“Downstairs.” I headed for the guest-room, oops my new room.

  Mom followed me. “Sarah, I need to know where you are. I’m your mother.”

  That stopped me. “What?” I turned around and eyeballed her. I was close enough that I could smell the wine on her breath. So, she’d been home for a while. That was new and different. I thought Book City owned her body and soul.

  “Hello,” I said, “This is me you’re talking to and you haven’t cared where I am and what I do for six years, not since you replaced me with Princess Priss and her dad. As long as I check in with Warren, everything’s fine.”

  “Don’t be disrespectful to me, young lady.”

  “I’m not,” I said. “You’re changing the rules for no reason. I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  She looked a little embarrassed. “I’m not saying that you did. I just want you to call me if you’re not coming straight home.”

  I just stood and shook my head. “Oh my Gawd!”

  This had nothing to do with me. It was all Helene and her big investigation. Mom and Bruce wanted to cover their butts so they could play the parts of loving parents when they actually didn’t give a rat’s backside about me. Once Helene went away, all the pretense would end.

  “Okay,” I said. “I’ll post my schedule on your fridge for the next few weeks until things change back. Then you and Bruce can return to normal, and all this Addams Family creepy stuff will stop here in Priscilla’s Palace.”

  “I have news for you, Sarah. This is the new normal.”

  “Fine. Then tomorrow after cheer practice, I’ll be at Annie Kincaid’s babysitting her daughter. And I’ll be here about eight-thirty or nine. Friday, I’m going to Rita’s after school so we can prep for the game. From the school dance, we’re going to the party at Abbie’s.”

  “Will Rita and B.J. spend Saturday night here?” Mom asked.

  “Nope. Their folks won’t let them so like you already agreed, I’m at their places all weekend.”

  Mom sighed and shook her head. “I still can’t believe you’ll look after some stranger’s kid when you won’t watch your own sister.”

  I heaved a sigh of my own and gave her my fave TSTL look, as if she truly was the stupidest woman alive. “I don’t have a sister who lives here,” I said, for the millionth time in six years. “Dallas has a mom that she lives with so she won’t be moving in anytime soon. And Abbie has parents, too. I’m sure Smarmy Marvy has other daughters, but those are the only two I know. However, if you have names, I’m good with you moving them in and Princess Priss out.”

  Mom gave me the evil eye. “I wasn’t talking about your biological sisters, Sarah. Priscilla has been your sister for six years.”

  “No, she hasn’t. My sisters don’t crap on me.” I planted my hands on my hips and met her glare for glare. “Princess Priss is your problem, not mine. Annie pays me to take care of Trina. And if her kid was a brat, I wouldn’t.”

  With that, I walked away. I had a ton of homework to do and I was finished with my part in the family drama. Maybe they could find some other teen to play my role when Helene came to visit. Of course, they probably wouldn’t try if it meant paying a performer. No wonder I was stuck here!

  I felt as if some of my teachers watched me a little differently during the day, but none of them said anything unrelated to their classes. I wondered if Helene had come to the academy to talk to them. I didn’t want to ask. Cheer practice went well. Ms. Olson didn’t give me any weird looks or act strange, so I began to feel normal again.

  The stunts didn’t scare me at all today. I realized Janet and Denise had freaked me a little even when I pretended I wasn’t afraid of them, but I wasn’t telling anyone that. Mrs. Gallatin, Darcy’s mom, brought Trina over from the elementary school, and the kid watched us from the bleachers while we rehearsed each routine over and over again. Timing was crucial, especially with our first Rec Cheer competition in two days.

  When Trina got bored playing audience, she pulled a book out of her back-pack to read one of Harry Potter’s adventures. The hardback was huge, nearly as big as the kid. After practice, she hung around to talk to B.J. and Dallas. I went out to see if the limo had arrived to take us to the Kincaid’s, but it wasn’t in the parking lot yet.

  Jason leaned against his car and waited for me. I went over to him. “Hi. How’d it go today?”

  “Rob still can’t catch the ball. Owen messes up the signals. Luis and the other offensive linemen act like clowns at a circus, and Dave sucks when he tries to block so I can run the ball.”

