She nodded as she picked up another piece of cod. “Okay, then…”

“Okay, then…” Conner repeated.

“I’m sure you didn’t mistake me for a fashion diva after practice today,” she said as she picked up a fry.

He laughed. “No, and that was the moment I knew I needed to win you back.”

“Go figure.”

6

DJ FELT LIKE SHE WAS walking on air as she waved good-bye to Conner and went into Carter House. Who would’ve thought that they would get back together again? And yet, just like that, it happened. She wondered if God had something to do with it. Maybe she’d ask Rhiannon if that was possible. But she was barely inside when she felt jerked back to earth. Her grandmother stepped out of her office and, with a grim face, pointed a finger at her.

“I need to see you, Desiree,” said Mrs. Carter. “In my office, please.”

“Okay…” She followed her grandmother into her office and sat down. DJ had no idea what she’d done, but she braced herself for whatever was coming.

“First of all, can you tell me why you missed dinner tonight?”

DJ considered this. It might be easier to just make something up, but maybe it was time she started telling her grandmother the truth. Isn’t that what a Christian was supposed to do? So she told her about Taylor’s Vespa, the town trip, and being stopped by the police for not having helmets, and how she was forced to walk home.

Mrs. Carter blinked. “You cannot be serious.”

“Totally. If you don’t believe me, you can call the police, I’m sure it’s on record. Taylor got off with just a warning, but she’ll be in trouble if she does it again.”

“She never said a word about this to me.”

“Why would she?”

“Well, I don’t know, Desiree. I suppose because I am trying to treat you girls with respect and dignity, I expect a certain measure of respect and dignity in return.”

“You don’t know much about teenagers, do you?”

“What?”

“I mean, I know that my mom went to boarding school in Europe when she was my age. You were busy with your work, didn’t have time to be around her. Consequently, you really don’t know much about real teens, do you?”

“Really, Desiree, what is there to know?”

DJ shrugged. “For starters, some teens like to act out and break the rules…some of the teens living in this house.”

Mrs. Carter waved her hand, as if to shut her down. “I did not ask you in here so that you could tell tales from school, Desiree. I do not think that’s an honorable way for a young lady to behave, do you?”

“Whatever.”

“Whatever is not a polite response, Desiree.”

DJ just nodded.

“Now, you told me that you were left in town, but that does not explain why you did not make it home to dinner, or why you didn’t inform me of your whereabouts.”

“I called,” protested DJ. “I spoke to Inez and she said she’d tell you.”

Mrs. Carter’s eyes looked stern, but DJ noticed that her brow was not creased. Perhaps she’d gotten her Botox freshened up today. “Inez did not tell me.”

“Is that my fault?”

“So, Desiree, where were you when you were not at home for dinner? None of the girls had seen you since earlier at school. We were rather concerned.”

“Taylor had seen me,” said DJ. “She was the one who—”

“Yes, yes, so you say. But I wish to know where you were between the time that school let out and until now.”

“I was at volleyball practice after school,” said DJ in a flat tone. “I was on my way home a little before five. When I got home, Taylor met me on the porch and begged me to come down and see her Vespa. I took a quick shower and changed, then came back down and we went for a ride. It was about six when the cop stopped us. Then I was stuck in town. I didn’t have my bag or a phone, plus I was starving. And Conner Alberts happened by and offered me a ride…and when he asked if I wanted to get something to eat, I couldn’t refuse.”

“Aha, you admit you had no phone…how did you manage to call home?”

“Conner let me use his phone.”

“Very well.” She looked unconvinced, but once again she waved her hand as if to dismiss DJ.

“Is that all?” she asked hopefully. “Can I go?”

“May I go.” said Grandmother.

“May I go?” asked DJ

“Not yet.”

DJ took in a long breath, willing herself to be patient with this difficult woman who was supposed to be her grandmother.

“One of the main reasons I wanted to speak to you concerns your friend Casey.”

“Casey?”

She nodded. “Yes, I do not think it’s going to work out for Casey to remain at Carter House.”

“Did Casey tell you she wants to leave?” asked DJ.

“No. I am saying that I may have to ask her to leave. I haven’t called her parents yet, but I am preparing to do this.”

“Oh.” DJ remembered that moment in the courtyard today, how she’d felt slightly hopeful. “Did you tell Casey yet?”

“No. I thought you might be able to help with that.”

“You want me to tell Casey that you’re kicking her out?”

“I am not kicking her out, Desiree. And, please, lower your voice.”

“What then?”

“I think we can agree that this is not the best place for Casey.”

“Because she’s not fitting into your fashion mold?” DJ was angry.

“Because it appears quite obvious that Casey does not wish to be here, Desiree. The girl sulks, sasses back, and dresses like a juvenile delinquent.” She cleared her throat. “That is not what I expect from a Carter House girl.”

“Would you like it if she was more like Taylor?”

Mrs. Carter smiled. “Yes. That would be quite acceptable.”

“Right…” DJ stood now. She’d had about all she could take of her grandmother for one day.

“So, you will speak to her?”

“Sure, I’ll speak to her. She’s my roommate. It’s not like I’d ignore her.”

“I mean in regard to our conversation.”

“Yeah, fine…whatever.” DJ was at the door now.

“And then we will have a meeting in the living room at eight o’clock. I informed the other girls of this.”

“A meeting?”

“In regard to my expectations, the rules, and…” She stood now too. “Casey.”

DJ left the office, firmly shutting the door behind her. What did her grandmother intend to do? Publicly humiliate Casey in front of all the girls? Not that Casey would care…although she might. DJ hurried up to her room. She wasn’t sure whether she hoped to find Casey or not. But there she was, slumped in the window seat with her laptop.

“Where were you?” asked Casey when DJ came in.

So DJ gave her the shortened version of why she’d missed dinner.

“It figures,” said Casey.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I could tell that you and Taylor were starting to be friends.”

“Friends? Where do you get that, Casey?”

“I saw you in PE.”

“PE?” DJ frowned. “You don’t have PE with us.”

“I was skipping…hiding out in the girls’ locker room bathrooms. When I came out, right before class ended, I saw you and Taylor yakking it up like you were best friends.”

“I’ll admit she was being unexpectedly nice, but I’m sure it was just so she could pull another stunt.”

“Whatever…”

“Why were you skipping anyway?”

“Because I had journalism, but when I got to the classroom, I saw that the lowlifes who tried to beat me up were in there. So I decided not to go.”

“But you can’t avoid them forever.”

“I can get my schedule changed so that I don’t have to be in class with them. Especially not in journalism, since that’s one of the few classes that I actually like.”

“So you still like something?”

Casey rolled her eyes.

“Do you like being here?” DJ asked.

“What do you mean? Here in this room? Or here in this town? Or school, or what?”