The upcoming meteor shower was all anyone could talk about over dinner. Mom made special curry with seasonings to give us energy to stay up, and Dad made tiramisu, for the coffee. It would’ve been great if I didn’t absolutely hate the soggy little cookies in tiramisu. He couldn’t have put coffee in anything else?

Conversation revolved around the meteor shower. Mom was telling us about spiritual practices around the world, and Dad kept interjecting meteor facts. It was like listening to two different podcasts at once.

“We can tell when meteors have hit earth from the minerals in the soil at the time,” Dad was explaining. “Like iridium. It’s found in pretty high concentrations at the end of the Cretaceous period—”

“Evidence asteroids took out the dinosaurs,” Kamari said, nodding like that was supposed to be common knowledge.

I was about to ask about that just to have something to say—who didn’t love dinosaurs?—but Mom sighed, a dreamy smile on her face.

“I wonder how amazing iridium would feel to hold,” she mused. “Does it have otherworldly energy, or would our spirits recognize the star dust we’re all made of?”

Dad laughed, taking it in stride, and the conversation kept moving. Every time I tried to talk, someone else spoke first, or louder, or so fast I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. It was like the freaking newspaper meeting all over again!

I’d already learned once today how this went, so I just…gave up. I’d try talking to my family again after the meteor shower. Maybe then they’d remember I existed.

Back up in my room, I checked my phone to see Chelsea still hadn’t texted back after my No worries, just call whenever you’re free :) message. It was a little disheartening, but I could never be mad at Chelsea for being busy. Besides, she had enough people to take care of without my whining.

I sat at my desk and tried to get some homework done, but I just felt so out of it. Today had been the worst day in a string of pretty mediocre days. I was never the belle of the ball, but today had been spectacularly awkward. Literally nothing had gone my way, from getting caught coming in late to being ignored by my entire family.

Doing homework just made the calculus test I had to retake weigh even heavier on my mind. It was so embarrassing; Kamari and my dad were both wizards at math and science. I knew asking one of them for help would just get me a lecture about applying myself. And Mom, well, last time I’d needed school help, she’d given me a chunk of smokey quartz and told me to believe in myself. Ugh.

But I couldn’t find solace in writing either—it just made me think of how crappy the meeting was today. I had to find a way to show Olivia I was a good reporter, that I had what it took to be editor next year. It didn’t help that I didn’t exactly believe it myself. I mean, I knew I could write, but there was more to being editor than that. I had to run the paper too, and there was no way I could command a room like Olivia did. Even if by some miracle I was chosen, would I be able to get anyone to listen to me?

And I could forget about reading to take my mind off things. Not after today’s spectacular display of dorkdom. I couldn’t believe I’d found the one thing Demitri and I actually had in common, and I’d completely and utterly blown it. Twice! The chance I’d been waiting for for literal years and I couldn’t string two words together, and when I could, it was entirely random!

It was official—I hated my life.

“Wow, did you see that? And again!”

I could hear excitement from the front yard; the meteor shower must be starting. I moved to the window and looked out. Even with the melancholy headspace I was in, I couldn’t deny that it was beautiful. It looked like streaks of light were zooming across the sky, like it was raining stars.

With a sigh, I leaned against the window, and that old song about wishing upon a star popped in my head. If only it were that simple.

It couldn’t hurt, I thought, and closed my eyes.

I wished to be talented, to be pretty and desired, to be able to speak up and be heard, for people to be excited to hear me. I wish to be noticed by everyone.

“My god, look at that,” I heard from down in the yard. “Guys, Luna, come quick, look how bright this one is!”

My dad sounded so excited, I hurried for the stairs. Looking through his telescope was always really cool, and it was better than just feeling sorry for my—

My foot slid from under me right as I reached the hall. The floor rushed up to meet me, and everything went black.