Rita grinned at me. “Did you bring your cheer uniforms?”

  “They’re in Warren’s car,” I said.

  “I told Mom I’d be at Dad’s tonight, too, so I can take them there. Why don’t you plan on staying with me this weekend? After the game, we’ll hit Abbie’s party. We’ll go to the Rec Cheering Competition on Saturday and then spend Sunday at Horse Heaven.”

  Tears stung my eyes, and I blinked them away as I looked at my friends clustered around the table. “You’re the best.”

  Warren arrived and handed me a sixteen-ounce mocha from the school espresso stand. “Did you work out everything? I’ll fill up my car again between my classes here and tutoring at the town library. I’ll bring Sarah’s stuff by after cheer practice.”

  “Sounds good,” Abbie told him. “We’ll be waiting to divvy it up.”

  A few minutes later, I headed for the attendance office to get an admit slip for first period. When I came out the door, Jason waited for me. He’d opted to wear his favorite blue sweater and slacks. He looked incredible. I glanced around and didn’t see any teachers. I wouldn’t get written up for PDA, so I reached out to hug him.

  He pushed me away. “You know I don’t like all that muck on your face. You look like a skank from downtown Seattle.”

  I glared at him, refusing to cry. “I wasn’t coming to school with bruises all over my face so everyone would feel sorry for me. And I know Hailey wore lots more cosmetics than I ever do.”

  I hurried for the Commons, determined to reach my English class before I lost it. How could he be so mean? Sure, I had on more make-up than usual, and the accident last week was my fault, but he was supposed to care about me and be on my side.

  Jason caught up with me. “Sarah, I’m sorry. Don’t be mad at me. You’re my lucky charm. I just want you to always look your best.” He put his arm around me. “I need you so much.”

  I couldn’t stay angry. “It’s okay. I’m sorry too. As soon as the bruises fade, I’ll lighten up on the make-up.”

  “I know you will.” He leaned down and kissed me real quick. “Why did Warren want me to come to your grandmother’s yesterday? I don’t do horses.”

  I shrugged. “He wanted some help in the barns, I guess. He didn’t say anything to me about calling you.”

  “I thought you stopped riding horses,” Jason said. “Shouldn’t you be through the horsy stage by now? You’re a sophomore.”

  “I know horses aren’t your thing so I don’t bring up Xanadu.” We started across the Commons to the stairs to the second floor. “I clean stalls to pay part of her board. Bruce dropped me over there, and when I couldn’t do the work, Warren came to the rescue like always.” I didn’t say anything about Timber coming along to help.

  Jason’s arm tightened around my shoulders. His fingers bit into my upper arm. “So, whiny, weenie Warren did girl’s work?”

  I pulled away. “Just because you think horseback riding and horse poop are girl’s work doesn’t mean my brother does. He’d never insult our grandma that way.”

  “Now what? Do you have PMS today?”

  I couldn’t bear him a moment longer. What was wrong with me? Why did I have to argue with him? Then again why did he want to quarrel with me?

  He was next to me when I started up the stairs. “It was a joke, Sarah. Don’t be so sensitive.”

  “Some joke,” I muttered. “You don’t like my brother either, do you?”

  “I’m tired of being compared to him. I should come first, not wonderful Warren.”

  “You do, Jason.”

  “Yeah, well, it doesn’t feel that way.” He shoved past me and hurried up the stairs.

  Before I lost my balance and fell backward, somebody caught my waist and steadied me. A guy. I knew that by the size of his hands. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Gabe Abbott. “Thanks.”

  He grinned at me, dark eyes friendly. “No worries. Just call me Sarah’s shadow.”

  I smiled back at him. “Well, thanks again. I don’t need another accident right now. I’ll never catch up on my assignments.”

  “I know the feeling. This school is tough compared to the ones I attended in Seattle.” Gabe didn’t let go of me. He shifted so he kept an arm around my waist. Then, he stepped up beside me and guided me the rest of the way to the second floor. “Maybe you came back too soon. You might need more rest. You could call Liz and she’d come get you. She was a nurse forever and you could stay at her place all day so she’d look after you.”

  “I’m fine,” I said. “Don’t worry.”

  “Well, if you need her, call.” He walked me to my English class. “Or B.J. can.”

