You Me and the Stars Read online

  also by

  Michelle Dykman

  Her Sanctuary, His Heart

  The Deal with Dakota

  If Only In My Dreams

  Someone Like You

  BETHEL PRIVATE SCHOOL SERIES | BOOK TWO

  You, Me, and the Stars

  ©2021 by Michelle Dykman

  All rights reserved

  ISBN: 978-1-64960-107-0

  eISBN: 978-1-64960-157-5

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2021941497

  Cover design by Hannah Linder Designs

  Interior Typesetting by Dentelle Design

  Digital Edition by Anna Riebe Raats

  Edited by Megan Gerig

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, contact the publisher using the information below.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are all products of the author’s imagination or are used for fictional purposes. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Any mentioned brand names, places, and trademarks remain the property of their respective owners, bear no association with the author or the publisher, and are used for fictional purposes only.

  Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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  The colophon is a trademark of Ambassador, a Christian publishing company.

  Dedication

  All glory and honor to the Lord for giving me the inspiration to write this book. To my hubby, your unfailing belief in me has given me the courage to leap into the unknown. To the special teens that inspired this book, you guys are one in a million. God bless you all.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Information

  Dedication

  Preface

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Coming Soon . . .

  Contact Information

  Also by Ambassador International . . .

  Back Cover

  Preface

  High school reminds us of the things that used to be. Dreams that have never been realized. Dreams shattered by some bad choice or decision. Dreams given to the young and then painfully jerked away when reality set in. We all had dreams once, things we would achieve, places we would go, and a picture of a very different life than the one we may have now. There is always a reason a dream dies, reality crushing it until there is nothing left but an echo, a whisper, or maybe a gasp. Sometimes dreams are revived but only after some hard life lessons have been learned. This is where we find ourselves looking back at our dreams.

  “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

  Ecclesiastes 3:11

  One

  “Remind me why I took this class again?” Willow groaned.

  “Because you need a science requirement for college,” Felicia retorted.

  “Right, and why do I want to go to college?”

  Felicia snorted and leaned back in her chair. “Cute boys.”

  Willow flashed an exaggerated wink in this week's date's direction as she sat down and pulled out her mirror. Her hair and lips would need some attention after their earlier passionate interlude. She ran her tongue over her bruised lips before sliding her favorite strawberry lip gloss over them. Brad was an okay kisser but magic with his hands. She could find a better kisser next week. Every boy in Bethel Private School wanted a chance to tame Wild Willow.

  She smirked and applied another layer of her pink lip gloss and ran her hands through her tangled hair. She needed a brush.

  Felicia plopped into the desk next to her. “You still up for a rager this weekend? My folks are visiting my aunt again.”

  “Class, settle down,” Mrs. Wilson called.

  “What drinks?” Willow whispered.

  Felicia thought for a minute. “I can ask Jace's older brother if he'll go to the bottle store for us again. Those Trailblazers and Fruity mishmash's we made last time were good. Although maybe Jace could. His birthday is on Friday.”

  “Who's coming? Hang on a sec. Let me text the guys.” Willow whipped out her phone and opened the group chat app.

  Felicia leaned over her desk. “Add Brady.”

  Willow nodded. She didn't how she'd make that one fly. Oh well. Brady or Brad. She'd choose later.

  “Ms. Rysen and Ms. Wren, please keep your discussions for after school.” Mrs. Wilson gave them both a stern look.

  Willow smiled sweetly and clicked off her phone. She didn't need another trip to Principal Rory's office this week. Good thing Daddy had paid for the renovations on the library last year.

  “Today, I will be assigning you partners for your final science project.” Mrs. Wilson cleared her throat and ran her finger down the paper on her desk. “Felicia Wren, you will be going with Ted Martin.”

  Willow focused on making a party list. She didn't care who she got. She'd make them do the work and sail off their grade. The nerdy types were always ready and willing to help the Queen Bee of Bethel just for a special mention on her lips. Willow smiled. It was so easy to be her.

  The period bled on. Willow finished the party list and started doodling around the names. She curled roses up and over their names before drawing several sets of large spikes on the roses' stems. The party list soon resembled a thorny rose garden bursting with luscious lips. Willow couldn't help remembering Brad's lips from this morning. So soft and kissable. Connor caught her eye. She smiled. Maybe she should give Connor another go. He was a better kisser. She scribbled his name onto the list.

  Someone shook her arm. Willow glanced over at Felicia and raised an eyebrow. “Huh?”

  “You're paired with some guy named Christian Blythe.”

  “Who's that?” She scanned the room, hoping to see a new face that could maybe be her mysterious science partner, but the same old faces filled her vision. Amy Carter sat next to Felicia. Brad and his friends goofed off in the far corner, and the social misfits sat around trying not to be noticed by anybody. Christian was most likely in the other class. She shrugged and returned to her drawings.

