Starling

Starling Anderson hated going to school the day after a Griffin Anders film released. Hallways, which already felt suffocating, seemed to shrink as giddy teenage girls gossipped next to their lockers. The conversations were the same. Did you see the way he wore his hair? Didn't you just die during the shirtless scene? I wish he'd kiss me like he kissed Gillian Shaw right after he rescued her.

She stopped in front of her locker and yanked it open. The mirror on the door caught a glimpse of disgruntled hazel eyes and medium brown hair frizzing from the misting rain outside, but that was all she allowed herself to see. She was no Gillian Shaw, girl of the golden hair and skin, goddess of the silver screen. No amount of staring at herself and wishing would make it so.

"How you holding up?"

Starling slammed the metal door and turned to smile at her best friend. Hot pink frames sat on the end of Hanna Cho's nose as she peered over them, judging every student who wandered by. The glasses had no prescription; they were merely an accessory for today's outfit.

"Ugh, I knew it was going to be worse this time, but I never imagined it would be this bad."

They stepped into the stream of students and made their way to College Algebra. A few people shouted hellos or nodded their chins in passing, but most of these were directed at Hana. She flitted between social groups, charming everyone, while Starling kept only a close friend or two. Too many friends made it hard to keep her secret.

Dropping her book bag to the floor and sliding into her seat, Hanna patted her shoulder. "I mean, the boy is the male lead in the adaptation of Without the Stars. You knew that was gonna be a smash."

"All his movies are a smash," she griped. A well-loved copy of the novel rested in the front pocket of her backpack, waiting for her to return to its pages, but she'd been unable to stomach a read through since Griffin had been cast. How could they pick him to portray the most well-written romantic lead of her generation? She could never watch him spout lines that had spoken to her soul, brought laughter to her lips, and drew tears from her eyes. It would kill the novel's beauty.

"Oh my god, did you two see the movie yet?" Jennifer Martinez asked, spinning around in her chair. The girl practically bounced, her tan fingers gripping the edge of their desk.

"No, I'll probably wait for the digital release," Starling replied while Hanna snickered.

Jennifer gaped. "I saw it last night, and we've already got a crew going Friday and Saturday. Rumor has it that a sequel will be made if the movie makes enough money!"

"You do know that Merritt was left to die on earth at the end of the book. A sequel would completely undermine the message."

"The only message I got was that Griffin Anders should walk around shirtless for the rest of his life." The girls around them cheered, but Mr. Abernathy entered the room and shushed them. Thankfully, solving for x required most of their brain function, and no one spoke of the movie or its actor for the rest of the period.

The rest of the day went by on repeat. From class to class STarling trudged, cringing any time she saw girls huddled together. Even some of the teachers brought it up, though they mostly gushed that the film stayed true to the book's best parts. When the final bell rang, she packed up and fled to her car, grateful that she she could go straight home.

Cranking the engine, she stifled the scream that rose up when a fist wrapped on her window. "Good lord, Hanna! You scared the bejeezus outta me. Why didn't you text me?"

"I thought I could catch you before you got to the car, but you must've had your earbuds in cause you didn't even look up when I said your name."

"Sorry, today has pretty much sucked. What's up?"

Hanna's neon pink lips parted in pleading grin. "Can I stay at your house for a couple of hours? My car is still in the shop, and I'd have to hang out in the after school program until my mom gets off work."

"Of course," Starling said, reaching into the passenger seat to toss the odds and ends of her life into the backseat. Her sedan was clean albeit cluttered, and nondescript- the way she preferred all things in life.

"Thank you! Do you know how terrible it is to be a senior stuck sitting for hours with junior high kids?"

"I've heard," she responded, nudging her friend playfully as she pulled out of the parking lot. Hanna's car was routinely in the shop, and her mother never got off work before six thirty. None of this would've been a big problem- if Hanna hadn't recently moved to B.F.E. and her arch nemesis didn't ride her new bus route.

"For reals though. It's terrible. I'm still pissed that we even had to move out there."

"It's not that bad, really."

