Chapter 16

Monday at lunch, Leo stays seated when he sees Stargirl approaching his table, though Kevin’s eyes widen in disbelief. It seems to Leo as if the entire universe is standing still for this moment. She says, “You’re welcome,” then she stands waiting for a response. Leo turns with some trepidation, for he knows this is a moment that will change everything for him. He looks into her eyes and thanks her for the card. Stargirl beams her brightest smile and walks away. Kevin concludes that Stargirl is in love; Leo, of course, denies it.

The rest of the day is difficult for Leo; he feels as if he has been hit—hard. After school he makes his way to Stargirl’s homeroom, not knowing what he will do there but knowing he must go. He overhears a group of girls gossiping about Stargirl’s being kicked off the cheerleading squad. When they notice him, they call to him in unison: “Starboy!” They laugh. Leo waves; he is secretly thrilled.

That evening Leo heads to her house, a quite ordinary house for someone as extraordinary as Stargirl. It is dark when he arrives, and he moons around hoping to see her yet afraid she will appear. Suddenly the front door opens and Leo ducks behind the car in the driveway. After a few moments, Stargirl asks if he remembers the day he followed her into the desert. Leo hesitates then answers that he does.

She asks why he turned and left, but Leo has no real answer. He looks down to see Cinnamon burrowing into his shoelaces. The conversation continues, and Leo admits he thinks Stargirl is cute but is not so sure about Cinnamon. Stargirl encourages Leo to tickle him behind the ears, and Leo does so. Suddenly the rat jumps to Leo’s shoulder and Leo yelps. Stargirl laughs and says Cinnamon loves ears. Just as Leo is getting used to the rodent snuffling near his ear, Stargirl announces they have to go in. Because Cinnamon is not leaving of his own accord, Leo places him on the ground and he scampers under the car to Stargirl. They wish each other a good night, but Leo wishes he did not have to leave.

Chapter 17

Two weeks earlier, Leo discovered Stargirl knew his name; today he is “loopy with love.” Kevin recognizes it immediately, but at lunch Leo becomes self-conscious about his giddiness and hides out for the entire period.

After school Stargirl and Leo meet, though there was no conscious plan to do so. She asks him if he believes in enchanted places. Leo is not sure, so she grabs his hand and they fly across the school field so she can show him an enchanted place.

They walk for miles toward the place Stargirl was headed the day Leo followed her, Leo strumming the ukulele with Cinnamon perched on his shoulder. She tells him she nearly called out to him that day and wonders if he is shy. He admits he is a little embarrassed about all the attention he is now getting, and she laughs. They finally arrive at her enchanted place, and Leo is disappointed by its ordinariness. Stargirl tells him to take his shoes off and sit, which he does. Leo wants to know what to do next, and she tells him they are to do nothing, a task that is much more difficult than it sounds.

Stargirl shares her method of “erasing her senses” so the world can flow through her. Leo tries it but without much success, and he peeks at the girl next to him who is sitting in complete serenity. He notices the rat is in a similar pose of meditation to his owner. He is discouraged because even a rat can do what he cannot. While Leo is unable to “erase” himself, he is aware of the silence around him in a way he never has been before and has the sense that he and Stargirl are somehow connected.

He feels the coolness on his face as the sun sets, and when he looks around he discovers he is alone. Alarmed, he looks around and sees Stargirl smiling at him. They walk silently, hand in hand, back through the desert.