THE LAST SHOOTING STAR

the wrong pipe. He bent forward, coughing violently, nearly knocking over

tching this tragic display of hu

aled. "D

ntinued

sighed dramatically and thumped Jason on

hard, blinking rapidly. Then, in a hoa

d gave him a blank st

l slightly red from his near-death experience. "Yeah, but you never come. You hate

I'm sure you'd

own. I must be dreaming. Ryan Winthrop? In a soc

opping into the seat acr

ove it." He leaned forward. "Seriously, though. What the hell are you doing here

, a familiar, infuriati

an arm over Ryan's shoulder. "He's here

eyebrow. "Oh? A

smirk wide

n bl

blinke

his head bac

sig

yan? In love? The man who calls emotions a waste of time? The guy who once compare

mained

laughter

it st

gaze flickered between Rachael's smug

it. You'r

a sip of

irked. "De

if someone had just told him th

ders, already regrett

mself down. "Okay. Alright. I need a second. This is...wow. Who is she? No, wait, let me guess." He squi

achael a wa

smirking. "That's right

t him ask again.

t was ins

s hand

rly flew out

turned a dangero

th

lently

e, reall

s he bent over, gasping for air, h

ted his head slightly, watchi

looked up in shock. "I

her head, looking far

." He pointed at Ryan again, his voice nearly hyster

ssion remain

achael, desperate

odded

Then, in a dazed whisper, "

rtant he turned to Rachael. "wait if you met he

njoying this quickly n

n seemed to

en

eamed

enough to make

, was starting

wildly between Ryan and Rachael, his expression a mixture of pure sh

Why are you rea

didn't

was still

wed his ey

sque

man. A billio

e squ

whole time, finally spoke. "Y

like he was the du

on the verge of a breakdown. "Ryan, do you not unders

furrowed sl

gasped

eathtaking goddess...doesn't go to parties, Ryan. She doesn't go anywhere. She doesn't so

reathtaking goddess..has bee

kable blush cre

s turne

ace b

y God." She turned to Ryan. "

sti

pened, but he

ed around.

"Really? Because your f

s if that would hide the redness creepi

ghted as she turned to Ryan with a smirk.

o face her. "I

e a poem

. "That nev

a song and perfo

d over her mouth. "

ingers away. "Oh, it

re time, turned to Rac

t in, popping the

saw her." His voice dropped into something dangerously close to fondness. "I was the i

She looked at me like I was nothing. Like I did

enched

a

nreal. Even girls felt insecure around her. But what made her different what made her dangerous was

e sighed, nodding. "He's telling the truth. J

as like? Being the most handsome, most popular senior in school and having every girl fal

s whiskey glass t

nterest?" he asked,

ean, I was Jason Kingsley. Girls used

ed her eyes.

r was the only girl who treated me like I was

"Sounds like yo

amatically. "I

s darkened

e I was in. But then, she disappeared, Out of nowhere during her first year. One day she was in school, and the ne

ng up with realization. "Wait." He turned

le

en

stared at him like he

eful smile

he g

shaking her head

ver his face. "Yeah, yeah, I kn

xpression unreadable. But

looked at Jason the way

he only thing

s, suddenly lifted his gaze and smirked. His piercing eyes

he was doing, he said, "Speaking of crushing, Jason, you

sed a bro

mirk deepening. "Does that mean