“You shuffle around the apartment like a zombie when you’re at home, and I know you sure haven’t been sleeping enough. Even though you know I want you in bed by midnight,” she continues over me. I open my mouth to deny her accusation, but she lifts a hand to silence me. “Don’t try and pretend. I was born at night, but it wasn’t last night.”

At this point, I just wish that we hadn’t shared magic before having this argument. Her frustration mixes with my own until I can’t tell where her feelings end and mine begin. “You’re making this into a big deal, and it’s totally not,” I say huffily. “It’s not the end of the world if I’m a little tired.”

“Have you finished your Brockton Scholarship application yet?” she asks, as if my answer is going to prove her point.

“That’s not due for weeks, Mom.”

“When are you going to work on it?”

“I’ll get it done,” I say, coming dangerously close to shouting. I slump in my seat and glare out the window.

Her anger changes flavor from red hot to a dangerous iciness. “Don’t you raise your voice at me, Shayna Maree,” she says in a warning tone.

“Yes, ma’am.” I clench my teeth and push down my own anger. Or at least I think it’s my own anger.

“You need to quit working at Pilar’s.”

“What? No!” I yelp, jerking around to face her. She stares at the road ahead, her face set resolutely. “That’s not fair—”

“Until the show is over.”

“That’s not how jobs work—”

“Oh, you know how jobs work better than me?” She sucks her teeth, shaking her head. “Child, you need to focus on what’s going to help you get what you want. You can’t be wasting your time with extra activities.”

“I’m not wasting my time. I love working there! Just because you don’t like it—” I cut myself off real quick and look up to the heavens for patience. What I was about to say sure wasn’t going to win me any points with Mom, and I can’t lose this argument. “I’m doing good, okay? I’m following the plan we made to get the scholarship. I’ve done everything I’m supposed to do.”

“Shayna, I’m telling you to do less. There’s no point to any of this if you burn yourself out completely.”

“I won’t burn out! I’m supposed to work hard. We made a plan—”

“Forget the plan for one minute,” she snaps. “Yes, I want you to work hard. But I won’t let you work yourself to death.”