Star Eater
Chapter Seventeen

Ava had been fiddling with her phone all morning, staring at a text message.

“Everything okay?” Kai whispered.

He’d skipped French to take a shower and grab a nap on the roof of the gym. The nap had extended through Geometry, but he’d had the mind to set an alarm and go to science. Not because he wanted to. He did not. Because he wanted to find out where he stood with Ava. He’d also realized he legitimately needed to learn more about what was inside of him. The star part—he sort of doubted his textbook explained Akuma.

So, Kai forged a note about a doctor’s appointment, not super surprising considering Mrs. Sumner had witnessed at least part of his argument with his father and his father had probably told the principal that an appointment would be forthcoming. Kai was actually surprised it hadn’t happened yet, but he was hoping Dad forgot.

Kai was even feeling marginally better, enough to fight sleep during Mr. Rump's class.

“I’m okay,” she said, putting the phone away.

Kai wasn’t sure how to talk to her. He didn’t want to intrude, but she seemed anxious. Mr. Rump was droning on about the kind of clothes astronauts needed to stay safe in space, which, from anyone else, would have been an interesting topic. Coming from Rump, it sounded a lot like an old man talking about his gastric problems.

“Who’s that boy you were with yesterday?” she asked.

Kai felt his face heat up and studied the graffiti on his desk. There was no point in asking which boy. He didn’t have any other friends.

“Uh, his name is Link,” Kai said. “He just transferred here.”

Ava didn't say anything and Kai found he couldn't meet her eyes. He saw Akuma reached out and touch her shadow, saw her leg shiver before she moved her leg underneath her.

Don’t do that, Kai scolded him.

She was making you uncomfortable.

Kai had no response for that. She was, but he didn't want to encourage Akuma to lash out at everyone around him, certainly not Ava.

I didn't hurt her, Akuma said. That was true. Touching another shadow was the gentlest way Akuma could interact with someone. It left them feeling cold but otherwise there was no damage.

Out of the corner of his eye, Kai saw Ava take her phone out again. There was another text message. He wondered if she had a boyfriend and that’s why she’d rejected him yesterday. The thought bothered him more than he’d like to admit. Not that he could do anything about it.

How can you like two people of two different sexes at the same time? he wondered.

Why wouldn't you? Akuma countered. Akuma still didn't grasp all the layers of human culture and interaction. Kai made of list of things to do. Step one: look up stars. Step two: look up hormones, and liking multiple people at once. Step three: identify his sexuality.

Step zero, feed the star, Akuma chimed in.

Kai sighed. Akuma clearly wasn't going to let this go and it was weird the way the star was acting. He needed to fix that first and then tackle everything else. At lunch, we’ll go to the library, Kai said.

You’re supposed to meet Link, Akuma pointed out.

Kai swore. He’d forgotten already.

Well, we’ll drag him to the library too.

Ava didn't talk to him any more in class. She packed up her stuff quickly and exited, leaving Kai feeling guilty.

At lunch, he went to the cafeteria in search of his new friend. He wondered if Ava had the same lunch period as him and what she would think if she saw Kai sitting with Link. Usually Kai avoided the cafeteria because it was full of people. He preferred finding a comfortable place outside to eat. But Link would be looking for him. Which meant Link would probably be looking for him here. So Kai found a small, out of the way table by the windows and sat down. He took out the lunch that his housekeeper had made, and waited, eyes on the entrance.

Kai saw Link walk in and glance around, but instead of heading towards him, he went over to another table. He sat down and began talking to some upperclassmen.

That’s stupid, Akuma thought.

A brief stab of pain hit Kai’s stomach followed immediately by shame and embarrassment. He was stupid to think they could remain friends. He had even told Link that this was his opportunity to reinvent himself. Kai just didn't think it meant with some older kids.

I guess I’ll get that research done in the library by myself, Kai thought, gathering up his lunch.

You’re never by yourself, Akuma said.

That used to be enough but now, Kai realized, it wasn’t.

By the end of the day, Kai had been stewing for hours feeling sorry for himself. He knew he wasn’t an awesome kid. He’d never needed to be. He had supernatural powers, a demon living inside of him, and a credit card. What more did he need in life? His only goal was to get to an age where he could move out of his parents' house. He hadn’t thought about college and he didn’t plan to until a week before applications were due. He had been totally content with his life before this boy drama showed up. And now….

I’m a mess, Kai thought miserably.

He had spent part of his lunch period researching hydrogen sources and came up with nothing significant. Pure hydrogen was difficult and expensive to make or break down chemically. Plus, it was in high demand.

Most of his research concluded that the best source of hydrogen available was water, which didn't really help Kai. Akuma confirmed that no amount of water was going to feed the star. Add to that the confusion and despair he felt over losing his friend and boy crush in the space of a few days, and Kai just wanted to drown in frozen yogurt and pastries.

