Made of Stars Read Online Free Page A

at our kitchen table when we come downstairs, still in our pajamas.
    Today, Chance is at the creek, which is trying to ice itself over again. It’s freezing outside, but he still isn’t wearing a jacket. He isn’t trying to skip stones so much as throw them at the water, and I wonder what the creek ever did to him.
    “How are you not getting hypothermia?” I ask. Chance graces me with a smile.
    “I’m not a wimp like you Californians who’ve never seen snow.”
    “Hey, we get snow. Just not where I live.”
    He shrugs. “Whatever. Where’s your brother? We have places to go.”
    I can’t help but grin, eager to see where Chance is leading us. Even the most mundane of places is made exciting with him along. After day in and day out of dealing with Mom trying to control every aspect of my life, being out here and going on adventures with Chance and Hunter is a breath of fresh air. “Probably talking to Rachael. He’ll be here soon.”
    Chance arches an eyebrow. “Rachael?”
    “Yeah. Girlfriend.” We turn to wander back to the porch. “He didn’t tell you?” It seems weird Rachael wouldn’t have come up once in conversation, when we’ve spent the last several days catching up.
    “Nope.” He looks away, expression unreadable. “Must not be anything serious.”
    “No, it is.” I frown, feeling oddly defensive on Rachael’s behalf, since she isn’t here to defend herself. “They’ve been together for, like, a year now.”
    “Uh huh.”
    “Carol adores her.” Not that Hunt has ever cared what his mom, Carol, thinks about his relationships, but whatever. “So does Dad.”
    I have this image in my head of what Rachael and Hunt’s relationship must be like. What it should be like. This perfect high school romance that stretches out into college and leads to marriage and kids. Like I’ve always wanted for myself and never managed to find. I mean, I haven’t met Rachael, but I’ve never heard a bad word spoken about her. She’s sweet and very smart , Carol told me once on the phone. She’s the perfect kind of girl for Hunter. She’ll keep his head out of the clouds.
    Chance smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “The parents love her. But does he?”
    My face flushes. I shouldn’t have said anything, but then again—why shouldn’t I? Rachael isn’t some fling. They’re serious, and Chance shouldn’t brush it off. For that matter, neither should Hunter. He should have mentioned her. Rachael’s feelings would be hurt. I know mine would be, if I were her.
    Just as we reach the bottom of the steps and before I have time to respond, Hunter shuffles outside, dressed and messy-haired.
    “Sorry,” he says, voice still a little rough from sleep. “What’s going on?”
    All the life seems to rush back into Chance’s face, and his eyes light up. “We can use Mr. J’s truck, right?”
    Hunt runs a hand through his hair. “Uh…yeah.”
    “Super. What about shovels?”
    Hunter and I exchange looks. There’s really no point in questioning Chance. He’ll tell us what we’re doing when he feels like it. That’s part of the fun, isn’t it? Going along for the ride.
    We bundle into the Toyota, and Chance navigates. At first, I think we’re heading in the direction of Chance’s house, but he instructs us to drive right on by. We’re still following the creek; I think I can spot it here and there when the trees are at their thinnest. Eventually, he has Hunt pull over to the side of the road, and we get out.
    “Middle of nowhere.” I zip up my coat. “What are we doing, burying bodies?” Admittedly, this would be a place to do it. Isolated, off any main roads.
    “Nope. We’re going to war.” Chance grabs the shovels from the back of the truck, one for each of us.
    There’s no real discernible path leading through the trees, but Chance seems to know where he’s going, and the truck shouldn’t be hard to spot when we find our way out again. A half a mile into the woods, we come to