Free My New Best Friend by Julie Bowe Page B

dad," Kelli says. "He wanted to know if you were still
sick.
"
    "Oh," Stacey says, quietly.
    My skin starts to prickle and I could use a little air.
    Kelli continues, "I told him, 'Stacey's not sick, and she told me you were going out of town.'"
    Stacey stares at the step.
    My mom looks at me. "Ida, did you know about this?"
    I fidget. And nod.
    Kelli starts pacing. She runs her fingers through her spiky hair. "What have I said about the
lying,
Stace?"
    Stacey doesn't answer.
    "Get in the car," Kelli snaps. "I'll get your stuff."
    Stacey's eyes are bright with tears. She storms out the door.
    My mom zeroes in on me as she follows Kelli upstairs.
    If I was wax, I would be a puddle right now.

    I wait until Mom walks Kelli out to her car. Then I run to the attic. I put away the flashlight and pick up the pens and pencils and candy wrappers that are still scattered across the floor. I walk over to the mermaid and put my hand on her glowing head. "Please don't let her be too mad," I say and pull out her plug.
    I'm lying on my bed when Mom walks into my
room a few minutes later. She sits down next to me. "We need to talk," she says.
    I sit up and fiddle with George's tail.
    "Tell me what happened," Mom says. "
Everything.
"
    So I tell her the whole story. Only I leave out the part about the mermaid. "Stacey's my best friend," I say. "I didn't want to let her down."
    "Lying lets everyone down, Ida," Mom says. "Sometimes you have to stand up
to
a friend if you want to stand up
for
her."
    "But I don't think Stacey even likes going to her dad's," I say. "It just reminds her that they're not a family anymore."
    "Ida, they're still a family," Mom says. "They still need to work stuff out." She reaches over and brushes back my bangs. "I'll talk to Dad. Then we'll let this one go. But if you ever do something like this again—"
    "I won't," I say. "I promise."

Chapter 14
    On Monday morning, I walk past the broken water fountain. Stacey isn't there. I check the girls' bathroom, but she isn't there, either.
    "Did you hear?" Tom says to me as I walk into our classroom. "Miss Woo invited our class to have our Greek Day at her studio next Sunday. Mr. Crow is running off notes about it right now!"
    Tom pokes his thumb toward the board where Mr. Crow hangs up drawings and other stuff we make. Tom's school picture is attached to the body of a cartoon god, riding in a chariot. "I call him A
Tomo
," Tom says, smiling. "Cool, huh?"
    "The coolest," I say, and smile back.
    "It gives me an idea for Greek Day," Tom continues. "In fact, now that we'll be doing the program at Miss Woo's studio, I have a
big
idea!"
    Before Tom can tell me what his big idea is, the bell rings and everyone heads to their desks. Everyone except Stacey. She's nowhere in sight.
    But Jenna is. I can feel her eyes heating up the back of my head.
    I turn to look at her. "What?" I ask.
    "
Hammering
all weekend, huh?" she says. She shifts her eyes away, but my head still burns.
    Mr. Crow walks in with a stack of notes. He's handing them out when Stacey hurries into the room. "Sorry I'm late," she says to Mr. Crow.
    "You're right on time," he replies, handing her a note.
    Mr. Crow starts explaining about having our parents program at Miss Woo's. I grab a scrap of paper out of my desk and write a note. I toss it onto Stacey's desk.
What happened when n you got home on Saturday?
    I.
    I wait a minute and then read the note that sails back.
I got grounded! For the rest of the week, No phone cads', no cgoing anywhere with friends, 1 can't even ego to Jenna's house today to practice our dance, Kelli called Mrs, Drews to explain, So now I'm sure Jenna's not speaking to me,
    S.
    P.S. Did you get in trouble?
    I write another note and pass it back.
I didn't get grounded, but if I ever do anything Like that again I'LL get buried.
    I.
    P.S. There are worse things than not having Jenna Drews speaking to you.
    Stacey reads my note and glances at me. Then she glances over her shoulder at