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I s , I felt like that was as nice as he was going to get I wasn’t eh Even if toret the life I’d lived so far Experience had to count for so And I had plenty of life experience Well, at least sixteen years of it

"Will it be hard for you to retful about leaving typical high school life behind him as I was

"No, ould it be?" his eyes turned curious and his spoon suspended itself midway to hisbehind a lot of friends or so at Jupiter, but heard his runt and couldn’t help but turn to hi, real training We chose to abstain from unnecessary hu voice I had ever heard

Seth set his spoon down, ready to stand up to his mentor I could see how he respected Jupiter more than anyone else in the universe, but there was also the overbearing instinct to protect me I knew he felt because I felt it, like the hottest, hat the salance at Jupiter that sent the e he wouldn’t stand for any ht excite, but I wondered if Jupiter had been goading Seth to see if he could get some kind of reaction like this, just to make sure the bond between us existed Plus, I suspected Jupiter was always looking for a good fight

No other Star and Counterpart had been raised the way Seth and I had Usually, they grew up together, paired together at a young age fro and paired thely

But our case was different Hell, our case was an experi planet with sustainable life left in the galaxy, the Elders had decided it was time to try a different tactic They decided Seth and I would be raised on Earth, with humans, immersed in the culture and able to call the planet they protected host humans, but also surrounded by the Darkness, it was decided to keep us separated for the sake of secrecy until the tiether

The Elders had relied on destiny and the natural order of their way to keep the bond between Star and Counterpart intact It was a risky thing to do Not ht of battle could have had dire effects, a teaazed across the table at me, filled with the same fierce desire to lay down his life for ambled with success

"What about school?" I asked hiain

"Oh, Jupiter and I just did that in between training sessions," Seth shrugged

"You were hohed loudly, and then slappedi Seth into hu to hide my amusement

I wasn’t sure where exactly Seth and Jupiter had come from, but I decided wherever it was had deprived not only Seth of a high school experience, but soh schools have an unattainable heart throb Angel walking the halls? And then the laughter bubbled over again and I dipped my head so I wouldn’t have to explain that concept to Seth

"Obviously your parents and I have different methods," Jupiter replied coolly "I wouldn’t exactly call contact sports weapons training after all The ability to dribble a basketball did nothing to save your skin tonight"

I took his point and settled down a bit

"We can talk et hoht?"

"There is a guest bedroom down the hall for you," I addressed Jupiter, not really knowing the state of his fragility or old age, and deciding the rooht be difficult for him "And Seth, there’s another roo and kind of creepy down there when you’re alone, but hopefully none of that will bother you" I smiled at hiet cold," he answered matter of fact

"No, I know you don’t It was a joke…" I sighed; apparently it was too late at night to be a comedian "I can walk you down there if you’re ready And Jupiter, help yourself to et back, I’ll take you to your room"

I stood and Seth followed I walked to the hallway and opened the old wooden door that led downstairs My baseo, but it was still an old farmhouse basement I wasn’t supposed to scare easily; h in the face of danger… required it actually And usually I did But even if the cold, da about being down there, underground and without direct access to sunlight that did

I opened the guest bedrooht for Seth "The bedding is fresh and there are toothbrushes and toothpaste in the drawer in the bathroo to remember if anyone had been down here recently Soh, and that’s why there were so e house for just the three of us "There’s a shower in the bathroom too, with soap and shampoo and all that stuff The towels are in the cabinet next to it"

"Thanks," Seth turned toa fast escape route through the s abnor for Shadows since I h a Star’s house was technically blessed, after tonight he didn’t trust anything or maybe he was always this paranoid

"I wish I had clothes or soh s and see what I can find," I pro till to smile and started to take off his shoes "Hey Stella…"

I looked up into his guarded, careful eyes and suddenly I was nervous for whatever he was going to say "Yeah?"

"Listen, we don’t have to… I mean… there’s no pressure between us," he stammered and an instant wave of relief washed over irlfriend or anything I just want to get to know you You know, be friends first," he smiled confidently and I mimicked his expression

I did know