There Once Were Stars by Melanie McFarlane Read Free Book Online Page B

me.”
    “I haven’t told anyone,” he says, unfolding his arms and running a hand through his short blonde hair, as a flash of enthusiasm grows in his eyes. “I get to start working tomorrow in the Director’s office. They say it’s a two-week trial, but if everything goes well, it’s permanent. Guess what my title would be? Assistant to the Director!”
    “Jak, that’s awesome!” I sit up and he joins me on the bed. Our fingers touch, and electricity runs up my arm again. I look at Jak’s face. He’s my oldest friend. The one I learned to ride bikes with. The one I ran races against. Jak. He has always been there for me, visiting every day after my parents died to make sure I was okay. My Jak. Why have I never seen him in this light, until now?
    I lean forward, and feel Jak’s soft lips push against mine. His familiarity is a comfort. His mouth moves faster as he pushes his tongue past my parted lips. It feels awkward, but nice, and for the moment, I forget everything that is happening outside this room. For the moment, I’m carefree.
    The kiss ends as softly as it began. I lean back and smile, and Jak smiles back.
    “I’ve wanted to do that since we were twelve,” he says.
    “You did!” I feel my cheeks get hot. “Why didn’t you, then?”
    “We were barely teenagers,” he says, looking away as he wrings his hands together. “You weren’t interested in boys or kissing. At least I didn’t think you were until you snuck off at lunch one day at school, and kissed James Poole behind the locker rooms.”
    “James Poole!” I burst into laughter, quickly covering my mouth so not to wake his parents. “Xara dared me to kiss him because I was the only girl in our grade that hadn’t. She bet me a chocolate I wouldn’t do it. You know me. I hate to lose.”
    Jak’s face is red when he looks back at me. “I was so mad at James that I knocked him over on our way to class.” He reaches over and grabs my hand, covering it with his palm.
    “All because I kissed him?”
    He nods. “In that moment I realized I didn’t want anyone else to kiss you.”
    I laugh, but it comes out strained. The uncomfortable feeling I got in the movie theater starts to creep back under my skin, and I try to pull my hand from Jak’s grip. “We were kids.”
    His gaze bears down on me as his grip tightens. “That’s when I realized I was—in love with you.” He doesn’t take his eyes off mine, as if the answer he wants lies somewhere deep within me. He is dead serious.
    “In love?”
    “Yes,” he whispers. “I love you, Nat.”
    A cold sweat breaks across my skin. The room feels like it’s closing in on me. Trapped. For the first time ever, Jak’s room is not a refuge, it’s a prison. His hand lets mine go, distracted by my silence, or his own confession. Whatever it is it allows me the chance to slip my hand out from under his, and rub it along my pant leg.
    “I don’t know what to say,” I stammer. I look away, not wanting to see his face anymore. Uneasiness bubbles into my stomach.
    “You don’t have to say anything.” His shoulders slump forward, and I feel pity for my quiet friend. I have only seconds to save this friendship.
    “Jak,” I put my hand on his shoulder, “I just learned your feelings for me, which will take me time to process, but I came here to tell you something else. Something more important.”
    “More important than me confessing my love?” The hurt is plain in his voice. You must have had some idea at the movies?” he asks. His eyes search mine looking for the answer he wants to hear.
    My voice cracks. I’m overwhelmed by his intensity; it’s too much.
    “I’m in trouble. I need your help,” I blurt out. Tears spring to my eyes.
    His brows raise and then push together, and he grabs my hand again, but this time he’s gentle “Tell me what’s wrong. Let me help.”
    What am I going to tell him? Confess how I’ve broken the rules all these years? Jak, who believes in the