When Gretel and Starry got home, Fran was on the couch with the TV on. She didn't look up.
"How was school, girls?" she asked, eyes still on the screen.
"It was okay, but—" Gretel started.
"It was great, Aunt Fran," Starry cut in, smiling too bright. "Gretel's school is really nice. What's for dinner?"
"There's casserole in the oven. Go check if it's ready and set the table." Fran finally glanced at them. "And Gret, Dad isn't coming home for a while."
She went back to the TV.
Starry and Gretel changed, then met in the kitchen. Starry checked the oven while Gretel set the table.
"Why didn't you tell Mom what happened?" Gretel whispered.
"Because I don't want her to worry." Starry kept her eyes on the casserole. "Aunt Fran already has a lot on her mind. I know it was hard for your family to take me in after… the incident." Her voice went small on the last word.
"But Hansel—"
"I'm sure he won't bother me again. Not after Theodore told him off."
Gretel set a plate down harder than she meant to. "Clueless. Hansel is the devil. Once he has his eyes on someone, that person doesn't get peaceful days at Prime Rosé High."
Starry's hands stilled. "Are you sure?"
"I suggest you stick to Theodore like chewing gum. Hansel won't dare do anything with him around."
"What's the beef between Hansel and Theodore?"
"I heard—"
A muffled sob cut her off.
They found Fran on the living room floor, shoulders shaking.
"I miss her so much," Fran choked out between tears.
"Miss—" Starry started.
"Starry, please," Gretel said quietly. "Give us a minute?"
"Okay." Starry backed out of the room.
Upstairs, she shut her bedroom door. Her eyes burned. She swiped at them, grabbed her phone, shoved her headphones on, and drowned everything in music.
A while later, Gretel knocked. "Dinner's ready."
They went down. Fran was gone.
"Where's Aunt Fran?" Starry asked.
"She went out to clear her head. She'll be back soon." Gretel pulled out a chair. "Let's eat."
They ate in silence. Then went to their rooms.
---
The next morning, Starry and Gretel walked into homeroom at Prime Rosé High. Theodore was at the board, erasing yesterday's equations.
"Good morning, desk mate," Starry said. She meant it to sound grateful.
He stopped erasing. Turned. "I told you. Don't call me that, or I'll move you." His voice was flat. His frown was not.
"No, no, no. I won't. Please keep erasing," she said fast, sliding into her seat.
Gretel leaned in. "Stick to him," she whispered.
"Like glue, got it." Starry gave her an OK sign.
"Take care," Gretel said, patting Starry's head before going to her own desk.
Theodore finished the board, sat, and opened a physics workbook. He started writing.
"What are you doing?" Starry asked. Bored. Curious. Both.
"Are you blind?" He didn't look up. "I'm solving problems."
"Which subject?" She ignored the tone.
"Physics. Why? Want to join me?"
"No, no. Carry on. Act like I'm air and invisible." She waved a hand in front of his face.
"Stop that." He caught her wrist for half a second, then let go. "No need. You are air."
"What?" She blinked.
He went back to his problems.
_If I didn't need your protection, who would want to sit with an ice block like you?_ she thought, glaring at his profile.
Then the room got cold.
Not metaphor cold. Real cold. The hair on her arms lifted.
_Why did the temperature drop? It was warm a second ago._
She looked out the window.
Hansel stood three yards from their building, staring straight at her. Smiling. Not a normal smile. A watching-you-drown smile.
Starry screamed.
Theodore's head snapped up. He opened his mouth to snap at her — then saw her face. Pale. Sweat on her forehead. Shaking.
"What's—" he started.
Gretel was already there, arm around Starry. "What's wrong?"
"I… I think I just saw Hansel through the window," Starry said, voice thin. "The way he looked at me. It gave me chills."
Gretel opened her mouth.
Theodore stood. His chair scraped. He walked out.
Stacy was coming in as he left. His shoulder clipped hers. Hard.
"Ouch, Prez—" She turned, expecting his usual cold "sorry."
He kept walking.
Stacy stared after him, rubbing her shoulder. "What's wrong with him? He usually apologizes. Coldly, but still."
Neither Gretel nor Starry answered. Stacy took one look at Starry's face and dropped her bag. "What's wrong?"
---
Theodore found the Stunning Trio at their usual hangout behind the gym. They had a slim boy in the middle, laughing as they made him dance.
"Hansel," Theodore said.
Three heads turned. The slim boy bolted.
"How dare you call my boss like that, punk?" Gar stood, fists up.
"I don't talk to lackeys," Theodore said without looking at him.
"Gar, calm down. You two, out," Hansel said, lazy. Arthur and Gar left, glaring.
