“What do you mean?”

“You are banned from the club for the next month. And your friends, they are never to come here again either.”

“You . . . you can’t do that!” Brianna gasped.

“I can do it. Not only that, I’m calling your school and reporting you and your two friends. I’ll explain how Sibby came forward and told the truth. But, Sibby, is it understood that you are not to be in the show? And I think perhaps you should take a week off from lessons and reflect on what you’ve done. I’ll have to inform your parents. And needless to say, inform Joe’s parents as well.”

“Yes, Coach.”

The coach then turned to Rose. “And you, Rose? That is your name, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’m sorry that you got dragged into this mess. I think Brianna owes not only Joe an apology, but you as well, Rose.”

“No way!” retorted Brianna.

“That’s it!” the coach said in a quiet voice, sharp as a blade’s edge. “You are banned from the club forever.”

Michael drove Rose home. “Sibby, I hope you’ve learned your lesson.” He then glanced over to Rose, who was riding in the passenger seat. “And, Rose, I suppose there is some satisfaction that Brianna got the worst punishment a competitive skater can get.”

“Yes,” she said softly. One down, two to go, she thought. Three, if you count Princess Elizabeth. Oh, and Mary. Can’t forget Princess Mary! And then of course Lady Margaret—yes, Margaret, with those disgusting little snail curls. Elizabeth, Mary, and Snail Head, that would make the perfect sixteenth-century Trio of Doom. An abundance of bullies!

Then Rose’s mind drifted far away into that distant century, to the thought of her father. What might she say to her father the first time she met him—if that time ever came? Would he recognize her? How would she tell him about her mom and the terrible accident? He probably didn’t even know what a car was! She wondered what her father was doing at this very minute. . . .

Chapter 33

A Heartbeat Skipped