Chapter 27

Maggie

When Maggie wakes up on Monday morning, her first thought is the puppy Austin found. She thinks about her as she gets her breakfast and as she checks the St. Ambrose online calendar. With a groan, she sees there is a Student Leadership meeting after school today. Maggie signed up for Student Leadership but isn’t really interested in it; she only signed up because Lexi had wanted to. After everything that’s happened recently with Lexi and Brianne, the thought of spending time with her friends after school turns her stomach into a pretzel.

The problem is Mrs. Weston, who runs the Student Leadership Committee. She was overjoyed that three girls in her homeroom had signed up. Maggie knows that if she bails without a good reason, Mrs. Weston will convince her it’s too early in the school year to quit and will drag her back.

Maggie stares at the cereal box, thinking. If she had a good reason not to go to Student Leadership, Mrs. Weston wouldn’t push the issue. It occurs to Maggie that squeezing in more volunteer hours at Brayside might be the answer. There’s no reason her visits need to be limited to weekends. Brayside is close enough to St. Ambrose that she could easily walk there after school. “Mom, can I go to Brayside today? I’ll walk over and Dad can pick me up on his way home from work.”

Maggie’s mom is in the middle of packing lunches for the twins. The two girls are eating Cheerios in front of the TV and Harvey is sitting beside them hoping for handouts. Her mom shrugs. “Fine with me. I won’t be able to drop Harvey off though.”

“I know. He’s not as integral to the volunteer hours as I thought he’d be. I’m mainly helping Mrs. Fradette unpack.” Or trying to, Maggie thinks with a grin.

Maggie’s mom turns at Maggie’s use of the word integral. Between her daughter’s desire to volunteer and her growing vocabulary, she thinks the St. Ambrose tuition is already proving its worth.

Maggie goes to brush her teeth, relieved that she got out of a committee she didn’t want to be on in the first place and surprisingly happy to be going back to Brayside. Old people, at least the ones at Brayside, aren’t what she expected.

* * *

When her dad drops her off at school, Maggie steels herself for the walk into the building. Usually, Lexi and Brianne wait at their lockers for her to arrive so they can walk into class together. Maggie prepares herself for the possibility that today they won’t be there.

It is a huge relief when she turns the corner and sees the girls leaning against their lockers like usual. The three of them have the normal conversation about how much homework they had and how long they studied for the upcoming math test. The knot in Maggie’s stomach loosens. Maybe she was making something out of nothing. It was just a movie, after all.

But then things go downhill at lunch. “We’ve got Student Leadership after school,” Brianne reminds both of them. Lexi nods, licking the last smear of pudding off her spoon. Brianne looks at Maggie. “You’re coming, right?”

Maggie hesitates. She is really looking forward to going back to Brayside. She wants to know what happened with the puppy and is determined to get at least one box unpacked for Mrs. Fradette. “I can’t. Not today.”

“Why not?” Lexi’s question comes out more like an accusation. “It’s the election today. You have to vote for me for seventh-grade rep.”

Maggie fumbles for an answer. “I forgot and made plans.”

“Seriously, Maggie.” Irritation is plain in Lexi’s voice. Maggie tries not to let it get to her, but she can’t help wondering if this morning’s warm welcome was because they wanted her vote.

“Maybe you can talk to the teacher and vote before you leave?” Brianne suggests.

Maggie says nothing. The snarkier Lexi gets, the less inclined Maggie is to vote for her.

Lexi purses her lips. “Where are you going, anyway?” Maggie knows there is no explanation that will improve the situation, so she tells the truth. “Brayside.”

Lexi rolls her eyes. “You and your volunteer hours. It’s like an obsession.”

Maggie doesn’t know how to take Lexi’s comments. They sting and she isn’t sure if it’s what she says or the way she’s saying it. She doesn’t respond to Lexi, but she also doesn’t offer to change her plans. For Maggie, this small act of defiance matters.