“When Mr. Surujpaul heard you were going to be in the hospital for a few days, he sent these books along. He felt that lying in bed would be the perfect opportunity for you to brush up on your math and improve your mark.”

He put the books on Argus’s bed.

“But my math mark has been okay.”

Noble shook his head. “Mr. Surujpaul knows you’ve been copying people’s work and cheating on tests. He said this will give you the chance to catch up to everyone else.”

“I hate math,” Argus said.

“Otherwise,” Noble continued, “he’ll have to talk to the ranger about you.”

“But I’m willing to learn.”

“That’s good to know,” Noble said, putting a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “I’ll be sure to tell Mr. Surujpaul.”

Argus took the textbook and cracked it open to the first chapter. “Who wants to help me study?”

Harlan let out a nervous laugh. “I’d love to, but now that I’m on the cross-country team,” a shrug, “I gotta run.”

With that, Harlan hurried out of the room.

Argus stared at the doorway, wishing he were running out of the hospital with Harlan.

“Don’t worry, brother,” Noble said. “I’ll stay and study with you. After all, misery loves company, and I hate math just as much as you do.”

* * *

Later that night, Friday night, the air was filled with the delicious smell of pizza baking in Mr. Gusto’s oven. Both Maria and Tora were there, along with Michael Martin, Harlan and Noble, and Maria’s younger sister, Angelina.

They’d just ordered a party-sized pizza—one-third triple cheese, one-third vegetarian, and one-third meat lovers—when Gabriela Santos and her friend Irene Horne walked into the restaurant.

Maria’s eyes went wide in surprise. “I thought you were busy tonight,” she said.

“I am,” Gabriela said.

“Doing what?”

“Having a pizza and seeing a movie with my friends.”

“But that’s what we’re doing,” Maria said. “Why don’t we do it together?”

The girls laughed at Maria. Gabriela pointed to Tora, Harlan, and Noble. “They’re not our friends.”

“They’re weird,” Irene said.

“But they’re my friends now. That makes them your friends too.”

“Really,” Gabriela said. “You used to call Tora a mutt and the rest of them hairy monsters. Now, all of a sudden, they’re your friends?”

Maria looked awkwardly at Tora and the others. “You’re right,” she said. “After everything I did and said to them, I can’t believe they’re my friends either, but they are.” She took a deep breath. “I’ve admitted many times now that it was wrong for me to act the way I did. But, more importantly, I’ve apologized and they’ve forgiven me. If that’s not friendship, what is?”

Gabriela crossed her arms over her chest. “They just want to be your friend so they can be cool.”