The bad news: Jules doesn’t like it when I squeal on Rafe, but sometimes I just can’t help myself. So after she collared Rafe, she sent me to my room. That wasn’t a big surprise.
The good news: Sound travels really well from Rafe’s room to mine, so I could hear every word of Mom’s shriek-fest at Rafe. Also—I had popcorn!
Wow—Mom’s investigation into Rafe’s chewing gum “collection” was really thorough. She even found the gum I’d hidden in his sock drawer!
Rafe was furious, of course. He denied that the gum was his, which only made Mom angrier.
It was fun while it lasted. Unfortunately, it lasted only seven minutes. Then Mom came to my room.
I stashed the popcorn under my bed as she opened my door and then closed it softly behind her. Next, she took a deep breath, almost a sigh, and looked at me. “The school called earlier,” she said.
“Oh.” It was as if frost had settled on my clothes—the chill ran down to my bones. “Um—what about?”
“About your detention.”
“I was going to tell you—” She held up her hand, and I clamped my lips together. “Sorry,” I murmured.
Mom sat at the foot of my bed and ran her fingers through her blond hair. “Georgia, you know that Rafe made a lot of mistakes at Hills Village,” she began.
“I’m not like him,” I said quickly.
“I just don’t want you to go through what he went through.” Mom’s eyes teared up a little, and I felt awful. This is worse than getting yelled at, I realized. I’ve always tried to be the kid Mom doesn’t have to worry about. I would have given anything to trade places with Rafe at that moment. I’d rather have Mom mad at me than have her disappointed in me.
What kind of world is it when Rafe is reading for fun and I’m making Mom cry by being in detention?
“I’ll never get detention again,” I promised. “I won’t.”
“I’m glad to hear it, honey,” Mom said, squeezing my hand.
I swear, I never meant to break my promise so fast.