5 
5 BACK IN “MY” ROOM, I PULLED ON A PAIR of cozy pink pants and a white T-shirt with a tiny pocket. I put Heather’s dress on a hanger and glanced around the room, making sure everything was neat in case Mrs. Fox had one of the maids inspect it or something.
I opened the door and listened, but didn’t hear anyone. It felt as if I had to sneak around everywhere here! Crossing my fingers that her parents weren’t anywhere near the TV room, I hurried down the hall and walked along the back of the living room to double doors that had to be for the TV room.
I put a hand on the doorknob, pausing and hoping I’d heard Heather’s directions—
“Omigod,” someone hissed in my ear. “Just stand there forever.”
I jumped and my heart pounded as Heather pushed past me and opened the door.
I followed her inside and almost did one of those clichéd and embarrassing double takes when I looked around. Was everything in this apartment insanely cool?
A giant black couch with tables on either side was set up in front of a huge plasma TV mounted to the wall. There was a surround sound system that I knew was going to be amazing, and glass cabinets filled with DVDs lined a wall of the giant room. On the far side of the couch were a couple recliners with cup holders and outlets for headphones.
“This is awesome,” I said. “It’s better than any of Canterwood’s media rooms.”
Heather smiled. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool. I used to spend a lot of time in here when I lived at home. My parents hardly ever use this room anymore, except when they’re trying to impress their friends or something.”
She motioned to the back of the room and I noticed a stainless steel fridge and a counter, microwave, and giant black cabinet.
“There’s soda, popcorn, candy—tons of snacks back there. Get whatever and I’ll pick out a flick.”
“Okay, thanks,” I said.
I knew Heather liked Diet Dr Pepper, so I grabbed two cans from the fridge and put them on a tray. Baskets filled with minipacks of chips, pretzels, Cheetos, and other movie food lined the counter. I filled the tray with a bunch of options and set it on the table in front of the couch. While I settled into the left side of the sofa, Heather stood in front of me and held up three DVDs.
“Got a vote?” she asked. “Even though I probably won’t listen to you, anyway.”
I pointed to a comedy on the far left. “I haven’t seen that one.”
Heather walked over to the DVD player. “Huh. Me either.” She popped it in and flicked on the massive TV. The previews started and I opened a bag of chips.
“We better relax while we can,” I said. “It sounds like we might be riding more this week than we do at school.”
Heather snorted. “Please. It’s called ‘break’ for a reason. I just told my dad that so he’d chill.”
“So we’re not riding?”
“I didn’t say that. We—well, definitely you—need to practice and we’re going to be riding. But not every second. There’s too much to do this week.”
I looked away from the TV to stare at her. “Like . . . what?”
“Silver, do you not know how to be quiet when a movie’s on?”
I stared at her for another second before picking up a chip and focusing on the previews. Heather had something planned for this week. And knowing her, it was going to be good.
An hour and a half later the credits rolled, and Heather turned off the TV. We’d laughed through most of the movie and had eaten our way through the entire tray of food. My eyes had started to close during the final few minutes of the movie and I was surprised how tired I was this early—it was just after ten.
Heather yawned and stretched her arms. “I’m going to bed. And you should too. Be ready for breakfast by eight and we’ll be out of here by nine.”
“Out to where?” I asked.
Heather got up off the couch, shaking her head. “You’d think you’d have learned by now.” She started toward the door, turning back to grin at me. “’Night, Silver.”
I sat there staring after her. I couldn’t even imagine what she had planned for tomorrow, but I wasn’t going to be yawning my way through it.
I got up, walked to the guest room, and gathered my toothbrush and face wash. In the bathroom I brushed my teeth and washed my face. I stared into my reflection, trying to breathe and not worry about whatever Heather had planned for tomorrow. When I climbed into bed, my nerves melted slowly into excitement. After all, this was New York City.