of the ride, with all the smiling idiot puppets singing their repetitious song, I suddenly felt the same energy in my head and spine as I had when I communicated with Mentor. What was even more odd was that I had forgotten all about him since graduation. Maybe he was trying to tell me that our world really was small. Gale looked at me as the energy touched me.
    “Are you all right?” she asked.
    I blinked. “Yes, I'm fine. Why do you ask?”
    “Your eyes are dilated.”
    “It’s from staring at you.”
    She raised an eyebrow. “The last four years?”
    “That must be it.”
    I noticed one of the seven dwarfs start to follow us after we got off the ride, but paid it no heed. I mean, I wasn't into dwarfs.
    Next we went to eat at some fast-food joint. But because it was Disneyland, it cost as much as a fine restaurant. I was really glad my parents had given me money, my earlier vow notwithstanding. It was nice to be able