Page 137 of Even Beneath the Stars

A lot of the other contenders had the firmness down, and used that as their strategy to handle him, and others committed whole-heartedly to connecting with him at his level. But Marta seemed to strike a good balance.

She starts the week after next.

And I am heartbroken.

It's weird not waking up to Finn's cheery smile at breakfast in the mornings. Or Candice's celebrity gossip while she makes pancakes or teaches Finn and I how to make the perfect omelet. Or random late afternoon chats with Denise when she checks in before heading home for the evening.

I miss making up dances with Finn in the pool or watching him and his buddies putting on "shows" for me that drag on forever but make me die with laughter, and laid-back evenings in the Games Room working to beat our personal DDR high scores. Making blanket forts and exploring the trails after school,hunting for animal tracks, movie nights and weekend library visits. Evenings in the little alcove off the upstairs sitting room, working on my dioramas with Finn sprawled out on the floor building Lego cities. I miss the Observatory and the view from the window-seat in my bedroom, and watching the blossoms on the trees go from buds to shocking pink flowers to leaves.

I miss Finn.

I miss Xavier.

I still send him occasional texts, and I left him a note when I went to hang out with Finn last week. He still won't let me in, though. Still convinced the best route forward is to walk away. There's no other reality in his mind besides him disappointing people, so he's gone back to playing the part. And breaking my heart in the process.

Thankfully, my days are busy with school, and working on my dioramas. Upping my skills with the spray gun and mastering miniature graffiti, which is tricky and precise, and so satisfying when I get it right. And I've reached the fifteen-thousand follower mark on my YouTube channel.

Then, one Friday night, my phone rings just as I'm about to add shading to a line of graffiti on a crumbling wall of tiny bricks. I glance down at the screen to see who it's from, because I've already decided I'm not going out tonight. I'm well overdue for a night of total vegetation on the couch.

Caller ID: XAVIER ROCKWELL

I answer right away.

"Xave?"

And before I can internalize the excitement over him finally reaching out, he steals the next breath from my lungs.

"Finn is missing, Maggs… I think he ran away."

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Xavier

Irush out to my car, checking the time on my phone. Maggie should be here any minute.

Finn's still missing.

Even though I know he isn't on the property, I can't keep my eyes from scanning the gardens, then the trees.

I think I might be sick.

My hand rakes through my hair for probably the fiftieth time in the past few minutes. I'm sure it's full-on standing on end by now.

I check my phone again, just as the sound of gravel crunching under tires announces Maggie's arrival.

She pulls up to the house and jumps out.

"You haven't found him?" she calls, jogging over.

"No, I haven't fucking found him!" The words tear from my throat. "You think I'd be standing out here ready to peel out if I'd found him?" My hands shake as I yank open the driver's side door to my car. "Get in."

"We can't leave. What if Finn's—"

I cut her off, scrubbing my hand over my face. "He's not here—he's not on the property. I just checked the security cameras. He ran down the driveway…" My voice cracks. "I was just heading out to search the nearby streets. I was waiting so you can look while I drive."

"We're going to find him, Xave." Shesqueezes my arm.

I glance over at her as the tires squeal, and I peel down the driveway. "Thanks for coming," I say, pulling my fingers through my hair again. Then more softly, I add, "Sorry for yelling."

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