When Starry got home, Fran and James were waiting on the porch.
"Young lady, where have you been?" James's voice was sharp.
"I went to visit my parents' grave," Starry said. "Today's their death anniversary."
Fran's hands flew to her mouth. "Why didn't you tell us? We would have gone with you. Do you know how worried we were?"
"I wanted to," Starry mumbled. "But you never talk about Mom, and I didn't want to be a bother."
"Star, you are not a bother." Fran pulled her into a hug. "You're family. Don't ever think that."
James exhaled. "I'm glad you're safe. You're still grounded. Two weeks. No electronics."
"I deserve it." Starry's voice was small.
---
*Monday.*
Starry slipped into class and froze.
Theodore was asleep at his desk, head resting on his hand. An open physics textbook sat under his elbow.
She sat down quietly and stared.
He looked peaceful. Too peaceful. Like one of those marble angels in the cemetery.
Her heart kicked so hard she couldn't hear the bell.
"Star. Star!" Gretel snapped her fingers in front of Starry's face. "You asleep?"
"What? No." Starry blinked. "Why?"
"You were staring at Theodore like he owed you money. Did you do the physics assignment?"
"Oh. Yeah. You need it?"
"Nah. Just checking." Gretel dropped into her seat.
Mrs. Coco swept in for History, and before Starry knew it, the lunch bell rang.
"Star, let's go. Tacos today. I'm not missing them," Anna said.
"You guys go ahead. I'll catch up," Starry said.
"Don't cry when they're gone," Stacy called, dragging Anna and Gretel out.
Theodore hadn't moved. Starry dug money from her purse and set it on his desk.
He looked up. "What's this for?"
"Everything. You paid for lunch last week. And the bus when I forgot my card. I want to pay you back."
"It was nothing. You don't need to." He pushed the cash back.
"No, I insist." She slid it toward him.
"I said it's okay." He pushed it again.
"Theo, can we talk?" Hansel appeared in the doorway.
Starry's stomach dropped. Hansel never talked to Theo.
"What do you want?" Theodore's voice went flat.
"Starry, can you give us a minute?" Hansel didn't look at her.
"Right. I'm hungry anyway." Starry pressed the money into Theo's hand and left before he could return it.
"What do you want?" Theodore asked Hansel.
"I'm sorry. For everything." Hansel sounded like the words cost him.
Theodore was quiet for a long beat. "I know it took you years. But I'm sorry, too."
"So... we good?"
"I forgive you. But we can't be friends again."
Hansel nodded. "As long as you forgive me, I'm okay. See you around."
---
*Wednesday. It was Hearts' Day.*
The rule: white tee, blue jeans. The weapon: heart stickers.
Starry and Gretel got to class early. Theodore was already there, annoyingly perfect in white and denim. He hadn't said more than five words to her since the money argument on Monday.
By lunch, the school was chaos. Heart stickers everywhere.
Anna, Gretel, and Starry ate while Stacy slid into the seat across from them, her shirt covered in red.
"You guys need to see Hansel and his goons. Their tees aren't white anymore. They're red," Stacy said.
"I don't know what girls see in those jerks," Anna muttered.
"They've stopped bullying, though. Weird," Gretel said. "Ever since he apologized to Theo on Monday."
"What about Theodore?" Starry blurted.
Three heads swiveled to her.
"Why do you care?" Stacy nudged Anna.
"I'm just curious," Starry said to her tray. "He's... handsome. Girls like him. He should have stickers."
"Don't hold your breath," Gretel said. "Girls are too scared of his death-glare to get close. Even if he looks like that. He's been in a mood all week."
After lunch, Theodore's shirt was still spotless.
After school, he stopped Starry at the gate. First time he'd sought her out since Monday.
"Aren't we studying physics anymore?"
"My grades are up. Mr. Blake said I don't need tutoring now. I can study on my own."
"Oh." His jaw ticked. He grabbed his bag and walked off without another word.
Stacy jogged up. "Star, we're going to the Hearts' Day party at MacKenzie's. You coming?"
"I'll catch up," Starry said, and ran after Theodore.
"Star, wait— you don't know where it is! I'll text you!" Stacy yelled at her back.
She sighed. "This girl's been weird lately. Is it because of Theodore?"
Starry caught Theodore by the front steps. "Why are you mad?"
"I'm not." He didn't look at her. "Why didn't you tell me what you and Mr. Blake decided? I wasted my time."
"I thought he'd tell you. And you should be happy. I won't bother you anymore. I won't waste your time."