  “Things will be better tomorrow night,” I said, trying to cheer him up. “Ms. Olson always tells us that a bad dress rehearsal means a great performance.”

  Jason glared at me. “It’s your fault the team is so lousy.”

  “What?” I blinked up at him. “How do you figure that?”

  “I saw you flirt with Dave the other day. “

  “That’s bogus and you know it. So Dave talked to me while he waited for the bus. Big deal.” Of course, I didn’t mention Dave thought we should break up because Jason acted like a jerk sometimes. He didn’t need to hear that. It would just make him angrier.

  “What about that cowboy and his buddies who follow you around all day?” Jason demanded. “I told him to leave you alone, but he says he has questions about horses that only you can answer. And that’s why he’s stalking you.”

  “Gabe?” I shook my head. “He’s like B.J.’s big brother. He loves the horses more than any girl. He just wants to do the best job he can for my grandmother. She’s not the most patient person in the world. She thinks he should know more than he does.”

  “I told you Rob and Owen think you’re hot and to stay away from them.”

  “The twins are my best friend’s brothers. I haven’t done anything wrong, Jason. I never talk to them on the phone and they’ve never asked me out or said a word you couldn’t hear.”

  “You just have to get the whole team all worked up. The guys are so busy chasing after you that they don’t think about the game.”

  “Get over yourself.” I planted my hands on my hips. “I’d love it if I was really that hot, but I’m not. It isn’t much fun being blamed for stuff that isn’t my fault. Maybe if you stopped acting like a big baby and took some responsibility when things go wrong, the guys would try harder.”

  Fury filled his face and glittered in his eyes, so they sparked like blue diamonds. “Anything else?”

  “Oh yeah. I’ll tell Abbie we should cheer at the girls’ soccer games until Powder Puff Football starts in the spring. At least, those teams win!”

  Jason’s hands came up. They closed around my throat. He gripped hard.

  I coughed, struggled to breathe. Just before the world went black, he let go. I backed away. I’d totally pissed him off. I wasn’t sure why I let my mouth overload my common sense.

  He took a step toward me. “Sarah, I’m sorry.”

  I kept backing away. I slid out of his letterman’s jacket and let it fall to the ground. I barely managed a whisper. “This isn’t working for me. I can’t do anything right. I’m through trying.”

  “Sarah, don’t go.”

  This time I didn’t listen. I turned and ran back into the gym. We were soooo finished!

  EIGHTEEN

  By the time I arrived home after babysitting Trina, my throat really hurt. I went in the bathroom and checked in the mirror. Fingerprint bruises on my neck. When the hell would I learn to shut up? I knew how stressed-out Jason was. Why did I have to hassle him? Everybody else already blamed him because the football team wasn’t winning and by now, he must feel like I hated him, too. What did I have to do to make him feel better?

  I took a deep breath. I had to hide what happened or Warren would totally freak. I didn’t have very many clothes here, but I found a red turtleneck, and put it on. I tucked it into my black jeans and figured nobody would say anything. I didn’t look all that different.

  Before I could start my homework, Mom called for a family meeting. By now, my throat ached, and I definitely wasn’t talking.

  “What’s up?” Warren asked as he joined Priscilla and Bruce at the dining room table. “I have a huge test tomorrow. I need to study. Sarah needs to work on her sophomore project.”

  I nodded agreement but sat down when Mom pointed to an empty chair.

  “Why are we here?” Warren asked again. “Nothing we say makes any difference around this house. It’s a complete waste of time.”

  “We need to talk about what happened last weekend,” Mom said. “Some of Sarah’s things are still missing, and I’m not happy.”

  “We went all over Stewart Falls last night and tonight,” Bruce said. “Everywhere we stopped, the girls said they’d given the stuff to Sarah and Cathy already. We didn’t find the last two bears, or any dolls, and Priscilla says she doesn’t remember who has them.”

  I shrugged. After breaking up with Jason, my missing things really didn’t seem that important. My voice crackled, like the rustle of a leaf in the fall. “It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not.” Mom patted my shoulder. “Sweetie, I appreciate what you’re trying to do. I know you want to make things easier for Bruce and me, but this isn’t fair. Don’t hide your feelings. Priscilla needs to know when she hurts you.”

