The Star Group Read Online Free

have put in a couple of pictures of me – not that I cared. I didn't photograph well; I think it's the light.
    “It’s still a sexy picture,” I said.
    Teri Laughed. “Yeah. Dwarfs and clowns are in this year. I liked your picture.”
    “My one and only?”
    “It's quality that counts.” She gestured to my book. “Can I sign it?”
    “Sure,” We exchanged books. I opened hers to the clown picture and pulled out a pen. I wrote quickly, not sure what to say.
     
    Teri,
    You are one of my heroes. Don't let go of Sal, he is my other hero. Set the world on fire. I know you got the fire.
    Love, Daniel
     
    She was taking her time writing in my book, and I wondered if I should have said more. I disliked butting in on other people's business, but I couldn't stand the thought of their breaking up. Or Shena and Jimmy for that matter. I was a hopeless romantic. Teri finally gave me back my book, but when I went to read her inscription she stopped me.
    “Not in front of me,” she said. “I get embarrassed.”
    “You think so little of me?”
    She raised up on her toes and kissed me on the cheek.
    “I think more of you than you can imagine,” she whispered in my ear.
    She left me then, to chase after our English teacher, Mr. Ramirez. Although not number one in our class, Teri had to give a speech as salutatorian. Mr. Ramirez was probably going to help her with it. She said she had not even begun to write it. Like I believed that. As she walked away, I opened the book and read her note.
     
     
    Daniel,
    I have a recurring dream about you that I've never told you about. We are sailing through outer space in a ship made of light and you are sitting in the captain's chair and the simple fact that you're there comforts me. Because in this dream I'm scared. We are on an adventure that I know is filled with danger, but in this dream, each time I look at you, I know that you are there to help. And each day that I see you at school, I feel that this is true. You are magical, you have to find a way to share that magic with the rest of us.
    I love ya. I really do.
    Teri
     
    I wasn't given a chance to savor the message, to try to figure out what she was really saying, because Shena was walking toward me then. I couldn't help but stare at her as she did so. Those scars – how deep did they have to cut? If I had a million dollars, I would have given it all to the best plastic surgeon in the world if he could fix her even a little.
    It was the left side of Shena's face that was the worst. When the battery had exploded, the acid drenched that side, and there had been no water available to wipe it off. Indeed, Jimmy and Gale had made the mistake, while rushing Shena to the hospital, of keeping the wounds covered with a cloth that was lying in the car. In other words, they had kept the acid on the skin and allowed it to do its worst. I had given Jimmy a bad time about such a stupid move, but he had just mumbled something about how they had been in shock.
    The left side of Shena's face was not only seriously scarred, the skin had changed color. On the twisted mass of tissue near her left eye, the skin was dark purple. But around the left side of her mouth it was flame red. Her cheek was orange. I didn't understand why, but had heard Jimmy tell someone that her makeup had melted into her flesh.
    Shena was permanently blind in her left eye.
    She smiled as she approached; it was a sad smile.
    “Did Teri sign your book?” she asked as she gave me a quick hug.
    “Yeah. She wrote that I'm better in bed than Sal. Think he'll mind?”
    Shena tried to hold on to her smile. “Friends should share everything.”
    “Wow. A liberal chick, I like it. Can I sign your book?”
    “Not yet, I'm not ready to sign yours. I have to think up something juicy.” She paused. “I heard about what you did this morning.”
    “Pretty crazy, huh?”
    She looked away and spoke quietly. “I wish I had your guts.”
    I was careful. “What would you do?”
    She