classes for five periods then work with them during study hall. And maybe after school occasionally,” I added in a rush.
“Whoa.” Mira jerked her head back in surprise. “What’s Decker going to do—give you a time-turner?” Mira was a complete Potterhead. She quoted Harry Potter like it was the gospel.
I snorted and dropped my bagel back on to the plastic wrap. I’d lost my appetite just thinking about it. “He said something about the teachers agreeing to make an exception and letting me do my homework on an extended schedule. It should only be for a few weeks,” I added hurriedly. I had a feeling that would be a crucial bit of information for her to know.
Mira’s face twisted into a mask of confusion. “Who needs a tutor for that much of the day? Are they a foreign exchange student or something?” All of a sudden she put two and two together. Her mouth sagged open. “Wait a minute.”
She grabbed my wrist and gave me the ‘this is important’ stare—which I, of course, immediately picked up on. See—I wasn’t such a bad friend. Was I?
“You’re not.”
I gave a little mouse-squeak of a nod. Then I talked as fast as I could. “I have to tutor Kellen Peterson until he gets caught up in his classes.” It was ridiculous that I felt guilty. I tried to shove the emotion away like I’d shoved my bagel away, but the mess was still there in front of me – in both instances.
Mira spoke in a shocked whisper, a smile of delight twisting the edges of her mouth. “You’re going to tutor Q?”
“Decker said it would look good on my college applications. Like a community service project or something.”
“You’re going to tutor Q five periods a day?” She dropped my wrist and her smile faded.
I nodded. “I guess I’ve taken all of the classes he needs help with but this will be a great way for you to get to know him, too. I was thinking, since you have sixth period study hall too—you could join us. Didn’t you say you had a class together?”
“Yes, French.” Her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed together.
My stomach clenched at her changed expression. I didn’t want her to be mad at me. She was my best friend. It wasn’t my fault.
“Mira, it wasn’t like I asked to be stuck with the guy,” I said. “It’s going to be a nightmare. He doesn’t want me there anymore than I want to be there. I’m not sure why—”
“Stop.” Mira pressed her fingers against my lips and raised her chin. “Don’t tell me anymore. It’s happened for a reason.” She gave me a Holy Mary look. “We’re meant to save him, Ivy.”
Chapter Fourteen
Kellen
“K ellen?” Mom called up the stairs. “Kellen? Are you up there? It’s time to go to therapy, honey.”
I was on my back, stretched across my bed. I had a pounding headache and I was so tired I didn’t think I could move. I didn’t want to move. I heard her footsteps coming up the stairs and I ran the back of my hand across my eyes to make sure they were dry.
I sat up as she entered my room. “I don’t think I can do it today, mom.”
The look of sympathy that crossed her face was almost more than I could stand. She sat down on the bed next to me and put her arm around my shoulders. “I thought you said school went okay.” She was silent for a minute. “Harder than you expected?”
“No.” I couldn’t stop the anger that crept into my voice. “It was exactly what I expected. A freakin’ nightmare.” I shoved away from the bed and stood up. I had gotten to where I could balance on my good leg now since my right foot still dragged. “I used to be the quarterback. Now I’m the cripple. You think everybody doesn’t stare?” I wanted to slam my fist into the wall.
“Kellen.” Her voice sounded as pained as I felt. “It was your first day back. You know it will take some time. You’ll get back to normal. Dr. Murdoch is very optimistic. It’s only been a few weeks since you got out of the hospital. Just allow yourself
“Whoa.” Mira jerked her head back in surprise. “What’s Decker going to do—give you a time-turner?” Mira was a complete Potterhead. She quoted Harry Potter like it was the gospel.
I snorted and dropped my bagel back on to the plastic wrap. I’d lost my appetite just thinking about it. “He said something about the teachers agreeing to make an exception and letting me do my homework on an extended schedule. It should only be for a few weeks,” I added hurriedly. I had a feeling that would be a crucial bit of information for her to know.
Mira’s face twisted into a mask of confusion. “Who needs a tutor for that much of the day? Are they a foreign exchange student or something?” All of a sudden she put two and two together. Her mouth sagged open. “Wait a minute.”
She grabbed my wrist and gave me the ‘this is important’ stare—which I, of course, immediately picked up on. See—I wasn’t such a bad friend. Was I?
“You’re not.”
I gave a little mouse-squeak of a nod. Then I talked as fast as I could. “I have to tutor Kellen Peterson until he gets caught up in his classes.” It was ridiculous that I felt guilty. I tried to shove the emotion away like I’d shoved my bagel away, but the mess was still there in front of me – in both instances.
Mira spoke in a shocked whisper, a smile of delight twisting the edges of her mouth. “You’re going to tutor Q?”
“Decker said it would look good on my college applications. Like a community service project or something.”
“You’re going to tutor Q five periods a day?” She dropped my wrist and her smile faded.
I nodded. “I guess I’ve taken all of the classes he needs help with but this will be a great way for you to get to know him, too. I was thinking, since you have sixth period study hall too—you could join us. Didn’t you say you had a class together?”
“Yes, French.” Her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed together.
My stomach clenched at her changed expression. I didn’t want her to be mad at me. She was my best friend. It wasn’t my fault.
“Mira, it wasn’t like I asked to be stuck with the guy,” I said. “It’s going to be a nightmare. He doesn’t want me there anymore than I want to be there. I’m not sure why—”
“Stop.” Mira pressed her fingers against my lips and raised her chin. “Don’t tell me anymore. It’s happened for a reason.” She gave me a Holy Mary look. “We’re meant to save him, Ivy.”
Chapter Fourteen
Kellen
“K ellen?” Mom called up the stairs. “Kellen? Are you up there? It’s time to go to therapy, honey.”
I was on my back, stretched across my bed. I had a pounding headache and I was so tired I didn’t think I could move. I didn’t want to move. I heard her footsteps coming up the stairs and I ran the back of my hand across my eyes to make sure they were dry.
I sat up as she entered my room. “I don’t think I can do it today, mom.”
The look of sympathy that crossed her face was almost more than I could stand. She sat down on the bed next to me and put her arm around my shoulders. “I thought you said school went okay.” She was silent for a minute. “Harder than you expected?”
“No.” I couldn’t stop the anger that crept into my voice. “It was exactly what I expected. A freakin’ nightmare.” I shoved away from the bed and stood up. I had gotten to where I could balance on my good leg now since my right foot still dragged. “I used to be the quarterback. Now I’m the cripple. You think everybody doesn’t stare?” I wanted to slam my fist into the wall.
“Kellen.” Her voice sounded as pained as I felt. “It was your first day back. You know it will take some time. You’ll get back to normal. Dr. Murdoch is very optimistic. It’s only been a few weeks since you got out of the hospital. Just allow yourself
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