Page 1 of A Sky Full Of Stars

Prologue

Lainey - Nine and a Half Years Ago

Tears stream down my face as I curl up into a ball and cry, my body shaking, the reality of everything hitting me with force.

Another knock on my window makes me flinch as his desperation increases. “Lainey,please.”

I choke back a sob, my eyes flashing to my bedroom door before settling back on the window.Go away. Please go away.

The sound of his voice kills me, but I hold strong. I have to.Heleft. He didn’t want me. And it’s for the best. Seeing him now is only going to make saying goodbye harder, and ruin everything for him.

“I know you’re in there, Lainey. I can hear you crying.”

Shit!

I cover my ears to block him out. To block it all out. But it doesn’t work. He keeps getting louder.

My gaze moves to the door again, and I know what I have to do.

“Go away!” I yell, thankful my brother’s not home or he’d be here in a flash. “Please, just go.”

“No, Lainey. I know I fucked up but I need you, and it sounds like you need me too. I’m sorry.”

God, I need him.I’ve never needed him more in my life but—

“Make him leave orI will,” my dad whispers, his simmering rage building.

The knocking gets louder, and I swear I can feel the vibrations on the window coursing through me.

“Can I go to him?” I whisper back, already shuffling to the edge of my bed.

“No,” he says and I freeze, looking over my shoulder to face him.

“Please, he—”

“I saidno!” Dad’s voice rises and the knocking immediately stops, drawing our attention.

I hold my breath, desperately hoping that he’s gone, but equally hoping it was just a coincidence and he didn’t hear my dad’s voice.

It’s an excruciatingly long minute before we find out, and his broken words destroy me.

“I’m sorry, Lainey. I hope you’re okay. I just needed a friend.”

Tears continue to fall, but I’m stuck. I can’t go to him. I can’t help. All I can do is tell him to leave.Beghim to leave.

But before I can say anything, he hits me with one final blow, completely shattering my heart.

“My sister’s gone.”

PART ONE

"TAKE ON ME" BY A-HA

EIGHT MONTHS EARLIER

THOMAS EIGHTEEN / LAINEY FIFTEEN

Chapter One

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