Page 1 of Stardusted

Chapter 1

THE NIGHT EVERYTHING WENT WAY WRONG

“Kelly,it’s definitelynotaliens,” I said, rolling my eyes.

It was definitely aliens.

Not that I knew that yet.

At the time, the idea seemed ludicrous. Improbable. Arguably the most insane explanation for what was going on in One Willow. Let alone the world.

But you know what they say: ignorance is bliss.

And speaking of ignorance…

“You don’tknowit’s not aliens,” Kelly said. “Like, not for sure, Rae-bae.”

Ugh. Not that stupid nickname again.

I fought the urge to swear and shoved open the swinging kitchen doors a little harder than necessary, bracing for the wave of sizzling beef smoke and heated grease. The cacophony of classic rock, shouting, and clattering utensils swallowed the muttered curse that slipped out despite my best efforts.

My name was Rae. Not Rae-bae. Raven, technically. But only professors and the DMV called me that. And my mother when I was in trouble.

Everyone else just called me Rae.

Everyone except, of course, Kelly. She’d insisted on that cringe nickname since the day I’d landed the waitressing job at Oasis Bar and Grill six months ago.

And, like a fly to a glue strip, it stuck.

I’d given up fighting it. Just like I was ready to give up on this stupid debate.

I reached the ready line stacked with waiting orders, Kelly hot on my heels. After a glance at the digital screen, she handed me the plate of Hula fries for table three. I mumbled a thank-you, and she turned to face me, one hand on her curvy hip, her serving tray clutched at her side.

Like me, she wore the tropical-themed uniform: an aggressively green minidress printed with pineapples and surfboards and her waitressing apron.

Unlike me, she pulled it off.

Then again, Kelly could wear a paper bag and still look like she’d stepped off a modeling gig. She kept the top two buttons of the dress strategically undone to showcase cleavage. The best push-up bra at Victoria’s Secret wouldn’t help me emulate that. Trust me. I’d tried.

I gave her a flat look, and in response, she pursed her lips. They were painted a bright Barbie-pink today.

Our staredown lasted a full ten seconds, during which angry rock music raged.

Kelly broke first with a disgusted click of her tongue, like my refusal to give in was a personal affront.

“Okay, fine,” she said, flipping a long lock of golden blond hair over her shoulder. “So everyonesaysit’s some kind of solar storm. That’s what the news is reporting, sure. But how do we actually know that’s what’s happening? How do we know for real? How do we know it’s not just what the media wants us to believe? Haven’t you seen the reels?”

God. Not thereels. Next, it’d be Reddit threads and blurry YouTube videos of alleged alien sightings.

“Because,” I cut in before she could start citing message-board experts, “it doesn’t makesense, Kelly. Aliens aren’t invading.”

I was still holding the Hula fries. Sighing, I angled my tray and slid them on top. The rest of my order still wasn’t ready yet. The kitchen was backed up.

Could this night get any worse?

I dug deep for patience and came up short. Like she sensed it, Kelly’s pale blue eyes narrowed. She was waiting for me to crack.

I was closer than I wanted to admit.