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muttered in my direction.
    â€œWhatever, Shay. You started it,” I said, before taking my notice and leaving as well.
    I noticed this nerdy chick, Valerie Elgin, sitting in the front office, like she was waiting to see someone. Valerie was one of the scholarship students. She was a year younger than us and I only knew her because we used to work on the school newspaper together—back before I came to my senses and quit.
    â€œYou okay?” she asked as I walked out of the office. When I didn’t answer, she added, “If you ever need anything, I can help.” I stopped and stared at her to see was she serious. She must’ve been because she kept talking. “I mean.... I didn’t mean.... I mean, I know you have a lot going on and I was just thinking . . . if I could help in any way, like with schoolwork or anything else, I will.”
    I rolled my eyes at her. “How ’bout you get you some business and stay out of mine.”
    I put my sunglasses on and strutted out of the building. I sent Bryce a text to pick me up at my house, not after school like we’d planned.
    Mr. Carvin just didn’t know, this wasn’t a suspension. This was a three-day vacation and I was about to make the best of it!

Chapter 5
    W hoever thought a suspension was a bad thing definitely didn’t know what they were talking about. I sipped my latte as I leaned back in my chair and popped open my sleek Mac-Book Pro. I’d chilled and watched TV all day yesterday. I’d called to check in and Tamara had asked that I do some research on story ideas, so I was cruising all the top gossip sites as I chilled at home. This was the life I’d needed. Bryce had even stopped by after school, so I’d gotten a chance to chill with him.
    My email dinged and I groaned when I saw the email from my calculus teacher.

    Miss Morgan, your failure to make up this exam has resulted in a zero on your test. Normally, we don’t allow students to make up work missed during a suspension, but I am making this rare exception. Please see me immediately upon your return to school.

    I closed out the email. It was a good thing I missed the test because I probably would’ve flunked anyway. I logged onto Twitter and immediately saw that one of my tweets had been retweeted by Valerie Elgin. I didn’t even realize she was following me. I hesitated. Maybe seeing her name was some kind of sign. I needed to get some help with my schoolwork and I knew Valerie was just the nerd to do it. I clicked on her name and quickly sent her a direct message asking her to call me. I hated even having to talk to her. But she’d offered and I couldn’t flunk this stupid test.
    I had just gone back to my gossip sites when my mother came in. She was wearing her short tennis outfit, displaying her long, lean legs. She had her wavy hair pulled up into a ponytail and actually looked like she should be in a tennis commercial. Of course, there was no indication that she’d been playing tennis because the outfit was sparkling white. But knowing my mom, she’d probably hit the ball twice, then sat down to watch as she sipped a Bloody Mary.
    â€œWhat are you doing at home?” she asked.
    I sighed. Usually my mom stayed gone all day, so I hadn’t expected her back so soon. I hadn’t told her or my dad about the suspension, although I was going to have to before I returned because I wouldn’t be allowed back without a parent/teacher conference. But I’d wanted to wait until the last day. I mean, why give them more time to gripe than necessary?
    â€œUh, I just wasn’t feeling well,” I said.
    â€œSo now I’m raising a liar?” she said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou got suspended,” she stated.
    My eyes grew wide. “Huh?” I stammered. How did she find out? I was trying to get my story together, but she stopped me when she held up a piece of paper.
    â€œThis email says you were