Page 33 of Starstruck

Suddenly I had words flying through my head, beginnings of amelody and parts of forgotten bridges that hadn’t had potential until she showed up. Like yesterday, when I was watching her raise her hand for every single question, I couldn’t help but think of the songs she’d inspire.

It wasn’t my typical kind of song either, not the kind with heavyelectric guitar solos and hidden metaphors. No, the songs coming to me now were understated, genuine, and softer. And I didn’t hate the sound of them.

Why didn't I hate the sound of them?

“Well, I better get going before I’m late… again,” Goldie said up tome as I laughs sank into the crack in the stone, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah,” I mumble, rubbing the back of my neck. “In a bit, Goldie.”

Her smile only made me smile, as she turned away andjoined the crowd. Although she was wrong, about getting lost in the crowd, she was the only one my eyes landed on.

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chapter ten

custard tarts are way cheaper than therapy

Iwas ending my first week at college with a trip to Flo’s to see mysister. I deserved a morning of gossiping and eating sugary pastries, because that definitely wasn't what had occupied my last five mornings.

But I didn’t care. Addy was back in town for the press tour for therom-com movieForever and Always,that she’d just finished filming. And although she quit, to pursue her dreams of becoming an author, she was still a part of the movie, and sadly her dreams didn't unteather her from the contract that demanded her presence at the press conferences.

“Thanks, Flo!” I called to Florence, my sister’s best friend, whoowned the bakery we were standing in right now, as she handed me a custard tart and iced latte.

“Anytime Gold’s. Don’t leave without saying bye!” She calls back tome, her sweet English accent nowhere near as rough around the edges as Cora’s. But both were equally mesmerising.

Flo dished me the friendliest smile before serving the nextcustomer in the very long line, before letting me head back over to the booth Addy claimed when we walked in, sliding in opposite her and not wasting any time before tucking into my tart.

“I can’t believe you haven’t tried one of her custard tarts yet. I’vemissed them so much since we’ve been in Europe.” My sister pouts from across the table, her auburn hair sitting pretty just below her shoulders and her freckled cheeks popping as she does.

I tilted my head and smiled at her as I sunk the tart into my mouth,the gooey vanilla custard gliding over my taste buds. I felt my eyes roll into the back of my head as I moaned, “Oh my God.”

“Right! It’s like ‘I wanna start a religion worshipping this recipe’ kindof good.” My sister urged, to which I barely nodded back at her. I was too busy having a moment with tart. “So, how’s college life treating you?”

Addy’s question pulled me out of my thoughts, which may or may nothave been a montage of me and this tart running through whimsical meadows together, and I lifted my head to catch her fiery gaze.

“It’s everything I thought it would be. I actually have time to goback to my room and learn. I have time tolearn, Addy. Do we get how big this is?" She chuckled, and I shook my head, more in disbelief. "And... I’m just really, really grateful. And I just have to thank you—”

“Goldie, enough with thanking me.” In a heartbeat, her hands cuppedmine, the older sister in her protecting me. “Webothgot you out of that life back in California. It was teamwork. Hell, I’m sure Nate said more than me during that dinner.”

The dinner when I broke down and told my parents that I hatedacting, and that what I really wanted was to be where I’m sitting right now.

“But the point is that you have to recognise that it was yourwillpower and strength that got you here, eating the world's best custard tart.”

My sister smiled at me from across the table, and like I do everytime she reminds me of my power, I grow that extra bit thankful that I was put on this earth with her as my guiding light.

“It’s like you were made to be a big sister.”

Her smile went all wide and doughy as she squeezed my hands back.“And I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

I shook my head, my smile still rightly in its place though. “Okay,let's stop being sad sacks. How’s the press tour going? How’s Nate? How’s writing?”

She shrugged, the straw moulding over her lips for a secondbefore she settled her cup against the table. “It’s fine. Nate and I actually got a few extra days off whilst we were in between Rome and Paris, so he surprised me with a visit to Austria, and you best believe that I nearly fainted once I realised he was taking us to the Admont Abbey Library.”

The Admont Abbey Library, AKA the place sister once told sheknew she was meant to exist. Her being the bookworm and the amazing writer she is.

“And Nate is fine; he’s doing better now we’re back in the city andnow that we’ve finally cleared out my old apartment and moved into our new one.” She took another sip of her latte before she carried on. “I still don’t know why you didn’t take my old apartment; it was overlooking the park, and it wasn’t so high up that when it was windy you couldn’t feel the building tilt.”

I huffed a laugh. “I know, I know, but I wanted to be in the dorms.And freshmen have to live on campus anyway. And I’m glad we do, because I wouldn’t have met Daisy, or her brother, Finn, or his friends.” I take a sip of coffee. “Being there feels right, and it’s all happening just how I wanted it to.”

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