"You can say that because you live in a perfectly adorable cottage on main street with your grandmother. I live with my grandmother too, but in her doublewide that smells like her fifteen cats. I also share a bed with my mom."

Starling cut her eyes at the petite girl sitting beside her. So often she forgot that Hanna's home life wasn't all sunshine and rainbows because the girl kept up such a positive attitude. Most of the time anyways. It was only when she moved away from the spotlight and the crowds that she allowed her bitterness to seep out, the darkness staining the glitter and pink tule she armed herself in. Shifting uncomfortably in her seat, she reminded herself that perspective wasn't always comfortable, but she needed it to be grateful for the life she had. Because it could be a lot worse.

Hana reached for the volume on the radio, but as soon as the velvety tones of Griffin Anders burst from the speaker, Starling swapped the station. "I don't get it. I mean, you know I support your weird hate on the kid, but this is ridiculous. That's actually a great song."

"It is, but you know, I've heard a hundred times already. It's played out."

The girl in the passenger seat twisted and narrowed her almond eyes in suspicion. "It's been on the radio for three days, and I rode home with you yesterday. Is there something you need to tell me? Is your public hatred of him really a way to disguise your obsession with him? Like, are you in a fan club and planning on breaking into his room to steal his underwear."

Trying not to gag, she ignored Hanna's tirade and shouted, "We're here."

The drive from the school was short. If she was a good, environmentally conscious teen she'd walk the mile between home and the school, but even though it was October, summer temperatures had a firm grip on their southern town. No one wanted to smell her all day after making that walk, and thick thighs and denim did not best friends make. Chubby chafing was real, yo.

"Hey Nana," Starling called out, spying her grandmother sitting on the white porch swing. She stopped to drop a kiss against the woman's wrinkled cheek. "Hope you don't mind, Hanna needed a place to hang until her mom got off work."

Nana patted her hand before waving at her friend. "You know she's welcome here anytime she wants. In fact, I cooked far too much for dinner tonight. You'll have to help us eat it all dear."

"I love your cooking, Nana," the dark haired girl replied, reaching down to give Nana a hug.

Starling pushed open the screen door, welcoming the cold rush of air conditioning on her face. Just the brief trek from the car to the porch caused sweat to break out across her forehead. How Nana stomached sitting outside in the muggy heat, she would never know.

"Baby, before you go in, I need to tell you something."

She paused and let Hanna walk in front of her. "I'll catch you in a second. Grab us some cokes from the kitchen."

"What kind?" her friend asked, already disappearing into the house.

"Something diet. Yes ma'am?"

"Look, I meant to tell you earlier, but I just didn't know how to do it. Your mama didn't want you gettin' upset."

"Is everything okay?"

Before her grandmother could answer, a piercing scream sent Starling inside, only pausing for a moment to wonder why Nana looked resigned and not terrified. "Hanna!"

When she turned the corner to the kitchen, she froze. The sight before her was something she couldn't have dredged up in her worst nightmares. Hanna was immobile, her hands wrapped around two silver cans while her mouth flexed like a gasping fish, staring at the handsome boy reclining against the kitchen island.

Things had just gotten a whole lot worse.

"Why is Griffin Anders in your kitchen?" Hanna's question was breathless, as if every syllable took great effort.

Griffin spun around and spied Starling standing in the doorway, a scowl etched across his freckled face. He dropped his phone, the latest model of whatever he was into these days no doubt, on the counter and scooped her up in his tone arms. She stiffened, refusing to give into the urge to return his greeting.

Setting her back down, he blew a sandy curl out of his eyes and flashed the smile responsible for the sexual awakening of ninety percent of the country's teenagers. "Hey sister. Is that anyway to greet your brother?"

A/N amazing cover by the super talented, ultra sweet SpratleyMac and y'all not only does she make covers but this lady can write her booty off. Please go check out her books!!!

As for the new story- be patient with me. Updates will be slower on this one (which for me probably means only once a week 😂😂😂) but it's also a new genre for me! So let's get the party started and let me know what you think! Xoxo