"Whatever." He walked away.
"Jerk," she muttered.
She walked to the bus stop. The ride home was quiet. She went straight to bed.
---
*Thursday*, Theodore was there early, as usual.
"Good morning," Starry and Gretel said.
"Morning," he said. To both of them.
Starry sat. "Theo, can I see your math assignment? I couldn't solve the last one."
He didn't answer. He put his head down.
Lunch. "Theodore, are you coming?"
Nothing. He stood and left the room.
Starry stared at the empty doorway.
Anna touched her shoulder. "Star? Lunch? Stacy and Gretel are waiting."
"You go. I'm not hungry."
"You okay?"
"Yeah. Just... not hungry."
---
*Friday*, the girls huddled by the lockers.
"Star, I wish you weren't grounded. Side Ski Water Park tomorrow would've been perfect," Stacy said.
"Bummer," Anna agreed.
James had said two weeks. It had only been five days. But he extended it after she missed curfew on Wednesday. Starry didn't fight it. She was still grounded.
Mr. Moffet walked in for Biology.
Free period. Starry hit the bathroom.
"So is everything ready for Star's birthday tomorrow?" Gretel whispered.
"Decorations, check. Venue, your house, check. Anna baked the cake," Stacy said.
"Remember, we act like we forgot. I want her shocked," Gretel said.
"Star's birthday is tomorrow?" Theodore's voice made them jump.
"Yeah. I thought you guys were friends. How'd you forget?" Stacy glared.
He'd been avoiding her all week. "I— forgot. Need help?"
"No, we don't need your help," Anna snapped. "Star told us what happened."
"Relax," Gretel said. "We do need someone to distract her while we decorate. Theo, you in?"
"What did Star tell you?"
"That you got mad over nothing and haven't talked to her all week," Anna said.
"Anna," Stacy hissed.
"So? You wanna fix it?" Gretel cut in.
Theodore ran a hand through his hair. "I guess. I did get mad over nothing. What do I do?"
"Take her to the ice rink. Star loves it," Gretel said.
Theo went still. "She told you that?"
"Yeah. Said she used to go with her parents."
He exhaled. "Okay. Thanks."
"No, thank you," Gretel called after him.
---
*Saturday.*
Starry was still grounded — James had added a week after she missed curfew on Wednesday. Fran and James were at work. Gretel was "out with friends."
James had given her birthday amnesty. "One day," he'd said that morning. "Tomorrow you're grounded again."
Starry did dishes in her pajamas. "Can't believe they forgot my birthday. At least I have _The Only Star in His Eyes_ to binge."
The doorbell rang.
She opened it, saw him, and slammed it shut.
It rang again.
"What do you want?" she said through the door.
"Will you let me in?"
"No. You gonna get mad about that too?"
"I came to apologize. I want to make it up to you."
"How?"
"Come with me."
"Wait. I need to change and lock up."
She ran upstairs and threw on a white gown with lilac flowers and lilac flats.
Downstairs, he blinked. "Wow."
"What?"
"Nothing." He held up a spare helmet. "Let's go."
They stopped at the ice rink.
Starry's stomach dropped. "Why here?"
"I... Gretel said you loved it." He looked unsure. "We can leave if you want."
"I loved it," she said. "Not anymore."
She saw the empty rink. "Why's no one here?"
"My uncle owns it. I asked for a favor." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "I said I was sorry. I don't know what else to say."
Starry stared at the ice. She could do this. She _knew_ how to do this. Her dad taught her when she was six. She used to race her mom around the edges.
She just hadn't since the funeral.
She exhaled. "Okay." She stepped onto the ice.
Her blades bit. Muscle memory kicked in before the fear did. She didn't grab the wall. She didn't wobble.
But she didn't move, either. She just stood there, breathing hard.
"Wait for me," Theodore said, gliding out to her.
He stopped in front of her. "You okay?"
"I know how," she whispered. "I just... I haven't. Since they died."
He nodded like he understood. "We can leave."
"No." She shook her head. "I want to." Then, quieter: "Just... don't let go."
He held out his hand.
She took it.
They started slow. Her strokes were clean, practiced. But tight. Like she was afraid the ice would crack under her if she trusted it too much.
"You're good," he said.
"I was." She tried a crossover. Her body remembered. Her heart didn't.
He didn't answer. He just laced his fingers through hers and pulled her into a gentle turn.
The skirt of her gown flared. The motion dragged a laugh out of her — startled, rusty, real.
He smiled at the sound. "There you are."
