“I understand you’re upset but visiting all of Priscilla’s friends isn’t the answer.”

  “What is?” I asked. “I have a new job, but it hasn’t started yet so I don’t have any money. I know I made some bucks when I showed Xanadu at the fair, but it’s not enough to replace everything she stole. You and Bruce never make her return my things. You blame me because she’s a thief.”

  “She’s not a thief,” Mom said. “She’s a little girl who made a big mistake, but you’re just adding to the problem when you go around town and embarrass us.”

  I wrapped my arms around my knees and struggled not to cry, blinking hard to hold back the tears. “I knew this would end up being my entire fault. I took everything I could to Vonnie’s last weekend. It wasn’t enough. Next time anyone wants to give me presents, I’ll tell them not to since I have nowhere safe to keep them here in Priscilla’s Palace.”

  Mom heaved a sigh. “Will you just stop it? We all live here, not just Priscilla.”

  “Yeah, but only Princess Priscilla has rights. Warren and I are here on sufferance. I wish Dad would just ‘man-up’ and stay in Stewart Falls instead of running away from you and Bruce. Then I could live with him until I graduate and leave for college.”

  “Well, you’re certainly on the pity-pot tonight.” Mom stood and pushed the chair back behind her desk. “Do you plan to continue to embarrass me in town, or have you finished?”

  “Aunt Cathy and I will visit the last of Princess Priss’s friends tomorrow night,” I said. “If we don’t find everything then, we’ve agreed we probably won’t. I’ll have to e-mail Aunt Jessie and my dad about the Army bears and other collectables. I’m not looking forward to that. They have enough to worry about in Afghanistan, with people shooting at them and bombs going off when they drive on the roads.”

  “Are you threatening me?” Mom demanded, anger building in her eyes. “I won’t have it, Sarah Caroline Flynn.”

  “What threats? They gave me presents. Their gifts are trashed. They need to know. Like your husband always says, Hurt me once, shame on you. Hurt me twice, shame on me.” I shrugged. “According to your and Bruce’s house rules, this totally is my fault, since it’s been going on for years. I’m done. It's not happening again.”

  Mom glared at me before she slammed out of the guestroom. I knew I should be all upset, but surprisingly, I wasn’t.

  I pulled my diary out of my backpack and proceeded to write down everything that happened today. Wow, I’d forgotten to tell Mom about Friday night and Rita’s invite so I’d be out of Hell House this weekend. Well, I’d let her know tomorrow morning.

  The next day, Warren took me to school. On the way there, I told him about the call from Dad. “He says he’s contacting his lawyer and going for custody. What do you think? Do we need to worry about moving to California or me really going to a boarding school?”

  “I probably don’t. I’ll finish high school and turn eighteen before it’s settled,” Warren said. “Mom will fight it again and the whole thing will get dragged out forever again. Last time, the judge delayed the case because Dad had to go to Afghanistan and wouldn’t be around to be a full-time parent.”

  A faint hope trickled into my heart. Did Mom really want us?

  “Do you think she honestly loves us?” The silence went on too long and I asked, “Then why did she fight for us to stay with her and Bruce?”

  “Why do you think?” Warren signaled for a turn and pulled into McDonald’s. “If Dad gets custody, he doesn’t pay child support, Sarah. Mine runs out when I turn eighteen in July unless I go to a four-year university, but yours continues for at least three more years.”

  “And we all know how Bruce feels about money,” I said. “If he rents the basement to someone else, he’ll probably charge more than the four hundred dollars a month you pay. The nanny he had before you got the room didn’t pay anything because it was part of her wages.”

  “You’re right.” Warren headed for the drive-through. “But what would totally freak him out is a court order for Mom to pay child support to our dad.”

  “She’d throw a major fit,” I said. “If he lived around here, I’d like living with Dad, but I don’t want to leave the academy or my friends. Mom would be happier if we were gone, well, until she got the first month’s bill.”

  Warren gave me a quick look. “Are you okay with that? You’re not crying.”

  “Well, I’m not exactly okay with the fact that she doesn’t care, but it isn’t hurting as bad as it used to,” I said. “She blames me because Princess Priss took my things, and because I’m looking for them. Mom really doesn’t like the new name I have for her house.”