"Are you a mafia boss?" Theodore asked. "Why do you act like a gangster, terrorizing people?"
"Why do you care?" Hansel stretched. "I thought we had a deal. I do what I want. You don't interfere."
"Your 'jokes' are getting out of hand."
"Why do you care? I haven't done anything deadly. Yet."
"You sent someone to stalk Starry, didn't you?"
"Why do you care?" Hansel's smile sharpened.
"I want you to leave her alone. She's in my class. She's my responsibility."
"This is the first time I'm interested in someone from your class," Hansel said, tapping his chin. "Fascinating."
"Stay away from students in my class."
"I can't promise you anything." Hansel walked past him, shoulder checking him on purpose. "Try me."
---
They had a pop quiz in physics. Starry bombed it.
Mr. Blake tapped her paper. "I'm sure you've seen your results. Most of you tried. Some didn't—" The bell cut him off. He turned to Starry. "Miss Knight. My office. After school."
Lunch. The room emptied except Theodore, who was working through calculus, and Starry, who was pretending to sleep with her head on her desk.
"Aren't you going to eat?" Theodore didn't look up. "Last I checked, you're a glutton."
"What? I'm not hungry," she mumbled into her arm.
_Jerk,_ she added in her head.
"Well, I am." He stood. "Enjoy."
She followed him out.
"I'm not following you," she said when he glanced back. "I just realized I was hungry."
"I didn't say you were." He kept walking.
Cafeteria. They ordered. He went to his usual empty table. She sat across from him.
He stared. "What are you doing? I thought you said you weren't following me."
"Um… I… I love the texture of this table." She splayed her hand on it. "So smooth. Irresistible." She even pressed her cheek to it.
"Then enjoy." He pushed his tray away. "I lost my appetite." He left.
Starry inhaled her food in three bites and ran after him.
He walked. Then stopped dead. She didn't.
She slammed into his back.
"Ouch!" Blood dripped from her nose onto her uniform.
He turned, already frowning. Saw the blood. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Except for the damn bloody nose," she snapped.
"Why did you follow me? It's your fault." His hand went to his pocket.
"You can't even apologize. What a jerk." She stormed off.
Theodore stood there, handkerchief in his hand, watching her go.
---
Starry ended up in the school garden, behind the flower pots. She dabbed at her nose with her sleeve. Her eyes stung. She wiped them with the heel of her hand.
Tap on her shoulder.
She looked up. A boy. Prime Rosé High uniform. Not from her class.
"Starry Knight?" he asked.
"Um… yes?"
"Principal wants you."
"Oh." She stood. "He sent you?"
"Yeah. Come on."
They walked. After two turns, she stopped. "Wait. This isn't the way to the Principal's office."
"Who knew you were so smart?" His grip closed on her wrist.
She yanked back. "Let me go. You don't even know me."
"But I know Hansel." He dragged her forward. "He said if I bring you to him, he'll let me go."
She bit his hand. Hard. He yelped but didn't let go. He raised his other hand to hit her.
A hand caught his wrist mid-swing.
Theodore.
"Let go of her," Theodore said. He shoved. Light. The boy hit the ground anyway.
Theodore grabbed Starry by the sleeve and pulled her away.
When they were around the corner, Starry ripped her arm free. "Don't act like you're better. You're the same. Just colder." She ran.
---
Mr. Blake's office. Theodore was already there when Starry walked in.
"Mr. Blake, you asked for me?" She didn't look at Theodore.
"Oh, yes. Sit." Mr. Blake gestured. "It's about the pop quiz. Your performance was… not good. I want Theodore to tutor you. He's my best physics student."
"My cousin Gretel is good at physics. She can tutor me."
"No." Mr. Blake's phone rang. "Excuse me." He stepped out.
Silence.
"I'm sorry," Theodore said.
Starry's head snapped up. It wasn't cold. It wasn't flat. It was… human.
"You… you're apologizing?"
"Yes. And don't ever compare me to him." Slow. Clear.
"Okay," she whispered.
"Here." He held out a band-aid.
She didn't take it right away.
"I saw a scratch on your wrist."
She looked. There was. From the boy's nails. She took the band-aid. Put it on. "Thank you. And… sorry for what I said."
Mr. Blake came back. "As I was saying. Theodore is the best option."
"Okay, Mr. Blake. Thank you for your concern," Starry said.
"You may both leave."
"Goodbye, Mr. Blake," they said at the same time.
Hallway. "When do we start?" Starry asked.
"Tomorrow." He walked ahead. Then stopped. Turned back. "Take care."
He was gone before she could answer.
Starry looked at the band-aid on her wrist. "Guess he isn't that bad," she said to no one.