Uncross the Stars by Janell Rhiannon
Publication date: December 15th, 2014
Genres: Romance, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Fiona Lavender is the new girl at school. She has a chip on her shoulder and a pension for poetry. Dario Martinez is the star quarterback, and the most unattainable guy on campus. Their stars cross when they are paired to study Romeo and Juliet for a senior English project. Their connection is fragile and undeniable. But, Dario is afraid of what love will do; and Fiona is waiting for love to claim her. Will they uncross the stars and find the love they both need to heal their pasts?
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EXCERPT:
Fiona
hated the first day at a new school, and having to change schools for her
senior year felt particularly brutal. She checked her schedule against the room
number on the door: D-5. “Here we go,” she said to no one. She opened the door
and walked into the room hugging her binder against her chest. The teacher was
riffling through some papers at her podium. To her horror, her feet and her
head began to argue.
Feet: Just turn and run.
Head: No.
Feet: She’s not looking!
Head: No.
Feet: It’s going to be boring. Look at all the
lame school boys and girls in here.
Head: Don’t judge.
She backed toward the door. Fiona’s feet
were winning the debate. The bell rang, and Fiona nearly jumped out of her
skin. Her binder hit the floor. The teacher looked up, and so did everyone else
in the room—all of them zeroed in on her. She wanted to die on the spot.
“Miss?” the teacher drew out the
question, indicating she required an immediate answer.
“Lavender.”
“Miss Lavender, please take a seat. That
was the tardy bell.”
Fiona nodded her head, picked up her binder,
hugged her books a little closer and surveyed the room. There was one empty
chair in the second row behind a broad shouldered guy.
“Miss Lavender, I’m waiting to begin class.”
Pockets of laughter erupted around the room.
Mercifully, the girl directly left of the empty desk waved her over. Fiona took
the seat.
The girl leaned over, “Hi. I’m Meagan.”
“Fiona. Thanks.”
“No sweat. It’s hard being the new kid.”
“Truth.”
The teacher rudely cleared her throat,
“Ah-hem! Ladies, do you mind?”
“Let’s get to it, shall we? The first
assignment this semester is a partner performance piece on a Shakespeare play.”
The class erupted in groans and noisy
protestations. “Come now, everyone. The first step to understanding any
Shakespeare piece is to perform it. Then you will write a—”
The class cut the teacher off with a
firestorm of no-crap-not-Shakespeare-again.
“Now, let’s get down to partners, shall
we?” the teacher said.
Fiona dreaded the idea of being partnered with
someone she didn’t know.
Meagan raised her hand. “Can we pick our
own?”
“No. I’ve already assigned pairs and
plays for the project.” Mrs. Shandy began reading the list of names. Fiona
listened for her name and prayed it would be someone who liked Shakespeare.
“Mr. Martinez aaaand…Oh, what did I write?”
Mrs. Shandy looked up and said, “Ah, Miss Fiona Lavender. You both have Romeo
and Juliet. Try to do it justice.”
Fiona’s heart sank. Which guy is Mr.
Martinez? She was afraid to look around the room. But she didn’t have to
bother. The broad shouldered guy in front of her turned around.
“I guess we’ll be working together.” He
said to Fiona. “Hope you like Shakespeare. I’m Dario.” Fiona looked up and
noticed his smile tilted higher on the left.
“Hi. Fiona.” She was going to melt under her
desk if his smile got any bigger. He had one of those dangerous Zac Efron-type
smiles, a smile that could render a girl senseless if she wasn’t vigilant.
“I
know,” he said. Fiona dared to meet his gaze. His irises shone like dark
caramel. They swept her up like a hot Savannah wind when she caught the wink he
gave her. Instead of calming her, his gesture released the butterflies from the
net in her stomach. They fluttered and flitted, until she blushed. Surely he
was the cutest guy she’d ever seen, or who had ever spoken to her.
AUTHOR BIO:
Janell has been writing since she was in grade school. In high school, her 9th grade English teacher suggested she consider a career in writing. After a decade in college and a Master's degree in history, she settled into teaching.
Writing never stopped. Stories never stopped. READING fiction never stopped. Now, she writes and publishes on-line. Invisible Wings is her first YA novel, a compilation of short stories centered on teenage life triumphs and tragedies. She believes being a teenager is difficult and wrote Invisible Wings to let teens know they aren't alone. That they matter. That even though life is rough, they can still find beauty and love.
Beside the YA stories close to her heart, she adores Mythology and Fairy tales. Anything magical and mystical. And dragons. And gargoyles.
She currently lives in CA.
Visit her at Facebook @Janell Rhiannon Author. If you want to see what projects are in the works or find out more about the her, visit
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