  “What is it?”

  “Priscilla’s Palace,” I said. “I think it has a ring. And it’s more politically correct than Hell House.”

  Warren cracked up. “I love it. I’m glad to see your sense of humor returning. Anything else you want to share?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “I’d like Mom better if she had a code of honor like the academy does.”

  Warren grinned and reached over to ruffle my hair. “Good luck making that happen, shrimp-bait.”

  That afternoon, I stuffed my books in my gym locker and hurried to braid my hair for cheer practice. My face looked even better thanks to the mineral concealer Kaitlyn recommended I wear under the heavy layers of make-up base she gave me. The deep cut into my right eyebrow had scabbed over too.

  Marcie hustled into the room. “I can’t believe it. I have three chapters of history to read tonight for the test tomorrow.”

  “Don’t whine at me,” I said. “I’m up to my ears with my sophomore project. I’ve got to get to the town library and do more research. The soonest will be this weekend unless I finish up the stalls early tomorrow night at my grandmother’s.”

  The door opened, and Denise and Janet sauntered in. “What’s Abbie-Normal’s problem?” Denise demanded. “She told us we were off the squad.”

  I looked at them and didn’t answer.

  Janet had tawny brown hair that fell halfway down her back. Her brown eyes were bloodshot. “Hey, I already told Abbie-Normal. We’re not going anywhere. She’s not the boss of us. We’re staying. Anyhow, my dad took us to Lake Chelan for the weekend. We left before the game on Friday. He’s the head of the School Board. She better not mess with him.”

  “Rules are rules,” Marcie finally said. “You should talk to Ms. Olson. You signed athletic contracts like the rest of us. You promised to show up for all the games during sport seasons, and you’re supposed to be straight, not flying high.”

  Denise glared out of pale blue eyes. “As if that applies.” She pointed at me. “Ms. Accident City missed practices and games. She hasn’t been thrown out.”

  Before I said anything, Marcie did. “Read the rules in the school handbook for athletes, Denise. If you can. Doctor excused absences don’t count as misses. Let’s go, Sarah.”

  I started for the door.

  Marcie stepped between me and the two seniors. “And Ms. Olson said it’d be interesting to see if Sarah has any more accidents now that you two are suspended from the squad.”

  “What?” Janet slammed her fists onto her hips. “I don’t believe this. We never touched your precious Sarah.”

  “You dropped her.” Marcie didn’t raise her voice. “More than once.”

  She kept walking me toward the door. “Last season, we lost two cheerleaders when they got hurt after you and Denise did that because you both were pissed about Ms. Olson’s decision of who could be flyers and you two weren’t chosen. We didn’t go to regional or national cheer competitions because of you two.”

  “My dad’s going to have Ms. Olson’s job,” Janet yelled after us. “You’ll see.”

  “You better watch the lies you’re spreading, Sarah.” Denise’s tone was ice. “Or you’ll get hurt bad.”

  “I don’t lie,” I retorted. “I’m not like you or your sleazy friend.”

  When we were in the hall, I looked at Marcie. “They didn’t push me down the stairs. You and Abbie both know they were with you last week. And they don’t scare me.”

  “They should. When they’re stoned, anything goes,” Marcie said. “Don’t worry about Ms. Olson. Janet’s dad knows he’s lucky she doesn’t make Janet go through all the drug tests. He won’t mess with Ms. Olson.”

  “Won’t she be in trouble for not insisting Janet takes the drug tests?” I asked.

  “It’s not her. She reported them to the headmaster. Mr. Donnelly is the one who dropped the ball with Denise and Janet, because he doesn’t like conflict.” Marcie opened the door to the gym. “He should turn them over to Dr. O’Malley. That guy learned how to kick butts and take names a long time ago.”

  Eight of us waited for cheer practice to start. B.J. and Dallas were two of the early arrivals. I was glad and grateful they took cheer on the senior squad serious. If they hadn’t, I knew Abbie would have rained on my parade and I couldn’t have blamed her.

  The door opened. Lynn, Darcy, and Jenny rushed inside. They relaxed when they realized Ms. Olson hadn’t arrived yet. Abbie was the last into the gym.

