“It’s this thing at my mom’s church. Long story, really. I’ve been sort of finding answers to questions some of the kids aren’t able to find on their own.”

“All the questions are like this?”

I clicked over to a notepad file I’d started, let her see some of the prior questions and answers. She said, “I didn’t know your family was religious.”

“We weren’t. Mom got into it this year. So I’m into it. Not voluntarily.”

“She making you be the quizmaster for these kids?”

“Naw. That’s a different thing.”

She perched on the edge of her bed, considering. “That’s why you been around Jameer Sesay more? I’ve heard his family is hard-core religious.”

“You have? Like how?”

“We were in classes a couple of years during elementary and middle school, and he’d bring in notes that excused him from story time, or other stuff, because of his beliefs. We never really knew what those beliefs were—a lot of kids went to church, but didn’t get excused the way he did.”

“You ever hear anything else about him?”

“Nope. Give me all the tea!” She rolled onto her belly and propped her chin in her hands, anxious.

“I was just asking.”

She pouted. “I don’t understand why they’re coming to you when the answers are right there.” She pointed to the computer.

“It started kind of accidentally.” That’s when I gave her the high-level overview about Purity Pledge and Healthy Living. I didn’t tell her everything, though. And she knew it.

“A Purity Pledge, Del? Don’t take this the wrong way, but why are you doing all that stuff at ‘your mom’s church’? I know it’s not charity. I’m your friend, and my dad’s paying you to be here.”

Sounded so harsh when she said it that way.

She pressed. “Seriously, why?”

“Kiera Westing.”

Shi tipped her head back, groaning. “Still, Del?”

“Now I wish I hadn’t said anything.”

“Don’t act like that. You’ve been Kiera-crazy forever. So, what’s the deal? I know she hasn’t been taking the Colossus and Taylor thing well. Are you and her talking now?”

“She’s taking the Colossus and Taylor thing fine.”

“You’re such a boy. Dude, she’s crushed. You know how I can tell? She’s acting like she’s not crushed. Everybody would be crushed by their ex fathering a secret baby while they were still together.”

“Kiera’s focused on other things.”

Shianne’s eyebrow hooked up. “You?”

“God.”

She laughed. “Yeah, that’s going to work out real well.”

“We went on a date last night.” I knew it wasn’t a date, not with Jameer there, and Colossus crashing. Shianne’s condescending tone irked, so I gave her something hard to dispute.

Her lips pursed. “Really?”

“Don’t sound so surprised.”

“Oh”—she stuck her bottom lip out, mocking me—“I wasn’t trying to hurt your feelings, sweetie. Kiera seems a little uptight to me. I always thought you could do better.”

Better, how? Kiera was fantastic. “You’re a hater.”

“Am not!”

“What Green Creek girl do you like? I’ll wait.”