Starcrossed Read Free Page A

busking the first time she saw him.  On holidays, and armed with her sketchbook, she’d been on her way to draw the cliffs that overlooked the sea while her family stayed by the hotel pool.  Clouds had been slowly rolling in over the small coastal town, blocking the sun, and Georgia had almost decided to turn back.  But then she’d heard the music.
    Amazing music.
    So she’d followed the sound that led her across a park, to the heart of the high street.
    He’d been playing his guitar on the footpath in front of a tavern, a battered old hat at his feet to collect the coins from appreciative listeners.  Eyes closed, singing a song that was sweet and sad and wrapped up in beautiful.  His voice had drawn her in, and though Georgia had been just one in the crowd that had gathered to listen, she’d felt like he was singing just for her.
    When he’d opened his eyes, his deep blue gaze had fallen immediately on hers.  Like he’d known she was there. Like he’d been waiting for her.  But then the sky had opened, the rain had fallen, and the spell had been broken.  Everyone had scattered.
    Georgia had allowed herself a quick look back as she’d run across the park with her sketchbook held over her head.  He’d been running in the opposite direction with his guitar case tucked tight under one arm, and the hat under the other.  Her heart had skipped when he’d turned back to look for her, too.
    Georgia thought maybe this holiday wasn’t such a fail, after all.
    She’d returned the next day.  So had he. 
    She’d sat in the park, listening to him sing while she sketched the tavern that was his backdrop.  Every time she’d glanced up his eyes had been on her and when Emily had come to find her so they could go to the beach, Georgia was sure he’d given a nod of goodbye.
    The next day, Georgia had gone back again, without her sketchbook.  He’d been waiting on the corner, hands in pockets, without his guitar.   He’d smiled when he saw her.
    “I was hoping you’d come.”  He had seemed nervous but he’d pushed his dark hair back from his eyes and held out his hand in a determined sort of way.  “Hi, I’m Tom.”
    When her skin touched his, Georgia had felt her world shift and change.  Like her heart was saying, “Oh, look... there you are, I’ve found you.” And she hadn’t missed Tom’s soft, fast intake of breath, or the widening of his eyes as his hand had closed gently around hers.  To Georgia it had seemed the most natural thing in the world to go from shaking hands to holding hands before she’d even said hello. 
    “I’m Georgia,” she’d said.
    “Georgia?”  He’d grinned.  “That’s a coincidence.  I used to have a parrot called George.”
    It had been such an unexpected thing for him to say.  Georgia’s mouth had fallen open and there’d been a flash of panic in Tom’s eyes, until she started to laugh.  Then he’d smiled a beaming smile. “Let me start again?”
    “No,” she’d said. “I like this beginning.”  But Tom had tried again, anyway.
    “Nice necklace,” he’d complimented.  “Pegasus, right?” Georgia had felt a stab of surprise, and warmth.
    “Yeah, it is,” she’d said.  “Not many people get that.  They just think it’s a horse with wings. I’m impressed.”  And when she’d squeezed his hand, Tom had squeezed back.  Then he’d asked if she wanted to go for a walk and Georgia could still remember the look in his eyes when she’d said yes.
    Now his eyes were hidden behind those yellow lenses. 
    Suddenly, Georgia was off the bed and running down the hall, past the living room.  She almost skidded into the kitchen, where her dad was on the phone. 
    “How long will you be?” she mouthed.
    “It’s your Gran,” he mouthed back.  So it could be a while, then, Georgia thought.  According to the clock on the wall, Star Factory was only on for another ten minutes.  The studio was miles away across London, she’d never get