  I smiled up at him. Dark hair tied back in a ponytail, lean, and wiry, he looked like a cowboy even in his academy uniform. He wasn’t as tall as Jason, much less Timber, but Gabe made me feel safe. And I knew B.J. thought of him as a brother. Jason wouldn’t dare make fun of Gabe for loving horses. “I’m surprised you’re not telling me to call my grandmother.”

  “Nope. If you’re sick, you don’t want her. She and Fiona were up with a colicky mare last night and by two in the morning when Evelyn sent me to bed, I think she had a broom to ride.”

  I laughed. “Patience never was Grandma’s virtue. Who was sick? How is she or he?”

  “Banshee, and she’s not patient either.” Gabe pulled open the door to my class. “Scoot inside. The horse is fine and I have to get to class. I’m serious. Call Liz if you can’t make it through the day. Your grandma said after she slept a few hours, she planned to deworm the rest of the herd and decorate for Halloween. You don’t want to interfere with that.”

  “No, I don’t.” I hurried into the room so he wouldn’t be late and get a demerit.

  Throughout the next hour in English, I tried to think up ways to make it up to Jason. Yes, Warren and I were close. We had to be tight to survive the last six years with Bruce’s constant harassment, Mom’s state of denial, and Dad doing one tour after another in the Middle East. Mom loved Bruce, so of course he was always right, and we were always wrong in what I now intended to call Priscilla’s Palace.

  When the bell rang, I headed for the door next to Kaitlyn. As soon as we hit the hall, Mike Sinclair caught up with us. “So, a couple of us wanted to know if you’d help our girls with their scene for Barrett. If you got A’s, it’s not totally impossible for other sophomores.”

  Kaitlyn and I shared a look. “Who’s in their group?” she asked.

  “B.J., Willa, Rita and Gabe,” Mike told us. “And they aren’t into reading it. B.J. says it’s too old-timey for her.”

  “Well, she better get over herself,” I said. “There’s no way to fake it in one of Barrett’s classes. They have to act out the scene to get good grades.” We talked about it all the way to my next class and then Mike hurried off to history in the other wing.

  In Spanish class, Dr. Fernandez passed out a worksheet on verbs. As soon as we finished, he told us to work on our projects. I moved over to a computer station and slid in the flash drive Warren had given me. I’d keep my mouth shut about how special Warren happened to be when Jason was around. Then, he wouldn’t feel so bad.

  The decision brightened my mood while I waited for the computer program to boot up. I opened the file labeled Outline. Suddenly, I heard someone’s cell phone play Reveille. What the—

  The ring-tone repeated, and I realized it was my cell. I grabbed my purse, opened it, and dove for my phone. I glanced up just as I answered and saw Dr. Fernandez coming toward me. “Oh, man. I’m so dead.”

  “Not yet,” Dad told me. “But I understand from your aunt’s and Helene Nelson’s e-mails that it’s bound to happen soon.”

  “I’m in class. This is so not a good time. Can we talk later?” If I finessed the situation with the teacher, I might keep my phone. “Like after school?”

  “It’s not exactly easy calling from Kandahar, Sarah. Adjust.”

  Dr. Fernandez held out his hand for the phone. “No phones during class time, Sarah.”

  “It’s my dad,” I tried.

  “Talk to him at home or during break. We have a zero tolerance for cell phones in class. You know the rules at Stewart Falls Academy.”

  “I know,” I said. “But he’s in Afghanistan, and this isn’t exactly easy for any of us.”

  That got me a steady look from the teacher. “I’d say my office is the best place for you.” Dr. Fernandez pointed to the door at the back of the room. “I’ll reserve your computer for you.”

  “Thanks.” I heaved a sigh of relief and headed out of the class to my teacher’s office. “So, why are you calling?” I asked.

  “Cat e-mailed that you were hurt again.” My dad sounded more concerned than ever. “What’s the deal?”

  I shrugged. “No big thing. I slipped on the stairs last week. I’m fine.”

  “It doesn’t sound like it to me,” Dad said. “Twisted ankles, sprains, concussions, and now a serious fall? School only started a month ago. I’ve been in combat too long, sweetheart. Violence escalates and I’m not in the States to take care of you.”

