“Did you hear, they think Max Levine and Carla Wing’s experiment was what made those rats go crazy at the science fair?” said Marguerite as they wandered down a path with tall pine trees on either side.

“How’d they figure that out?” was all Amy could ask.

“Apparently, one of their poisonous plants was, like, this insane mushroom,” said Marguerite. “They said it releases some kind of powder or seed or something that can make animals flip out.”

Amy mumbled something about how fungus releases spores, but her heart wasn’t in the scientific criticism. She felt bad for Max and Carla, whose project was really cool and who hadn’t done anything wrong. But what could Amy say? That her “wireless dog” had gone haywire and made the rats go crazy? That she thought her dog had some kind of paranormal powers?

Real scientific, for sure.

“It’s so weird, right?” said Marguerite. “Like, you think you know how the world works, and then some airborne pollen makes some lab rats go full Zombieland.”

Amy picked up the pace. Let the rest of them think it was pollen. She knew the truth.

Later that night, Amy stared up at the glow-in-the-dark star stickers on Marguerite’s ceiling. The movie was long over, and Marguerite mumbled over her invisible braces in the bed next to her. Amy wanted to sleep, but worry kept her eyes from closing.

The day had been perfect—after the hike, they’d gone to the spa where Jean worked and had sat in a sauna, then gotten smoothies. It was warm enough to do dinner in the backyard, so they had burgers and corn from the grill, and finished the night with three bad romantic comedies in a row. Amy felt amazing, relaxed in a way she hadn’t been for weeks. Between the science fair and Rover, she’d been holding on to so much stress.

Rover. She hated the thought of going back home and having to be around him. But, she reminded herself, there were no bad dogs, only bad masters. Maybe Rover wasn’t like other dogs, but Amy hadn’t been very nice making him a science experiment without his consent. Maybe the solution wasn’t getting rid of Rover, but loving him, and teaching him how to use his powers for good. Amy could help him …

Her eyelids ached. She blinked, and they only half reopened. She blinked again, and they stayed closed.

“Amy.”

The voice came with a soft hand on her shoulder. Amy sat up with a snort.

The room was still dark, but light and voices came in through the open door. Chloe crouched next to her, lightly shaking her.

“Yes?” said Amy, trying to blink sense back into her mind.

“Sorry to wake you, hon,” whispered Chloe with a tight smile, “but there’s been an accident.”

Chapter 12: No Bad Dogs