Starcrossed

Chapter 8a: Omni (part 1)

Chapter 8 (part 1)

omni: a small, multifunctional device developed on Mars

The doorbell had barely sounded when Sean opened the door and greeted me with a big smile. "Hullo, M, come in, do. Don't mind the mess."

He held the door and I stepped past him into the foyer, noticing again how tall he was. I was careful not to brush against him.

"Thanks. Is Molly home, too?"

"Sure. In here." He motioned with his head for me to follow him and we went into a small living room similar to ours. In fact, the house seemed to be laid out almost the same, except in reverse, with the kitchen off to the left, the living room to the right and the stairs straight ahead.

"Hi, M," Molly said, looking up from a desk in the corner with a smile. "Thanks for coming."

There were a few big moving boxes in the corners, but otherwise it looked like they were nearly settled in already.

"No problem. Though I can't imagine you guys really need much help." Considering how fast Rigel (and now I) could read, I figured they could finish the whole textbook in a day or two.

Molly shrugged. "It's not like we've ever studied the United States, since we never expected to come here until—"

"Yeah, I know. Until everybody found out about me." I crossed the room to join her at the desk and she shoved some books off a chair to make room for me. Sean dragged another chair over and sat on my other side.

"All we got back home was general Earth History," he explained, flipping open the textbook on the desk, "so we really could use some help—especially with the stuff that's not in books, stuff everyone just knows. Afterwards, our folks thought you might, um, have some questions we could answer?"

I drew in a quick, eager breath. "Now that you mention it—" I began, but just then their mother poked her head around the corner.

"Ah, welcome, Excellency! Er, M, rather. Can I get you a cup of tea?" Then, before I could answer, she blushed and exclaimed, "Oh, how silly of me! You've been raised in America. Of course you don't want tea. Perhaps a soft drink?"

Mrs. O'Gara was so embarrassed and eager to please that it made me embarrassed. I hoped she'd stop acting weird around me soon, or I'd start avoiding her—even though it was kind of nice to be fussed over.

"Actually, tea would be great, thanks," I said. "I drink tea all the time."

"Oh! Oh, that's lovely." She seemed way more relieved than the situation called for. "Perhaps something herbal? What do you like?"

"Oh, uh, anything's fine. Peppermint, chamomile, whatever you have. Thanks!"

She nodded and disappeared. In the awkward silence that followed, it felt inappropriate to start peppering them with questions about Mars. Plus, I suddenly felt a little too aware of Sean sitting next to me. Clearing my throat, I turned to Molly.

"So, did you go to cheerleading practice today?"

She nodded. "Trina talked me into trying out and . . . I think I may join. It would be a way to meet people. You should do it, too, M."

I laughed. "You've got to be kidding! I'm positive Trina didn't suggest that."

"Well, no, but—"

"Trust me, even if I tried out I'd never make the squad. I'm kind of a klutz"—well, I used to be, anyway—"and Trina hates me."

Sean made a disbelieving sound. "How could anyone—? Well, her loss, if so."

But Molly's eyebrows drew together worriedly. "I, um, could tell you aren't exactly friends."

"That's putting it mildly. I doubt there's anyone in the school she likes less than me. We've had a kind of feud going since third grade." A mostly one-sided feud, with Trina embarrassing me every chance she got. But lately I'd gotten better at defending myself against her—mostly thanks to Rigel, I reminded myself.

Molly looked alarmed. "In that case, maybe I shouldn't spend time with her."

"What? No! If they want you on the squad, you should totally join."

"Um, ladies? History?" Sean prompted, clearly tired of our girl talk.

But Molly just grimaced at him. "You really think I should?" she asked me.

"Sure. It's like an express lane to popularity and you'll probably have fun, too. And, uh, get to cheer for Sean at basketball games." I glanced at him as I said that and caught him watching me with a strange, quizzical smile. Flustered, I quickly turned back to Molly.

"You're sure?" Her brow had unfurrowed and I could tell she really wanted to.

"Absolutely. Though I can't promise Trina won't give you a hard time for being friends with me. That is, if you still—"

"Of course I want to be friends with you!" Her vehemence was flattering. "It's what we—" She glanced past me to Sean, then said, "I mean, even if you weren't . . . who you are, you're the only other Echtran girl in Jewel. And besides, I think you're really nice."

I couldn't help smiling, though I wondered what she'd almost said—and whether Sean had stopped her. "Thanks. And ditto."

Mrs. O'Gara bustled in with peppermint tea for all of us, made sure I had a napkin and enough sugar, then left us alone again.

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