  “I don’t need you to take care of me. I’m cool.”

  “I don’t think so. Convince me.”

  For the next ten minutes, I told him all about cheer, and my grades, and my friends. I even talked about Jason and how he was so majorly special. “Everything really is okay.”

  “You sound happy with school. What about home?”

  “I gotta go. If I don’t finish my outline, I’ll never get my assignment in on time.”

  “That’s what I thought. Okay, Sarah. Here’s the deal. I’m going after custody of you and Warren. When I get it, you two are moving to California to stay with my family until I can arrange for you to attend a boarding school in Washington State.”

  “No way! I don’t want to leave Stewart Falls.” I bit my lip to keep from crying. “Can’t I just promise to be more careful?”

  “I don’t think it’s your promise I need, honey. You’re very important to me. I only want you safe, and I don’t think you’re safe where you are.”

  “I am safe. I swear it.”

  The door opened and Dr. Fernandez came in. “Class is almost over. Is everything all right?”

  “No. He doesn’t get how much the cheer squad needs me. I’m one of the flyers.” I wiped at my eyes. “Can you tell him?”

  “I’ll try talking to him.” Dr. Fernandez took my phone. “Go back to class, Sarah. See me at lunch and I’ll tell you how it goes.”

  “Thanks.” I hustled back to class.

  Vonnie sat at the computer station next to mine. “Who was that?”

  “My dad. I swear I’m going to kill Warren for putting that ring-tone on my phone.”

  “Well, it did get everybody’s attention. Did Dr. F. keep your phone?”

  “Yeah, but he wants to talk to me at lunchtime.” It was my first offense, and I figured I might get a lecture, but then I’d have the phone back. I’d just have to remember to put it on vibrate from now on, because a second offense meant seeing the headmaster, and a third meant a call to parents. Mom would have a meltdown if she learned about my phone, and I didn’t need that.

  I hastily printed off my outline and bibliography, so I could turn them in today. They weren’t right, but at least my teachers would have something to grade. I looked up at the clock and realized it was almost time to go. I signed off the computer and removed the new flash drive. Maybe I’d cut Warren some slack. All in all, he was a great big brother even if he did put that ring-tone on my phone.

  When Vonnie and I walked out in the hall, I spotted Gabe leaning against a locker talking to Drake Stevens, the academy track star. “What are you two doing here?” I asked.

  “Waiting for you,” Gabe told me. “Drake saw Jenny running in town and wanted to know if you’d help convince her to go out for cross-country.”

  “You’re joking, right?” We headed for the History wing, and I flashed a quick smile at Drake. Tall, tanned, and thin, he had sun-streaked blond hair, a nice smile and a great attitude. I’d seen him congratulate the guys who beat him last spring at different track meets and he always looked like he meant it.

  “We have cheer practice five days a week right now,” I said. “How could she run with your team and do your workouts?”

  “Most of the time we run on our own and meets are on weekends,” Drake said, sauntering beside me. “We could work out something, since football games are usually Friday nights.”

  “I’ll talk to her,” I said as we reached Mrs. Green’s room for World History. “But don’t hold your breath.”

  The guys headed off to their classes. Shaking my head, I started inside, but stopped when I saw Jason glare at me from across the hall. Now, what was his problem?

  During lunch, I returned to Dr. Fernandez’s class. He waved me over to the desk he kept in the room and pulled out my red phone. “Here you go. I’m never going to hear this again, am I?”

  “No, sir.” I took a deep breath. “Did you tell my dad I’m okay?”

  “I think Colonel Flynn has some justifiable concerns about your safety, Sarah.” Worry slipped into Dr. Fernandez’s dark brown eyes and onto his face. “If it was my daughter, I’d consider moving her somewhere else, too.”

  “Rita wouldn’t like that,” I pointed out.

  “I know. All of this will take time and it won’t happen today, Sarah, so go eat your lunch. Then, I can eat mine and grade some papers.”

  “Okay. Thanks.” I appreciated the tip he’d given me. My dad couldn’t move me to California right away. It wasn’t a done deal. If I was careful and didn’t get hurt again, he’d probably chill and I could stay where I wanted.