  “Let’s warm up with the Louie, Louie dance,” Abbie called. She put the CD into the player, then turned to B.J. and Dallas. “We do it faster than you guys do on the junior varsity squad. We finish with a pyramid, but Sarah isn’t ready for that yet, so we’ll just do the dance. All right. Everybody find their places.”

  I walked over to Abbie on the way to my spot. “Doctor Conway says I can do stunts again. My ribs are bruised, not cracked or broken.”

  Abbie nodded. “We’ll still wait until practice on Thursday. If you’re up to it, we’ll do the stunts a couple times to get ready for the game and the competition this Saturday. If you’re not, we’ll skip them until next week. Okay?”

  “Yeah.” I hurried over to stand between Rita and Kaitlyn.

  We formed into three lines. B.J. was next to Abbie, and Dallas stood beside Marcie.

  Dances were named for special steps, or characteristics like finger-snaps, or the songs. Three of our dances were traditional for the squad, mainly because they went over big with the crowds who were mostly parents, at the games.

  There was the Louie, Louie dance, the Golden Oldies one, and the Cowboy dance. For the next three, Ms. Olson let us choose the music. She still made up all our routines, like the Snappy Dance. She had her own studio and taught different kinds of dance in Stewart Falls. She said teaching at the academy, running the studio, and her espresso stand kept her busy, but the cheer squad kept her sane.

  Last year, she took over for our Home Ec and Family Living teacher. It was an easy A for me. Ms. Olson was one of the first teachers who warned Mom that Bruce’s verbal abuse was bad for my self-esteem. Maybe that was why he made such a big deal of not coming to the games.

  Abbie led us into a series of cheers. Ms. Olson entered in time to watch us do the Highlander one. She wasn’t alone. Timber followed her into the gym and sat down in the bleachers.

  At the break, I went over to him. “What are you doing here?”

  “Watching you,” Timber said, but he wasn’t smiling. “I still haven’t gotten any cookies. I figure if I follow you around and beg, I might get them before I graduate.”

  Even sitting down, he was still taller than me. “You’re on guard duty, aren’t you? Warren put you up to this, didn’t he?”

  Timber shook his head. “Nope. Your brother doesn’t do my thinking for me. I’m not dumb, kid. Either you got hurt at home or here at the academy. It’s not happening again. If Denise or Janet touches you, I’m calling Rocky. He’ll arrest them. Let’s see Janet’s old man cover that up.”

  “They didn’t do anything. I slipped and fell on the stairs. Anyway, the stunts we do are difficult. It’s a scary balance between exhilaration and terror when I’m up that high.” I glared at him. I’d have better luck talking to one of the stumps in a clear-cut area. “What does Warren say?”

  “He’s keeping an eye on Bruce.” Timber told me. “Your stepdad does anything funky and Warren will call Rocky to come pick up the pieces.”

  “Oh, great. That’s a big help.” I glanced over my shoulder.

  Abbie waved to me.

  “I’ve got to get back,” I said. “For the last time, it wasn’t Bruce or those girls.”

  Timber didn’t move. “You might as well tell me who pushed you, kid. It’ll save a lot of time and detective work.”

  “For the last time, nobody pushed me. It was my fault. Let it go.”

  FIFTEEN

  I went back to the other cheerleaders and tried to ignore the lump in the grandstand.

  Somehow, some-way, I had to straighten out the two of them, Timber and Warren. They were busy searching for a villain. Why didn’t they understand it was me?

  I made mistakes. If I’d been alert on the activity bus, I wouldn’t have got hurt. I’d stepped wrong when we were getting out of the bus at the academy. I climbed down the steps in front of Jason. It was me. I should have realized he was in a hurry, especially after the way the team lost. When he brushed past me, I lost my balance for a moment. I slipped on the pavement in the parking lot and twisted my ankle.

  If I’d paid attention, I wouldn’t have fallen on the stairs last week. Why hadn’t I seen Jason stop in front of me? Why didn’t I notice when he moved his right elbow back?