She looked up at him. "What?"
"Nothing. Just... you look like you belong here."
Her chest hurt. In a good way. In a terrifying way.
"Show-off," she said, because she didn't know what else to say.
He let go with one hand and pushed off backwards, giving her space. "Trust me?"
She hesitated. Then nodded.
He took both her hands and skated backwards, pulling her faster. The rink blurred. The cold air stung her cheeks. She wasn't scared of falling. She was scared of how much she didn't _want_ to stop.
"Theo," she said.
He spun them. Once. Twice. Clean and controlled. When he stopped, they were chest to chest.
His hand glided at her waist, steadying her. Warm through the thin fabric of her gown.
"My uncle taught me," he said, voice low. "When I was a kid. He owns the place. Said I needed something to focus on. I come here when my head's loud. Helps."
"Oh really," Starry said. Her voice was soft, but her eyes didn't leave his.
He blinked. "Yeah. Really."
Their hands were still locked. The chillers hummed.
He squeezed her fingers. "We should keep going. Before you talk yourself out of it."
She nodded.
They did laps. Her form came back fast. Crossovers, backwards skating, even a sloppy one-foot glide. But she kept one hand in his the whole time.
She needed the anchor.
By the end of the hour, she was flushed and breathless and not crying. That felt like a win.
"I'm hungry," she said.
He helped her off the ice. His hand glided at her waist again, careful not to crush the gown.
"You did good, Star."
Star. Not Starry.
Her throat closed.
"Thanks," she said. "For not letting me go."
He nodded and grabbed the helmets.
---
They went to Zee's Delight.
Starry came back from the restroom to a wrapped box on the table.
"What's this?"
"Happy birthday, Star."
"You remembered?"
"Wouldn't miss it. Even if I've been an idiot all week."
"But... why are you so nice to me? I'm the only one you talk to at school. Why?"
"No reason."
"If you don't tell me, I'm leaving and not taking the gift."
She stood. He caught her wrist. "Wait."
She sat. "I'm listening."
He couldn't meet her eyes. "Well, it's because... I... I..."
"You what?"
"I like you."
Her breath caught.
"As a friend," he added quickly.
Starry's chest hollowed out. "Right. We should eat. It's late."
Outside, she walked past his bike, the hem of her gown brushing the pavement.
"Star, where are you going?"
"Home."
"I can drive you."
"I'm taking the bus."
He grabbed her hand. She pulled away.
"Star!" he called, but she didn't look back.
---
She got home to darkness. Then—
"Surprise!"
Confetti. Lilac balloons. Her aunt, uncle, and friends yelling, "Happy birthday!"
"I thought you forgot," Starry said, eyes stinging.
Fran carried out the cake. They sang.
"Make a wish!" Stacy said.
Starry closed her eyes, blew out the candles, and wished she hadn't heard "as a friend."
Gifts: A red-and-black strapless dress from Gretel. "I love it," Starry said.
Black leather boots from Stacy and Anna.
The deed to her parents' house from James.
A pencil portrait of her mom from Fran.
Tears slid down Starry's face.
"You okay, sweetie?" Fran asked.
Starry smiled through it. "I'm just happy. Thank you." She hugged Fran tight.
Karaoke. Laughing. Midnight.
Later, Gretel sat on Starry's bed while Starry moped in her pajamas.
"Star, what's wrong? You've been off since you got home."
"Nothing."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
"Is it because of Theo—"
"Theodore? What? No!" Starry said too fast.
"It's obvious," Gretel said.
"What's obvious?" Stacy asked as she and Anna walked in.
"That Star likes Theodore," Gretel said.
"What? No!" Starry's face went red.
"It _is_ obvious," Gretel said, not unkindly. "You get all weird when he's around. You stared at him for ten minutes in class. And you ran after him on Hearts' Day in front of everyone."
"We all know," Anna said.
"I think he likes her too," Stacy said.
"I don't think so," Starry whispered.
"Why?" Anna asked.
"I tried to get him to admit it, but..." Starry trailed off.
"He friend-zoned you. Poor Star," Gretel said, hugging her.
"Just tell him you like him," Anna suggested. "If you're lucky, he feels the same."
"Terrible idea," Stacy said. "Do you know how many girls confess to Theo? He shuts them down cold. Star, give it time. The feelings will die. I don't see what's so great about him anyway."
"I guess you're right," Starry said, but her chest still hurt. Because if it was _that_ obvious and he still said "as a friend"...
Then maybe he just didn't feel the same.