  “At Bethel we hold to Christian ideologies and truths; however, in secular circles, it is said that science and the Bible can in no way complement each other,” Mrs. Wilson said. “We are going to loo
k at this subject and discuss it from a Christian and a non-Christian perspective. You and your partner will each take a side, and in one month's time, you will present your project to the class in the form of a debate.”

  Snorting, Willow rolled her eyes and crossed her arms with practiced impatience over her chest. Great! She would have to do some of the project. This day had just gone from easy to a cataclysmic disaster.

  “Will.” Felicia tapped her desk, throwing her attention back to the classroom.

  Mrs. Wilson was still talking. Maybe she should pay attention. Heaven knew she needed this grade.

  “Wikipedia, is not a valid source, so don't even try it.” Mrs. Wilson glanced in Amy's direction.

  Amy's face broke out in a red river, and Willow smirked. She took out her nail file and studied her nails. Neither side of the argument sounded particularly appealing. Her father had once said that Christians were the reason the world was in such a mess. She'd choose the side with the least amount of work.

  Just as she reached her last fingernail, the bell rang and freed her from giving any other thought to her science class. Willow grabbed her bag and stuffed her notebook and the assignment sheet in before swinging it over her shoulder and making for the door. She'd look at it later if she was bored and had nothing better to do with her time.

  Felicia linked arms with her, and they strolled to their next class. “Any idea who this guy is?”

  “I hope he's hot and athletic.”

  Felicia laughed then pulled to a stop. “Watch—”

  Willow smacked into something hard. She stumbled back, a strong hand wrapping around her wrist to stop her fall.

  “Sorry, are you all right?” a quiet voice like smooth melted chocolate over a cold ice cream asked. Delicious.

  Willow opened her mouth to speak, then her words froze in her throat as the owner of the voice came into view. Dark hair curled around the boy's angular face, and soft brown eyes that could melt your heart peeked out from behind black fashionable glasses. And his lips. Those lips were made for kissing.

  The boy cleared his throat, a faint pink in his cheeks, and extended his hand toward her. “Hi, I'm Christian Blythe.”

  Willow smiled and shook the boy's hand. So, this was her science partner. “Willow Rysen.” Little tingles traveled up her arm from where their hands connected. Working with this guy was going to be something to remember.

  “Will, we have to go. The smell of nerd is offending my nose,” Felicia said.

  “What?” Willow yanked her gaze away from Christian's face, taking note of what he wore in one hurried swoop. Baggie cargo pants, an open blue button up, and an orange t-shirt that said, “I learned to speak Klingon.” Nerd indeed.

  Willow sneered. The giddy feeling she'd had a moment ago turning into abject horror. She glared at Christian. How dare he? Ignoring the clear disbelief in his expression, she dragged Felicia around him and stormed off to their next class, silently cursing the butterflies that still fluttered in her tummy.

  What was going on with her?

  Shaking her head, she pushed back her shoulders and plastered a bogusly happy smile on her face. “So, that party on Saturday.”

  Two

  Christian stared after Willow and Felicia. He whistled under his breath and checked his arms and legs. All still attached. For a moment, he hadn't believed the rumors about Willow could possibly be true, but the change that had come over Willow's expression when she saw his clothes would melt even the staunchest soldier's spine. He ran his hand through his hair, thankful he'd walked away with his life. Working with Willow was bound to be fraught with peril. So much for the hours and hours of work he and Jack had slaved away this summer looking for the perfect senior science experiment. All that work was now for nothing. How could Mrs. Wilson do this to him?

  “Willow Rysen, man, why do you have all the luck?” Jack stopped beside Christian, his gaze focused on the two girls walking away from them.

  “You call this lucky?” Christian gestured ahead of them. “I'll be lucky if I survive the month. What could you possibly see in a girl like that?”

  “She's stunning and those legs. The stuff dreams are made of.”

  “Come on, man. A nice pretty package with the tongue of a viper. I think I'll pass.”

  Jack frowned, his eyebrows scrunched in the way he looked when something obvious occurred to him. Christian paused. Long chestnut hair with a soft curl, bright blue eyes, and killer body—Willow was truly every teenage boy's fantasy girl. If he hadn't heard the vitriol that came pouring out of those pouty lips, he might be drawn in just like Jack.

  “Look around you, Jack, any girl would be better than Willow.” Christian clamped his hand on Jack's shoulder, swinging his attention in the opposite direction. “Go use that teddy bear charm on someone who'll appreciate it.”

  “Perhaps.” Jack's gaze landed on a girl struggling with her locker a few meters away from them. A ghost of a smile formed on his mouth. Glancing quickly at Christian, he threw a “what can you do?” shrug and went over to help her.