  Slowly, I realized that Mom thought I was almost in tears and that was why I didn’t talk. Wow, it made my life much easier. I didn’t have to share the fight Jason and I had or say a word about my bruised throat.

  “What’s the solution?” Bruce asked. “Do we look on E-Bay and find replacement Army bears? That will cost some major bucks.” He turned to Priscilla. “You’ll be lucky if you have an allowance before school gets out next summer.”

  She puddled up and tears fell like rain. “I didn’t mean to be bad. I’m sorry, Daddy.”

  “Turn off the waterworks, Princess,” Warren told her. “All you have to do is come up with the bears and the dolls. Those are what cost the most.”

  She cried harder, and I felt worse. I stood and went around the table. I knelt by her chair and hugged the poor kid. “I really don’t care anymore, Princess Priss,” I croaked. “I’m almost sixteen and I’m leaving on my eighteenth birthday. I’ll get replacements then. It’s okay.”

  Bruce glared at me. “No, it’s not.” He got up and went into the kitchen. He messed around in the cupboard, then put a cup in the microwave. When the bell dinged, he brought the mug to me. “Salt, baking soda and hot water. Go gargle. You cheered too hard today. Come back with a complete list of what Priscilla owes you or go to bed, but don’t let her play you for a sucker.”

  “What?” I gaped at him and then eyeballed Warren.

  “He’s right this time, Sarah.” Warren glanced at Priscilla with a crooked smile. “This is all an act, isn’t it, Princess Priss? You don’t want your friends mad at you, so you’re not telling who has Sarah’s stuff. Right?”

  She nodded against my shoulder and I knew she told the truth. She didn’t lie to me or my brother. We weren’t worth the trouble. I got up. I took the mug from Bruce. “I want my things,” I whispered.

  “That’s what we want, too.” Glass of white wine in hand, Mom came over and sat next to Priscilla at the dining room table. “Sarah, listen to Bruce for once. Go gargle. Stop worrying about her feelings. I’ll take care of her.” Mom put her arms around the kid and cuddled her close. “Stop crying, sweetie. It’s hard for you, isn’t it, punkin? Sarah has nice things and you want to play with them, don’t you?”

  Priscilla nodded again and sobbed into Mom’s shirt. “I just wanted to show my friends the bears. I said they could borrow them ’cause she never does anything with them.”

  Before I freaked about everything being my fault again, Mom glanced over Priscilla’s head and winked at me. I couldn’t believe she planned to manipulate the kid on my behalf. It so wasn’t like her. I took Bruce’s miracle cure and headed for the bathroom. It amazed me when the salt, soda, and hot water soothed my throat. Feeling better, I started back toward the dining table.

  I heard the dogs go off and went to the front door when the bell rang. I didn’t unfasten the chain until I recognized Jason. “What?”

  “Chill out.” He wrapped his arms around me. “I’m sorry, Sarah. I was really upset about the team. You hassling me didn’t help.”

  I stood stiff in his hold for a moment. Then I melted. I couldn’t stay mad at him. I stepped in, put my arms around his neck. “Jason, you’ve got to get off my case or I’m done.”

  “Sarah, you don’t mean that.” He tried to kiss me.

  I turned my face away. “I want friends,” I whispered. “You want control.”

  “Okay. You win. We’ll go to Abbie’s party. Just stop being mad at me.” He stroked my hair. “Let’s try again.”

  I hesitated, then pressed closer. I’d been too hard on him. I didn’t mean to harass him. I only wanted to make him feel better, but what did I know about the pressure of being the football team captain? “Okay, Jason. We’ll try. Just don’t be mad at me when I mess things up. You’re the first boy-friend I’ve ever had.”

  “All right.” He kissed me again, super soft this time and sweet. “I’ll try to be more patient.”

  “You’re wonderful.” And I snuggled up against him, feeling good about “us” for the first time in days.

  After I told him I’d be at Rita’s the next night, he left. I locked the door and went back to the dining room. Bruce and Priscilla had disappeared. I eyed Mom and then looked at Warren. “So, what happened?”

