Defy the Stars Read Online Free Page B

café.’
    There was another pause. Flynn stared down at me. His presence was like a second sun, pulling me towards him, into his orbit. Dangerous. Magnetic. Powerful. He cleared his throat.
    ‘Er, I saw who you were with in the church.’ He wrinkled his nose. ‘You and Michael Greene?
Seriously?’
    ‘Michael’s nice.’ I raised my eyebrows.
    Flynn laughed. At that moment Caitlin came running up. She tugged at Flynn’s sleeve.
    ‘Come on,’ she urged him. ‘You’re needed for the photos.’ She glanced around at me. ‘Oh, hi, River.’
    ‘Hi.’ I smiled at her.
    Flynn rolled his eyes. ‘I’ll be right back,’ he said. He looked into me, his eyes sparkling green. ‘Will you wait?’
    I couldn’t speak. Too many emotions were crowding my head.
    I nodded.
Yes.
    Flynn turned and sauntered away. I leaned against the brick wall of the church, the sun fierce on my face. I wanted to laugh and I wanted to cry. The whole world looked different, like
everything had shifted a few centimetres making it all brighter, sharper, more alive.
    Michael strolled up, smiling. ‘There’s a swallow’s nest in the back bit of the church. It’s up high but you can see the baby birds peeking out. I think they’re
getting ready to fly.’
    I stared at him. His eyes suddenly registered alarm.
    ‘River, you look really pale. I’m so sorry, I forgot you said you weren’t feeling well. Did you call your dad?’
    I shook my head. I peered over to the huddle of people crowded around the photographs. Laughter echoed towards us across the grass.
    I had to go.
    I shoved my phone at Michael. ‘He’s under “Dad” in my contacts list. Would you call him while I tell someone we’re leaving? Tell him not to worry. I just have an
upset tummy. It’s nothing serious.’
    Michael nodded. As he made the call I headed across the yard to the boy with the pale brown hair Flynn had described as his friend. He was watching the photo session taking place on the
grass.
    ‘Hi, are you Cody?’ I said
    The boy nodded. He was tall with grey eyes. He looked nothing like Flynn, though there was a similar intensity in his expression. He gazed down at me. I shivered. There was something cold and
calculating about his pale eyes.
    ‘I’m River,’ I said, feeling the familiar stab of embarrassment at having to say my unusual name out loud.
    Cody raised his eyebrows. ‘Ah,’ he said. He looked me up and down. ‘River, with an R?’
    ‘Er, yes.’ I flushed, feeling like a bug under a microscope. Why was he asking me that? ‘I have to go. Will you make sure Flynn’s mum and sister get the message. Say
I’m really sorry to rush off. I’m . . . er . . .’ My blush deepened. ‘I’m not feeling well.’
    ‘I see,’ Cody said. A smile twisted about his lips. I could tell he didn’t really believe I was ill.
    ‘Bye.’ I turned, feeling awkward. I walked away, on to the pavement.
    One step after another, to take me away from Flynn.
    I had to keep walking, I could see that now. Seeing him just brought back all the old feelings.
    And I wasn’t going back to those.
    They’d nearly killed me once. I wasn’t going to let that happen again.

4
    Michael caught up with me halfway along the road. He said Dad was on his way, then insisted that as I still looked very pale we should find somewhere to sit down. I wanted to
put a few streets between myself and the church, so I made him keep walking past two roads of houses and beyond the High Street, until we came to a children’s playground.
    I sat on a bench while Michael called Dad again to tell him exactly where we were. The playground was full of little kids, running about and playing on the swings and in the sand pit. I sat
back, closing my eyes, letting the sun warm my face.
    I couldn’t believe how much seeing Flynn had affected me.
    Michael finished speaking to Dad and went to fetch us ice creams from the nearby van. I felt too sick to eat mine, so Michael had both. I apologised for