  Good old Jack. If there was a damsel in distress, Jack couldn't help himself. He would do everything in his power to help her. Since his earliest memory of Jack, Christian hadn't met a person more loyal or giving as his giant of a friend.

  Frowning, Christian watched Willow and Felicia disappear around the corner. This was totally messed up. There was no way he and Willow could work together, but he needed this grade. Mind muddling over how he was going to make this work, Christian walked to his next class. Hopefully, he'd think of something. Maybe he could beg Mrs. Wilson for a new partner.

  By the time Christian drove home, he'd bit his tongue more times than he could count. His mom had taught him how to speak to a lady, but after Willow's stream of snarky comments throughout the day, his ability to be a gentleman had just about run out.

  “Rough day?” His mom walked down the hall toward him.

  “You know that science project Jack and I were working on? Well, Mrs. Wilson partnered me with the worst possible person. I am probably going to fail science now.”

  His mom's eyes went wide. “It can't be that bad.”

  “Mom, she partnered me with the nastiest girl in the school. Ms. Popular, Spoiled Brat Willow Rysen.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he wanted to swallow them back.

  “Christian,” his mom's hand came to rest on his tense shoulder, “all your life I've tried to teach you to see the best in people and to be the best person you can be. Willow may be a lot of things, but maybe she needs you to show her how to be a better person. Sometimes God gives us tasks that seem impossible, and without Him, they are. Do you want to pray about it?”

  Christian shook his head. He needed some air. “I think I'll go to Games and Things. I'll be back before dinner.”

  His mom gave him a sad smile, but she nodded. “Okay. Know that I'll be praying for you.”

  Christian grabbed his car keys and slid his favorite CD into the car player, a heavy drumbeat pounding the interior. He sang along as he drove to the mall, but for once, the song didn't ease the tension inside of him. Man, this was worse than he thought.

  The parking garage was emptier than it would have been on a Friday night, and he easily found a parking spot. Closing the door and pressing the locks, he slid his keys and wallet into his back pocket and walked toward the closest entrance, his mind fixed on the impossibility of his current dilemma.

  “Hey watch—” A body of shopping bags crashed into him and bounced back, landing in an untidy heap on the shiny mall floor. He stumbled, caught his balance, and looked down, amusement pushing past his anger.

  “Watch where you're going, buddy,” came a venomous squawk from inside the pile.

  Christian flushed. “Sorry, I didn't see you there. Let me help.” He reached down to aid the girl while trying his best to suppress the wave of laughter that threatened to spill out.

  Willow's outraged face emerged from in between the mountain of shopping b
ags. Christian lost the battle, and bellows of laughter surged out of him, echoing around them.

  “Are you following me?” he gasped, succumbing to another wave of laughter.

  Willow flushed a deep crimson, her pouty lips pressed into a hard line. Her eyes sparkled and a small curve fought its way across her mouth.

  “You ran into me remember? So, you must be following me.” She grabbed his proffered hand and pushed to her feet, wearing a wry smile.

  Still chuckling, Christian collected the scattered purchases and handed them one by one to her. “Well, seeing as we're both standing here, maybe we could discuss our science project?”

  All hilarity disappeared from Willow's face. Her expression pinched. Grabbing Christian by the hand, she towed him into an alley between two stores. “Let's get one thing straight here, Mr. Goody Two Shoes. I don't do projects with ugly people. In fact, I don't want anything to do with a guy like you. So, you do the project, I'll sign my name, and that's that.”

  The anger he'd tried so hard to suppress came roaring back to the surface. He crossed his arms. “Not going to happen, sweet cheeks. Either you do this project with me or I speak to Mrs. Wilson and Principal Rory.”

  Willow's face pale, a hint of something shining in those gorgeous blue eyes. “Fine.” Impatience hummed through that one small word.

  Christian waited and slid his hands into his pockets. It was her choice. “Meet me in the geography section in the library at six p.m. tonight.”

  “No.” She glared at him and arched an eyebrow in a challenge. “I have a date tonight, and I'm certainly not cancelling for you.”

  Christian blinked. On a school night? Didn't people date on the weekends? Not that he would know. “Okay, tomorrow night, same place, same time?”

  Willow scowled but nodded. “Whatever.” She scooped up her shopping bags, threw one more disgusted look at him, and stormed out of the alley.

  What had just happened? Had he entered some weird second dimension? He looked around him. No, he was still at the mall, still in the same alley she'd dragged him into. Running his hand down his face, he blew out a deep breath. His gaze landing on something small near the entrance of the alley. A white bag. No doubt one of Willow's shopping bags. Christian grimaced. “Oh boy.”