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understand what Jade’s saying with all the racket. I’ll have to find a quiet place to ask her about tonight. I don’t know where she lives yet.
    Jade turns to go. “Oh, hey, Dalma. I’m thinking of having some girls over for pizza tonight. Why don’t you come?”
    Dalma slumps her head to one side. “Sorry. I cannot. I go…” She points her hand at me. “I mean, we go…” she says. I don’t know if it’s the look on my face or the look on Jade’s, but Dalma stops talking.
    â€œOh, too bad,” Jade says. “Next time!” She twiddles her fingers at us, then runs up the stairs to Chemistry.
    I arrange to pick Dalma up at her place at seven.

Jade’s Diary
    Chapter Ten
    April 15
    I learned a few things today.
    The first is that MSG definitely brings on Gavin’s migraines. He had a little tiny bit tonight and boom. Just like that, he was crying and screaming and throwing up. The whole nine yards. It was ugly.
    The second thing I learned is that I can count on Mick. I don’t know why I keep doubting it. I called him tonight when I realized how bad this was going to be. I was really apologetic about it. I knew he was doing something with Dalma, and she can’t have many friends yet, so it was probably disappointing for her too—but what choice did I have? Mom can’t be leaving work every time Gavin’s sick.
    I didn’t have to explain that to Mick. He understands. He immediately went, “Don’t worry. I’ll be right there.”
    Twenty minutes later, he was at the door. Poor Dalma. I wonder if she had to take the bus home.
    The two of us managed to get Gavin cleaned up and settled down. Then Mick put him to bed. It was so adorable. Light really bothers Gavin’s eyes when he’s having a migraine, so Mick couldn’t turn on the lamp to read him a story. Not that he needed to. Mick’s put him to bed enough times that he knows the words by heart. The two of them lay in the pitch-dark, flipping pages, while Mick “read” Go Dog Go . So sweet.
    Then he made me some toast and positively slathered it with peanut butter. He didn’t seem to care about how fat that was going to make me. We snuggled on the couch and, for a while, it was just like it used to be.
    That’s when I learned the third thing. I can’t rush him. I don’t want to scare him away.
    Note to Self
    1. Only fruit and water tomorrow.
    2. And be patient!

Mick
    Chapter Eleven
    Quinn drags his hand down his face. “You’re not serious.”
    I start stuffing my gear into my duffel bag. I should never have mentioned it.
    â€œShe called you when you were already at the movie with Dalma—and you actually left?” He wipes the ice off his blades and laughs.
    â€œJade’s playing you,” he says.
    I’m meeting Dalma in a few minutes by the flagpole. I don’t want to talk about this now.
    â€œSeriously. She’s playing you,” he says again.
    I give my duffel bag a shove. “How?” I say. “Come on. Tell me. How?”
    Quinn looks at the ceiling like he can’t believe he has to spell this out for me. “It’s so obvious. She sees you with someone else, and immediately she’s got some big crisis only you can solve.”
    â€œHer little brother had a migraine,” I say.
    â€œAnd you’re the only one who can help? Where’s her mother?”
    â€œWorking.”
    â€œHer father?”
    â€œWho knows?”
    â€œWhat about a relative…a neighbor…nine-one-one?”
    I grab my shoulder pads and ram them into my duffel bag.
    â€œI should have said to Jade, ‘Call nine-one-one. I’m going to a movie.’ That’s what you’re telling me?”
    Quinn stands up and zips his fly. “Yeah. Sorta. She’s not your problem anymore.” He sniffs his T-shirt. Even from here I can tell it’s rank, but he puts it on