“Well, no.”
Maddy frowns, tossing the open bill on the workstation counter.
“Why would I? Milo’s a snitch.”
“Be nice,” Maddy says, moving onto the next envelope.
“It’s true,” I persist. “Anytime Milo hears about something Kai and I are planning, he rats us out to his parents.”
Aunt Maddy chuckles. “It’s a good thing too, or I wouldn’t have a clue what you guys get up to.”
I groan. “Ugh. You are being so uncool right now.”
“Do I have to remind you that Milo got you a gift for your birthday?”
“He just chipped in for the rollerblades.”
“His name was on the card,” Aunt Maddy doubles down.
“His parents made him do that.”
“And now your aunt is making you get him a gift.”
“It’s Sunday afternoon,” I argue. “We’ll never find something and get to the house on time.”
“And whose fault is that?” Maddy says matter-of-factly as she slides the next bill on the counter. She lifts the next sealed envelope closest to her eyeline and takes in a sharp breath. “Why is your school sending me a letter?”
“Huh?” My posture slumps as I step closer to her.
Aunt Maddy tears open the envelope and yanks out the letter. She unfolds it, reading each line carefully.
“What is it?” I ask with trepidation.
Maddy lowers the letter and shakes her head, keeping her rigid expression steady. “You’re in so much trouble.”
I suck in a breath and hold it for two beats. “What?”
Maddy grabs my wrist and calls out to Kylie, “Kylie, can you watch the counter, please? Jamie and I will be in the office.”
“Sure thing,” Kylie calls back.
Maddy tells David, “We’ll be right back,” and then yanks me into the office, closing the door behind us.
“Aunt Maddy, you’re freaking me out. What did the letter say?”
Maddy swishes the letter beside her with an angry grip. “Ashworth Academy is threatening to take away your scholarship.”
“What?” I yelp. “They can’t do that.”
“Yes, they can,” Maddy replies. “When you slack off and let your grade average tank, they have every right to take it away. You knew the scholarship was contingent on your grades. How could you do this?”
“I didn’t mean to,” I say with a pathetic pout.
“Don’t give me that,” Maddy says with disappointment levels spiking. “You know I can’t pay the tuition. How could you risk your place at this school when you know how important it was to your mother?”
Bringing up my mother is like a blow to the heart. “I’m sorry.”
“I know you and Kai act like you don’t care about school,” Maddy says, gripping my shoulder, “but he’s in a different boat. His parents can pay for hisschooling. We’ve had to be scrappy to make this happen. If you get kicked out, that’s it.”
