I don’t want to argue with him, so I don’t mention telling Moms again, but I’m going to have to soon. I bring Dewey’s food and water bowl and bed in from the shed, and she eats breakfast with Catniss in the kitchen. Dewey says food tastes better with company, and I believe her. After they finish, Catniss inspects Dewey’s bed and rolls around in it, meowing loudly and endlessly, until Dewey comes over and curls up around her.

Gramps and I bring cold pizza to the couch and turn on Cartoon Central while Dewey and Catniss nap. Gramps nods off next. I close my eyes, but I don’t doze. I know why. There’s something I need to do.

Quietly, I go upstairs to my bedroom and open my laptop.

Monday

JUDE: Helllloooooo? Are you not getting these messages?

JUDE: I even tried calling you twice! Jordie held my hand after school today while we walked home!!!

JUDE: Omg! it was weird and nice, idk how to describe it . . . my palms were all sweaty which sounds gross but it really wasn’t

JUDE: lemme know when you can talk

Tuesday

JUDE: What is going on???? I have major major major news. Big developments happening all over the place

JUDE: Also, dad said I can visit for code name: winter break!

Wednesday

JUDE: Please call AS SOON AS you get this

Thursday

JUDE: what the crap, Sadie?!

Friday

JUDE: I’m about to leave for school. I need to know if you still want me to come for winter break.

JUDE: jordie asked me to the snowflake ball (it’s a dance thing that I’m sure you think is stupid). it happens over winter break and I can’t give them an answer until I hear from you!

JUDE: just so you know I’m mad at you

Crap. My hands are on the keyboard, and even though there are so many things I want to say, I can’t make my fingers tap out the right words.

ME: Jude, I’m sorry. I have been so busy with Dewey I haven’t been paying attention to my messages.

But that’s not the whole truth. I delete it and try again.

ME: of course i still want you to come. but only if you do too. So much has happened with gramps and dewey and even macy, and i feel like you don’t care. Lately it seems like we have less and less in common.

I can’t say that either, though. I delete it.

ME: I don’t know if I want you to come anymore. Because what if you do and then all you want is to go home and be with your new firends?

ME: *friends

No. Delete, delete!

ME: I’m sorry you’re upset with me but I’m mad at you too!