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crap.”
    â€œIt’s not every time. It was just this time.”
    â€œI don’t want him worrying about me.”
    Dad says, “Your brother asked about you and your Mom told him a bit about what’s been going on. He’s far away. Knowing what’s happening here, whether it’s good or bad makes him feel like he’s an active part of the family. He likes helping you.”
    â€œWell, he definitely helped.”
    â€œYou’re all ready to go to school tomorrow then? No more mental health days?” Mom asks, still looking a bit like I kicked her in the gut.
    â€œI’m good to go.”
    After dinner I mess with some of the McBride moves from the DVDs that Margaret gave me. I think of texting them, but they haven’t said a word to me and I don’t think I could handle any more disappointment from friends right now. At about ten o’clock I head upstairs to my room.
    I sit at my desk and turn on my computer to check my email. When I look up, Tess is at her window waving her phone around. I look at my phone and see that it’s still on silent from dinner last night and that I have like ten messages from her. I look up at her standing at the window and then text her.
    â€œHey.”
    â€œYou weren’t at school. I was kind of freaking out. You okay?”
    â€œI just needed a day. You know?”
    â€œI’m sorry about my parents. L”
    â€œI’m sorry I got you in trouble.”
    There is a long pause. I glance up but I don’t see her at the window.
    â€œI missed you today.”
    Wow. She missed me. That must mean she likes me, right? Or does she miss me as a friend? Damn. Okay, my heart is beating fast and I need to respond.
    â€œI missed you too . . .”
    â€œCan you meet me outside later tonight?”
    â€œBut your parents . . . I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
    â€œMy parents are stupid and wrong. I only listen to them when they say stuff that makes sense, you know?”
    â€œEleven-thirty?”
    â€œI’ll be there.”
    At 11:25 I quietly put my shoes on. My parents sleep with the door closed, which makes sneaking out much easier. It’s got to be way harder for Tess. She has to avoid waking up three siblings and two parents.
    I open and close the door as softly as possible and head outside near that tree on her lawn. A few minutes later, Tess comes out. She waves for me to follow her. Without a word we walk along the side of her house and into her backyard. She takes my hand and leads me behind a small shed.
    We stop walking and just stand holding hands. She looks embarrassed and lets go. We sit down on the ground facing each other.
    â€œI’m sorry again about last night,” I say.
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell me you were going to tell the truth? It’s just a bad idea.”
    â€œI didn’t want to lie about who I am.”
    â€œYou shouldn’t have to.”
    â€œNeither should you,” I say. “I just didn’t think it all the way through. I didn’t think he would figure out you lied just because I was telling the truth.” She shrugs. “Can we talk at school at all?” I ask.
    â€œNot with Angela around. And anyway, everyone goes to the same church. It would be hard to hide at school.”
    â€œBut I want to see you.”
    â€œI’m right here.”
    â€œSo we can only hang out in the middle of the night?”
    â€œNo. We’ll just have to get creative. I can join the talent show. That will get us in the same room once a week.”
    â€œWhat happened last night after I left?”
    Tess looks at the ground.
    â€œWas it bad?” I ask.
    â€œI’m grounded.”
    â€œDamn. I’m sorry,” I say.
    I put my hand on her knee and feel my pulse quicken. That’s what people do when they care, right? Or will she just think I’m hitting on her? I guess I am hitting on her.
    She puts her hand over my hand