The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim (the mitten read aloud .TXT) 📗

time and, thanks to the whooshing air, our clothes are now mostly dry and sand-free. I really can’t complain, but I wish we hadn’t left my stomach back at the beach.

When we eventually come to a stop at the pointy obelisk outside the Griffith Observatory, the sun has almost fully risen. It’s hard to tell without our phones, but I’m guessing it’s almost six a.m. I hope Cosette is an early riser.

The blue scales retract from my skin, and Boris lets go of my feet. And it’s a good thing, too, because as soon as Emmett and I stumble off him, we both hurl the contents of our stomachs onto the monument. I guess I didn’t leave mine at the beach after all.

Emmett groans and looks up apologetically at one of the faces carved into the Astronomers Monument. “Sorry, Galileo. But you’ll be happy to know the Earth still orbits the sun.”

With Boris tucked under my arm, Emmett and I make our way to the entrance of the cream-colored domed building. As we’d guessed, the main doors are shut tight. But taped to one of them is a poster advertising the Summer Camp for Future Astronomers program.

I study the building and grounds. “Let’s go around,” I say. “Maybe there’s a back entrance.”

We walk the perimeter of the structure, trying every door in sight, but each one is bolted shut. Eventually, there’s only one left to try.

“Here goes nothing.” I give the handle a slight tug, only to find that this door, like the others, is locked. “Nooo!” I cry, banging my head against the glass.

“Um, Riley?” a female voice calls out. “Riley Oh?”

I look up, startled.

A beautiful K-pop apparition has appeared on the other side of the glass door, already dressed for the day in a navy camp polo over pressed khakis. She looks at me with wide eyes. “What are you doing here?”

I squeal. “Cosette!” I point to the door handle. “What are the chances! Let us in, please. We need your help!”

Cosette looks behind her, as if checking that the coast is clear. Then she cautiously opens the door but doesn’t invite us in. She narrows her eyes, and all I see are her ridiculously long eyelashes. “You’re not allowed in here,” she says, giving a quirk of the eyebrow when she sees Boris. “Everyone’s going to be awake soon.”

“Please!” I say. “We won’t tell anyone we saw you. We just need to get inside.”

“But why? Just come back after noon, when it opens to the public.” She gives Emmett a look as if to say And who the heck are you? before glancing back at me. Her forehead suddenly creases as if she’s just remembered something. “Besides, my parents will kill me if they find out I talked to you.”

Wow, news travels fast around here. I don’t think I saw Cosette at Hattie’s ceremony, but it’s obvious she knows I’m one of the cursed clan.

She goes to shut the door, but I wedge my foot into the gap before she can close it completely. I open my mouth to quickly change the subject….

But Emmett talks first. “Hey, where did you get that?” He points to the shiny silver badge on Cosette’s shirt that reads SPACE PIR8S RULE THE GALAXY. “How do you know about the Space Pirates?”

Her frown transforms into a proud grin. “Because it’s my squad. We’ve conquered fifty planets in the galaxy, and we might even get external sponsorship this year. We’re that good. Why? Do you play Battle Galactic, too?”

Emmett’s jaw drops open. “No. Way. No freaking way!”

Cosette scowls. “Hey, don’t knock it before you try it. It’s an amazing game.”

His eyebrows twitch in concentration. “Cosette…Cosette…” he mumbles under his breath. Then he freezes. “Cosette as in CasetteTape99?!”

She puts her hands on her hips. “Wait, how do you know my username? Are you some kind of spy for the Darth Invaders? Because we will destroy you.”

“It’s me!” Emmett exclaims, waving his hands in excitement. “I’m BakersDelight. My real name is Emmett.”

This time it’s Cosette’s jaw that drops. “No. Freaking. Way. Are you serious right now?! I can’t believe we’re finally meeting in real life! And like this!”

They high-ten and grin at each other like clowns.

“Uh, care to explain?” I ask Emmett.

He slaps me on the shoulder. “She’s the captain of our spaceship, Rye! We’re on the same squad!”

Cosette jumps up and down. “Your friend Emmett is my chief commanding officer.” She tosses her hair and flashes a perfect-toothed smile. “Wow, what a small world!”

“I know, right?!” They give each other another round of high tens and I genuinely can’t recall the last time I saw Emmett so pumped. I feel a weird pang of jealousy.

I elbow Emmett in the side. “We’re kinda in a hurry right now,” I remind him, tapping the vial underneath my top.

That sobers him right up. “Yes, of course, totally. I’ve got this.” He turns to Cosette, all business. “Captain, remember the time the Darth Invaders ambushed us on Planet Kangshee and we had to risk everything to go on a rescue mission to save Cadet PJO4eva?”

She nods solemnly. “That’s a day I will never forget, Commander.”

“Well, Riley and I are on a similar rescue mission. One of our crew is in grave danger, and we need to save her. We are willing to do whatever it takes, and we need your help.”

Cosette listens, then looks over at me contemplatively. She frowns slightly, but eventually, she offers Emmett her hand. “I will do everything in my power to help you, Commander BakersDelight. You have my word. Fly or die.”

Emmett shakes her hand and grins. “Fly or die.”

She opens the door wider and invites us in, putting a finger to her lips. She leads us on tiptoe past an exhibit with a large pendulum ball hanging over a hole and then ushers us into a small meeting room. “We should be left alone in here.” She takes a seat and leans her elbows on the table. “So how can I help,