Excerpt: Chapter 1
At midnight, Fiona and her
mother finally pulled into the driveway of their new rental. Her mom cut the
engine, but not the parking lights.
“Looks like we made it, Fee.”
“Barely. I thought you were
going to kill us a few times weaving all over the road like you were,” Fiona
said.
“It’s not easy driving and
towing a U-haul trailer. It’s heavy,” her mom replied and began rummaging
through her purse.
Fiona ignored her mother and
squinted through the dust and bug splats on the windshield at the dark house. She
noticed the crooked light fixture on the left side of the garage, and the rain
gutter hanging askew.
“Looks like we’re the haunted
house on the block,” Fiona said.
Her mom hit the high beams
spotlighting the garage door like a stage.
“Not so helpful, Mom.” Fiona
got out of the car and stretched her neck and back. She inhaled the cool fall
air. Peering through the darkness, she noticed the bushes lining the dead grass
yard needed trimming, the thinly branched tree in the front stood naked of
leaves, and mounds of dried up flowers filled the flower bed under the front
window. Shadows darkened the walkway to the front door. A pair of windows
stared out at the street like rectangular evil eyes.
“Looks sturdy and dirty. And
creepy. I can hardly wait to go inside, Mom.”
Fiona peered inside the car. Under
the dim dome light, her mom had dumped the entire contents of her purse on the
passenger side seat.
“Mom, what are you doing?”
“I think I left the key back
in Watsonville.”
“Great,” Fiona said. She
glanced back at the windows. They remained staring blankly into the night.
Fiona looked down the street in both directions. Every single house had a lit
porch, except theirs.
“Ahhh-ha! I found it. It was
in the ash tray. I forgot I put it in there for safe keeping.”
“Hurry up, Mom. It’s dark
outside.”
“Fine. I’m coming. Have some
patience, Fee,” her mom said, as she got out of the car.
They walked the dark pathway
to the front door. A powdery dust covered everything. Fiona’s mom tried to fit
the key in the lock and open the door. She jiggled and twisted the knob, syncing
the internal mechanisms with difficulty, until the door finally creaked open
into a darkness blacker than night.
“Where’s the light switch?”
her mom asked, as she ran her hand over the wall next to the door frame. “Ah!”
Fiona heard the light switch
click. She heard her mom toggle it up and down several times in rapid
succession, but nothing happened.
“Ummm,” her mom mumbled.
“There aren’t any lights on
outside either. Don’t tell me we don’t have any electricity,” Fiona said.
“Well, either that or we need
several dozen light bulbs,” her mother answered.
“Figures.” Fiona heard her
mother rummaging through her purse again. “What are you doing?”
“Wait. I think I’ve got it.”
Fiona heard jangling keys, a
soft snap and a beam of blue light appeared from her mother’s hand. “There we
go.” Her mom walked into the house waving the thin light in front of her. When
she found the kitchen, she searched through random drawers. “There we go,” she
said again.
“There we go what?” Fiona asked
completely annoyed.
“Candles. Now, all I need is
some fire.”
Fiona flipped a pack of paper
matches at her mom.
“Where’d you get these? You
aren’t smoking again, are you?”
“From the counter, Mom! Jeez.
I smoke one time three years ago and you act like I’m going to die of lung
cancer or some crap. Light the dumb candle already.” As her mom lit the
candles, it occurred to Fiona, “Did you call ahead to get the power turned on?”
“What?” Her mom asked.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me.”
“Maybe I can get my old job
back.” Fiona’s mom rerouted the conversation.
“What job?” Fiona asked,
rolling her eyes.
“The one at Red Lobster. Ah.
There we go. Light.” Fiona’s mom smiled triumphantly, holding up a lit candle.
Fiona stared at her mother
through the candlelight. “Are you serious? That was ten years ago.”
“I was good at that job. The
manager, oh, what was her name? Mandy?”
“Who cares what her name was.
It was ten years ago. No one’s going to remember you.”
Undeterred by Fiona’s negativity,
her mother continued, “I think it was Valerie. Yes, I’m pretty sure it was
Valerie. Maybe she’s still there.”
“Ten years ago, Mom. And nice
try.” Fiona said.
“Nice try what?” Her mom
paused. “I noticed you didn’t use the F-word. I’m proud of you sticking to your
promise.”
“Nice try not answering my
question. The power company. You didn’t call ahead, did you?”
“I was so busy getting the
U-haul loaded—”
“I’ll take that as a no,”
Fiona said flatly.
“I’m sorry, Fee. I’ll get on
it first thing in the morning.”
“Can we just unload some things, so I can go to bed, preferably not
on the floor?
Book & Author Details:
Uncross the
Stars by Janell Rhiannon
Publication date: December 15th, 2014
Genres: Romance, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Synopsis:
Fiona Lavender is the
new girl at school. She has a chip on her shoulder and a penchant for poetry.
Dario Martinez is the star quarterback, and the most unattainable guy on
campus. Their stars cross when they are paired to study Romeo and Juliet for a
senior English project. Their attraction is fragile and undeniable. But, Dario
is afraid of what love will do; and Fiona is waiting for love to claim
her.
Will they uncross the stars and find the love they both need to heal their pasts?
Will they uncross the stars and find the love they both need to heal their pasts?
Purchase:
Will be found here
come release day: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Uncross+the+Stars+janell&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3AUncross+the+Stars+janell
AUTHOR BIO:
Janell has been
writing since she was in grade school. In high school, her 9th grade
English teacher suggested she consider a career in writing. After a
decade in college and a Master's degree in history, she settled into
teaching.
Writing never stopped. Stories never stopped. READING fiction never stopped. Now, she writes and publishes on-line. Invisible Wings is her first YA novel, a compilation of short stories centered on teenage life triumphs and tragedies. She believes being a teenager is difficult and wrote Invisible Wings to let teens know they aren't alone. That they matter. That even though life is rough, they can still find beauty and love.
Beside the YA stories close to her heart, she adores Mythology and Fairy tales. Anything magical and mystical. And dragons. And gargoyles. She currently lives in CA.
Writing never stopped. Stories never stopped. READING fiction never stopped. Now, she writes and publishes on-line. Invisible Wings is her first YA novel, a compilation of short stories centered on teenage life triumphs and tragedies. She believes being a teenager is difficult and wrote Invisible Wings to let teens know they aren't alone. That they matter. That even though life is rough, they can still find beauty and love.
Beside the YA stories close to her heart, she adores Mythology and Fairy tales. Anything magical and mystical. And dragons. And gargoyles. She currently lives in CA.
Visit her at Facebook @Janell Rhiannon Author. If you want to see
what projects are in the works or find out more about the her, visit
Author links:
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