  “Miss Priss found out that lying to Mom and Bruce wasn’t one of her better choices,” Warren told me cheerfully. “It shocked her when Bruce grounded her.”

  “No way,” I said. “He didn’t.”

  “Yes, he did,” Mom said. “If he believed in it, he might have spanked her.”

  “Of course, it’s not like when you and I get grounded, but it’s a start,” Warren said. “No phone calls, no friends over, no parties here, but she can go places with you and me.”

  “Like that’s happening anytime soon,” I said. I glanced in the family room and saw Bruce watching TV. Priscilla was nowhere in sight. “Where is she?”

  “Getting ready for bed. She and Bruce will go pick up your stuff tomorrow.” Mom came over and took the mug from me. “You still sound terrible, honey. Why don’t you make an early night of it?”

  I nodded. “I think I will.” I hugged her, although I already knew none of this was real. It was just another step in warding off Helene. “Thanks for trying, Mom.”

  Things hadn’t changed that much around here, but maybe Mom and Bruce really did want to improve the situation. Then again, it could all be a game. Either way, I’d find out sooner or later. I headed for bed and pulled out my diary.

  It’s always a new adventure here in Priscilla’s Play-Land. Now, I’m supposed to believe Mom and Bruce give a rat’s ass about me and they’re going to get my stuff back. It’s so not happening, but as soon as I move out, I’ll replace what was stolen...

  Friday night, my neck was still bruised, but my throat didn’t hurt as much. I hid the fingerprint marks with Kaitlyn’s concealer and base. When I told Abbie, I’d strained my voice, she was really nice about it. She told me not to lead the cheers, to concentrate on the routines and dances at the game. So, I did.

  That night, the cheer squad smoked. We were so hot! The crowd went wild for the Snappy Dance when we did it during half time. We weren’t ready to do the new “Something Stupid” routine, but Ms. Olson had said if we kept practicing, we’d have it nailed in time for Homecoming. B.J. was thrilled to pieces and said she’d convince her case-worker to come watch in two weeks.

  However, the game sucked. Silverton mopped up the field with the Highlanders. Our offensive line was all over the place, everywhere but where they should have been, and that meant Jason got sacked at least a dozen times. And penalties? Forget about it. We must have had at least fifty against the Highlanders by half-time! Okay, it wasn’t that many, but every time I glanced over at the football coach, he was freaking out at one of the refs. Our guys definitely didn’t have their heads in the game.

  “What’s up with Luis Gomez?” Marcie hissed at me. “The linemen are supposed to protect the quarterback. Why are they making all these mistakes and letting Jason get stomped? Are they still pissed about last week? Did Dave put them up to this?”

  I glanced up at the grandstand, waved to Trina and her mom. I had a feeling Marcie hit on the problem right away. Was this Dave’s justice? This was our seventh football game of the season. We had three left after tonight, and Homecoming was next Friday.

  Aunt Cathy met me after the game in the parking lot. Mayor Phillips was with her. He was a big, blond guy who used to be a logger until the timber industry died. In spite of what Aunt Cathy said about politicians, I thought she liked him.

  Mayor Phillips smiled at me. “You girls were great. I’m sure you’ll be wonderful tomorrow at your competition.”

  I giggled. “Thanks. Abbie works us real hard, but it pays off on game nights.”

  “I’ll say. Precision, timing, professional. Your squad was incredible.” Mayor Phillips glanced toward Jason as he joined us. “Don’t you agree, son? The girls were sharp tonight.”

  “Yeah. Right.” Jason shot me one of his lethal glares. “They strutted their stuff, all of them.”

  I grimaced. He was in one of his moods. Like it was my fault the football team lost.

  “Forty to seven, Silverton.” Mayor Phillips tried to give Jason a slap on the back. “Next week will be better, son.”

  Jason glared at his father, then avoided the Mayor’s touch. “Sure, it will. If we had a decent coach, and some good players, maybe.”

  “It’s a game,” Aunt Cathy said. “Everybody had fun tonight. Nobody got hurt on either side.”

  “What do you know?” Jason started off to where his mother waited in her car. “I’ll pick you up for the dance and Abbie-Normal’s stupid party in an hour, Sarah.”