  At cheer practice, I worked with B.J. and Dallas on the new routine. By the end of the two hours, they impressed the rest of the squad with how well they could do the Snappy Dance.

  “You’re an awesome teacher, girl.” Abbie hugged me. “We’ll be great on Friday.”

  “No stunts or baskets,” I reminded her. “I can’t go up yet. Doctor Conway hasn’t cleared me to ride Xanadu, and she’s not as high as I get when I’m standing on your shoulders.”

  “It’s okay.” Abbie patted my back. “We have twelve people on the squad again. You’ll check into being able to do stunts by this Saturday for the competition, right?”

  “Oh yeah. No worries.” I hoped I was telling her the truth.

  FOURTEEN

  After practice, the rest of the squad walked out to the school parking lot with me. I spotted Warren waiting for us. While I passed out my stuff, Lynn made notes of who had what, so I’d remember where everything went. Aunt Cathy pulled in just as we finished and I went to meet her. I slid into the passenger seat.

  “I told your mom I’d take you to see Doctor Conway,” Aunt Cathy said. “After that, we’ll look for more of your belongings. Somewhere along the way, we’ll find dinner.”

  I buckled my seat belt. “Sounds good.”

  I arrived home just before nine. We’d located one of my Army bears, a few Breyer horse models, and six of my books. But no Horse-Opoly, at least not yet. I also hadn’t found the Album of Horses. I put my stuff in Warren’s car, then went in through the front door.

  I heard the television and decided I should at least make a pretense of checking in. Bruce sat in one of the recliners, Priscilla lay on a cushion in the middle of the room, and Mom had the other recliner, glass of wine in hand. They looked like the perfect family watching some insipid movie. It didn’t hurt as much tonight. Bruce was right. I was passing through. So was Warren, who wasn’t anywhere in sight. He had to be downstairs.

  “Hey,” I said. “I’m here.”

  Mom smiled at me. “Did you have a good time with your aunt?”

  “Yeah.” I tried not to sound sarcastic. “Absolutely super. Doctor Conway says I can do stunts with the cheer squad.” He and Aunt Cathy had huddled in a corner, whispering about me, but I didn’t mention that to Mom. I also didn’t bring up my dad’s phone call. “I’m headed for bed. Good night.”

  “I put a stack of clean laundry in your room. You need to put it away, Sarah.”

  “Thanks.”

  Ignoring Bruce and Priscilla the same way they did me, I headed to my old bedroom. I packed the clothes into one of my cheer duffels, only leaving out underwear, socks, and the school uniform for tomorrow. Since Priscilla wasn’t in bed yet, I took the time to remove my posters from the walls. I rolled them up, securing them with rubber bands. I took down the pictures of the J.V. squad off the bulletin board and tucked them into my duffel. The framed photos of Xanadu fit into my backpack.

  I carried the posters, backpack, and duffel into the guestroom. Then, I went back for my clock radio and lamp. I glanced around the bedroom. I checked the dresser and made sure I hadn’t forgotten anything. I still had my makeup, hairbrush, and toothbrush in the bathroom. If that turned into a problem, I could keep those in my purse.

  I’d ask Warren to take down the bulletin board tomorrow after school. It could go to Vonnie’s for a while.

  “What are you doing?” Priscilla asked behind me. “I thought you went to bed. I promised Mommy I wouldn’t wake you up.”

  “I’m never sharing a room with you again, Princess Sticky Fingers,” I said. “I wanted the last of my things.”

  Leaving her behind, I returned to the guest-room. I carried the stuff down to Warren’s room, gathered up Cappy and my afghan and then went back upstairs. I closed the door and got ready for bed. I was barely under the covers when Mom tapped on the door, then entered the room.

  “Sarah, we need to talk.”

  Did she know I’d moved most of my stuff out of her house? Had she heard from my dad about the custody thing?

  “About what?” I wouldn’t volunteer any info. Like the Colonel always said, some people just didn’t have a need to know, and Mom was one of them.

  Mom went behind her desk and wheeled out the chair to sit in it next to the double bed and me. “People make mistakes. Your rejection devastates Priscilla.”

  “Enough that she’ll return my things?” I asked. “Or she’ll stop giving my stuff to her friends?” When Mom heaved one of her dramatic sighs, I said, “I didn’t think so.”