To the Stars (Thatch #2)(3)

Our first kiss had been in the rain. We’d danced in the rain. And it’d been raining the last time I’d spoken to him. Everything about rain reminded me of him, reminded me of what I’d lost.

Summer 2008—Seattle

“BUT DO I look okay for the concert?” I asked my older sister, Hayley. “You keep skipping that last part!”

She rolled her eyes after pulling into a parking spot. “I’m saying you look hot; that’s all that should matter.”

“I’ve never been to a concert; it could totally matter!”

“This can’t even technically be considered a concert. I mean, it is, but it isn’t. There will be people coming and going, and just hanging out . . . it’s just chill. You’re fine, I swear.”

I flipped down the visor and checked my makeup in the mirror one more time before stepping out of the car with her.

She sent me an approving smile as I rounded the front of her car to join her. “Ready?”

“Obviously,” I said, holding my arms out.

“You’re such a brat,” she said with a laugh. “Come on.”

Wrapping an arm around my neck, she pulled me across the parking lot and over a large lawn to a building I would’ve sworn was abandoned, by the looks of it. But it was a local hangout, as well as the place to go to indie concerts. Mom never wanted me coming out here, but somehow Hayley had managed to get her to agree tonight. Usually wherever Hayley was, I wasn’t far behind.

She wasn’t just my sister; she was my best friend. Her friends were mine, her curfew was also mine, and this was our last summer together before she moved across the country for school. I didn’t know what I was going to do without her; our other sister was too young for me to hang out with yet—and I’d never even had friends my age. My parents always called me an “old soul,” whatever that meant. All I knew was that I never fit in unless I was with Hayley, and she was leaving me.

“Look who decided to show!” Hayley’s boyfriend, Neil, called out as we reached the building. “It’s Little Little Low Low.”

“Hilarious,” I muttered before he picked me up in a big bear hug.

“You’re not looking so little there, Little Low.”

“And you’re a creeper,” I said at the same time Hayley made a face and smacked his stomach. “Ew, don’t be gross!”

“I’m not!” He flung out his arms then wrapped one around Hayley. “I’m just saying we should probably keep a leash on her tonight, or something. Babe, you know your sister doesn’t look fifteen, and then you dress her in that? No one here is going to think she’s underage. I should put a sign on her that says ‘young one: untouchable.’”

“She’ll be fine.” Hayley smiled and winked at me. “She looks great, and she’s here to have fun. She’s not going to do anything stupid.”

Neil groaned. “I’m going to be punching people, aren’t I?”

“Probably,” Hayley responded, and leaned in to kiss him. They soon forgot we were in public.

“Did we come here for a concert, or for you to maul each other?”

Hayley turned to grin at me. “Both?” When I made a face, she laughed. “Come on, let’s go inside.”

I found out very quickly that concerts weren’t my thing. If it hadn’t been for the fact that most of our friends were there, the bad music and heavy smell of something that I wasn’t entirely sure was legal would have been unbearable.

I drummed my fingers on the table and blew out a heavy breath as I looked around us. “I’m going to get some fresh air,” I stated loudly for whoever was listening.

“Not alone you’re not,” Hayley yelled over the music.

“I’m fine,” I said as I stood, and the unmistakable sound of a grunt came from behind me when I quickly took a step back from the short stool I’d been on.

My body locked up and face pinched as embarrassment flooded my veins.

A chorus of “Heys!” came from our table, and I turned to see which one of our friends I’d backed into.

“I’m so sorr—” My words cut off when I looked up at him.

Not a friend of mine. I would have remembered having a friend like him.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my words drowning in the music.

His lips tilted up in a crooked smile that was too perfect to be real. “No harm done,” he said in a deep, fluid voice.

I’m positive my mouth was open as I continued to stare at him, not moving. His eyes quickly ran over my body, and his smile turned into more of a smirk before one of our friends said something and his head shot up to look at them.

I blinked rapidly and took a step away from him. Keeping my eyes trained on the dark floor, I tried to remember what I’d been doing before he’d walked up. Outside. I wanted fresh air. I wanted to look at him again. No, walk outside, Harlow. Walk outside.

I’d only taken two steps when I heard my sister’s voice above the music. “Somebody take Harlow outside.”

I turned to glare at her. “I’m not a dog.”

Walking away from the tables, I pushed through the mass of people standing near the front doors of the building, and breathed in a deep lungful of clean air.

“They’re just looking out for you.”