But I desperately want things back to the way they were with Brandy.

“And maybe,” Grammy continues, “just maybe this isn’t as bad as you think. Sometimes people’s way of acting has nothing to do with you. You and Brandy have been friends a long time. Maybe if you show her how much her friendship means to you . . .”

“That could be a disaster.” And I feel sad because I never used to have to wonder what Brandy would think.

“Well,” Grammy says, “you either succeed or you learn. If it doesn’t work out, you can handle it. You’ll be sad, but you can handle it. That Brandy Fiester won’t break my girl.”

I manage a smile, but all I can think about is Tressa. It’s weird—I don’t even like her, but I still wish she liked me.

“Jeepers crow!” Grammy yells, focusing back on the TV. “How’d this boy get on this show, anyway? I’ve known cockroaches that know more than him!”

“Galveston, Texas,” I say, because that was the answer to the last question. Grammy elbows me and giggles.

She looks so proud that I add, “And it wasn’t just a storm—it was a category four hurricane with sustained winds of one hundred and forty-five miles per hour.”

“Delsie, you surely are the smartest thing on two feet. You could even be a game show champion someday.”

“Yeah, me and that bag of cheese curls. I am also packed full of vitamins A and D.”

You’d think the walls would come down with Grammy’s laughing the way she does. I mean, it wasn’t that funny. I guess she’s laughing mostly because she’s my grammy.

Chapter 13

THE RIFT

I run across the grass toward the ocean after Mrs. Fiester tells me that Brandy is down on the beach. I hear them both before I even see them. Their laughter rises above the sand. Along with the sounds of rocks hitting the bottoms of our metal pails.

Brandy and Tressa are collecting rocks and shells in our old pails. My hand hurts from squeezing the railing.

I hear an oomph off to the right and lean forward to see around the tall Cape grass.

The boy in black, Ronan, is on the beach, but today his feet are bare and his jeans are soaked to the knee. “Oomph!” he says again as he hurls a rock much farther than I would have figured a person his size could throw.

There is loud laughter again. Brandy and Tressa have seen me, but when I look in their direction, Tressa hits Brandy on the arm and they both turn toward the water. Their shoulders shake. Laughing again.

Tressa turns back around and leans toward Brandy to say something. By the time I get there, they are quiet.

“Oomph!” Splash goes the next rock from the boy.

“Hey!” I say, trying my best to sound like I’m not ready to throw up on their feet. “Whatcha doing?”