Free Along Came Jordan by Brenda Maxfield

support."
    I grabbed Sarah off the kitchen stool and pulled her to the living room. "Come on," I said. "We'll go to my room."
    I slammed my bedroom door shut behind us, and Sarah and I both sank to my bed. There was a time when I would have gotten in trouble for slamming my door, but today, I doubt they even heard it.
    "What was Mom asking you?"
    Sarah shrugged, plucked up my stuffed penguin, and hugged it.
    "Sarah, you know you can talk to me."
    She shrugged again and dropped the penguin.
    "Fine. Don't say anything. I've got my own problems." I pulled my phone out and reread Marc's text. My lungs tightened, and I worked to take a breath. Heaviness smothered me like a wool blanket, and my energy fell to zero. I slouched against Sarah, making her lose her balance.
    She righted herself, and her arms came around me. I buried my face in her stomach and tried to keep from crying.
    I don't know how long I laid there, but Sarah didn't let go of me. When I raised my head, she was looking at me with wide eyes.
    "Sorry," I whispered.
    I sat up and pushed back my tangled hair. Sarah watched my every move.
    "I'm okay. Look, I'm not even crying."
    Her lips trembled, and I hugged her tight. "I didn't mean to worry you. I feel a lot better now."
    She nodded.
    I got up and walked to my door, putting my ear to the wood. "It's quiet out there. They must be done fighting."
    "They always fight." Her voice was soft, but at least she was speaking.
    "I know."
    She got up and joined me at the door. "I'm hungry."
    "Me, too. Let's go see if dinner's ready." I took her hand, and we walked out to the kitchen together.
    ****
    Sally and Margo met me at the door Thursday morning. "What'd you do?" Sally asked.
    "Yeah, Janae's livid," Margo said.
    I rolled my eyes. "I asked her if Laine was her mother. Boy, news flies fast."
    "Her mother?" Sally's eyebrows shot up and she giggled.
    " A y, perfect o ," Margo said. "I wish I'd been there."
    I walked up the stairs with them at my heels. "It wasn't so great. Now she hates me."
    "Oh, who cares," Sally said. "We've all been hated by Janae at one time or other. It's her thing — hating people."
    "I shouldn't have said it."
    "Ah, she deserved it. Was Laine there? Did she hear?" asked Margo.
    "No, but I'll bet she's heard by now," I answered.
    "Seems you've fallen out of favor with Laine. Any more slumber party invites?" asked Margo.
    "Nope, and glad for it."
    "Talked to Jordan last night," Sally said. "He called. All he wanted to do was talk about her . Pamela, Pamela, Pamela. It was sickening."
    "At least he called," Margo said. "Why didn't you text me about it last night? I have to hear hours after the fact?"
    "Man, Margo, what are you… my mother?" Sally asked and then burst into uproarious laughter.
    Margo joined her, and they went off toward the bathroom, leaning on each other and cracking up.
    I shook my head and opened my locker. It was a mess. I knelt and pulled everything out. At Bates, lockers had two shelves, one on the top and one on the bottom. They were much better.
    The hallways were filling up, so I smooshed my things against the bank of lockers so I wouldn't trip anyone. Lots of feet went by, and then one pair stopped to the left of my books and didn't move. I couldn't help but notice the shoes were expensive and trendy. I looked up.
    "Emili." Her voice was frigid.
    "Laine."
    "I thought I made myself clear."
    I tipped back, balancing on my heels. "About what?"
    "Jordan."
    "What about him?"
    "He's taken."
    I stacked my spiral notebooks into my locker. "So…"
    "So, keep your hands off."
    I held up both my hands and looked at her. "Hands off. Satisfied?"
    She chewed the inside of her lip and narrowed her eyes. "You serious?"
    "Are you?" Okay, being a smart-mouth with Laine wasn't going to lead me anywhere good. I stood up and straightened my loose blouse over my non-existent hips. "Look, Laine, I'm not going after anyone right now. Besides, I don't think Jordan needs protecting."
    Laine