That had put him in such a bad mood that Kai decided to take out his anger on Mr. Rump. So the second half of his lunch had been spent on revenge. He already knew the personal information for every teacher in the school after one of his old research missions at the start of the year.

So he signed Mr. Rump up for all the annoying email lists he could find from menstrual products to psychic readings to some very dirty porn sites. Then he signed Mr. Rump up to receive samples at his home for a variety of items like adult diapers and hair loss cream. By the time the bell rang, he felt like he’d exacted revenge but it didn't assuage the wound from Link.

Why had Link told him they were going to sit together if he planned on hanging out with upperclassmen? Kai would have been perfectly happy eating in his usual aloof setting without worrying about it if Link had left it alone. But no, he’d said he would find Kai. And then he’d gone and sat somewhere else. Plus, Kai didn’t even like the cafeteria. It was noisy and smelled and he didn’t need any of it. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

This sucks, he said.

Akuma patted him on the back from the inside, which just made Kai’s spine shiver. Because they were still in public, Akuma couldn’t seep into Kai’s shadow and take form. This was the closest thing the boy got.

We can hurt him, Akuma suggested.

But Kai didn’t want to hurt Link. That was the worst part. He just wanted to know why. Groaning, Kai leaned his head onto his locker.

“Hey, man,” Link bounded up, totally normal. “Are you okay?”

Kai started at Link’s voice, and didn't raise his head. What did he say to that? He had been there. He had been in the cafeteria, and Link had sat with someone else.

“Don’t feel well,” Kai stumbled.

“You want me to take you to the nurse?” Link asked, putting his hand on Kai’s shoulder. It burned through Kai’s blazer and shirt. Kai fidgeted, aware of how close Link was. He wasn’t sure whether he wanted to move closer or away.

“I’m fine,” Kai lied, bending over to take books out of his bag. That effectively cut off physical touch between them, though Kai’s shoulder still burned.

“So listen, I can’t hang out tonight. I know we didn’t have any plans, but my dad is on my case about joining karate,” Link said. “The president of the club or whatever told me to come see him at lunch, so now I’m supposed to go try out. By the way, where were you? I couldn't find you. I texted you like six times.”

The words sunk in slowly. Kai was so focused on being miserable it took a few extra seconds to process. Then he realized what Link just said. So it wasn’t a friend thing, it was a parent-being-annoying thing. A vast wave of relief spread throughout Kai like the heat of the sun on a warm day. The pain in his chest dissipated.

“Are you sure I shouldn’t take you to the nurse?” Link asked, worried.

Akuma smiled in approval.

“No, I—”

“Link,” an upperclassman walked up. “Are you coming?”

Kai straightened and shouldered his book bag as the upperclassman joined them.

“Oh, yeah,” Link turned and smiled at the older kid, but Mason’s eyes were on Kai. Link glanced between the two, and then good manners kicked in. “Mason, this is Kai. Kai, Mason. He’s the head of the karate club.”

Kai glanced at Mason and nodded. He knew who Mason was in a peripheral, survival tactic, know-the most-popular-kids-in-school sort of way. Not to mention that Mason was a daemon. Kai had very specifically avoided these guys and their radar. Akuma was wary of them. And though they’d never once glanced in Kai’s direction, Akuma’s feelings were enough.

“I’ll see you later, Link,” he said.

“What’s your hurry?” Mason asked. Kai paused, a little surprised the older kid was even talking to him. “You’re in a bunch of classes with my sister, right?”

“I am?” Kai asked, mystified. He didn’t know any of the people in his class. If the teacher had put a line-up together, Kai would not be able to name more than half a dozen of them.

“Ava,” Mason clarified.

Now that he mentioned it, Kai realized the similarities between them. They had the same eye shape, the same texture to their hair, the same litheness of body.

Wait, Ava is a daemon? Kai asked, jumping.

No, Akuma said.

But… they’re siblings, Kai said.

The demon shrugged. He didn't understand it, he just knew that she wasn’t. Mason and Link stared at him expectantly.

“We have science and math together,” Kai said finally.

Mason’s face didn't change. It was a little unnerving how little emotion played across his features but there was a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Kai guessed he just put together that the science and math they shared were remedial classes. He waited for Mason’s face to pass back to Link and dismiss him.

“Well, are you interested?” Mason said.

“In what?” Link said, clearly as confused as Kai by the turn of conversation.

“We need more members for karate,” Mason said.

He’s lying, Akuma pointed out. Kai agreed. Mason’s eyes were too intent, too focused. There was something off about it, Kai just didn’t know what.

“Are you interested?” Mason pressed.

Kai shook his head. “I’m more of a runner,” he said.

Beside him, Kai felt Link grin. They shared a quick, secretive smile. When Kai turned back, he saw that Mason had noticed. His eyes were reassessing. Kai didn’t like the look and tried not to squirm.

“Well, come try out,” Mason said, suddenly reaching out and putting his arm around Kai’s shoulders. He steered him towards the gym. “You never know until you try.”

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