  He didn’t realize how close I was. It was an accident. He loved me. Jason didn’t want to hurt me. His elbow had hit me in the chest. And I fell. Maybe, I was as dumb as Bruce said. I had to try harder. Jason must have been in shock. That was why he didn’t come down and help me get up or take me to the office. He was as stunned as I was at the time.

  Denise and Janet were long gone by the time practice ended. I showered, dressed, and headed to the parking lot.

  I saw Jason standing alone by his car. The rest of the players crowded around Timber like eager puppies. Let them keep him busy. I hurried toward Jason.

  In jeans, a sweater and a brown leather jacket, he looked awesome. I almost pinched myself. How could somebody so wonderful want me?

  “Hey,” I said. “How was practice?”

  “It sucked.” Jason scowled at the other players. “Half of them should be replaced. Only, we can’t. We’re down to thirty-five players. Eight of the team quit.”

  “What?” I stared at him. The fury in his baby-blue eyes made me shiver inside. “Why?”

  “Because it’s too much like work,” Jason snapped. “Coach moved a bunch of the guys around. Owen Rivers is the new center. His brother Rob is a wide receiver now and he can’t catch worth a damn.”

  “I’m sorry.” Hoping to calm him down, I changed the subject. “Abbie invited us to her after-game party Friday night.”

  “No.” Jason turned his frown on me. “You’re not going.”

  “What?” I tipped my head back so I could meet his gaze. “But I already asked Mom this morning. She said it was okay. I can stay until midnight when the party ends.”

  Jason shook his tawny blond head. “No, Sarah. You can’t go. Your folks only let you out one night on weekends. I’m not wasting Friday night watching a bunch of jerks suck up to Watkins or his ditzy slut of a cousin who claims to be gay to keep the guys away that she doesn’t want to date.”

  I struggled to ignore the insults. I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry you had a bad practice. But I’m going to the party. It’s the first one I’ve been invited to since I joined the squad. Abbie’s the captain of cheer like you’re the captain of the football team. I can’t turn her down. I don’t dare turn her down.”

  Jason grabbed my shoulders. His fingers bit through the letterman’s jacket he’d given me to wear. “What did you say?”

  “You heard me.” I bit my lip when his hands tightened. “I’ll go without you.”

  “Don’t try it.” He lowered his head. “You belong to me, Sarah. You’ll do as you’re told.”

  I wanted to ask who he thought he was. My father?

  Even Bruce didn’t order me around. And my dad better not try. Before I asked, Jason kissed me. It was one of those kisses that hurt my mouth and made me feel bad.

  “Break it up, Romeo and Juliet,” Dave shouted. “Bus is leaving.”

  Jason shoved me away. “Remember, Sarah.”

  How could I forget? I caught myself before I stumbled and fell down. I ran to the bus before I recalled that Aunt Cathy would be picking me up today.

  “Slow down,” Dave said. “You’ve got five minutes.”

  I looked past him and saw Jason slam the driver’s door of his sports car. “Then, why did you say it was time to go?”

  Dave paused to study me with dark, knowing eyes. “You’re too good a person for that arrogant jackass, Sarah. Dump him.”

  “He doesn’t mean half the things he says.”

  “Yes, he does, Sarah. He does what he means, too. One day, he’ll figure out he’s not the only player on the field. It takes all of us to make a team. He better stop talking to us like we’re crap and he’s God’s gift to the Highlanders if he really wants to win.”

  “What’s that? Revenge?”

  “Nope.” Dave dug in his pocket and pulled out a business card. “Call my mom and talk to her, Sarah. She’s cool. And I don’t go for the vengeance crap. I’m out for justice.”

  I stuffed the card in my pocket and didn’t pull it out until I was in Aunt Cathy’s car. The card read, Bernice Jefferson. A New Start. Counseling for Teens. Confidentiality Respected.

  When Aunt Cathy dropped me at home, we’d located one doll, one bear, and two of my Marguerite Henry books. We still hadn’t found the Album of Horses or my Horse-Opoly game. I knew both of them were gone for good.

  When I went in the front door, I heard dishes clatter in the kitchen. I guessed Warren had to be cleaning up, despite saying he was too busy, so I went to talk to him. Only it wasn’t Warren doing his ‘Rescue Ranger’ routine.