“Oh.”
“Whatever.” I pull my books from my bag. “If Kai were talking to me or not, I still wouldn’t comprehend this stuff.”
“Did Ms. Jenkins like your answers today?”
I slide my notes over to him. “See the big red smiley face she drew at the bottom?”
Milo laughs. “That’s her trademark happy face. Good job.”
“Thanks, but credit goes to you. I still don’t think I understand what I wrote.”
“Do you think you can memorize it, though? We could work on you memorizing quotes for the essay assignment.”
I blow out a wary breath. “Hmm. Maybe.”
“If you can memorize the quotes, then you can memorize why they’re symbolic.”
“Won’t that take forever?”
Milo gives me a hopeful smile. “Only until you get the hang of it. Think of it like learning how to stop a stationary soccer ball.”
I laugh heartily. “I can’t believe how hard you made that look.”
“Now you know how it feels to be a tutor.”
I hiss, feeling the heat of embarrassment coating my skin. “Geez. I didn’t realize I was so painful to watch.”
“You just haven’t tried. I really think that once you get ahead of this stuff, you’ll nail it.”
I smile and nod. “Same with you and soccer.”
“We can only hope,” he jokes.
Milo marks up three sections of my copy of King Lear, asking me to rewrite them until I no longer need to look at the source material. Like that’ll happen.
When my page is half-full of scribbled quotes, the sound of Kai barreling down the stairs pulls my focus. There’s a thud and then a screechedmeow.
Milo lifts off his seat as Kai calls out, “Good lord! Milo, can’t you cage this stupid cat?”
“Did you hurt him?” Milo calls back.
Kai grunts. “Nice. You care more about that ginger furball than your own brother.”
“Are you all right, Kai?” his mother asks, seemingly out of obligation.
“Yes, I’m fine. Almost face-planted the stairs, but I kept my balance. Stupid thing cowered on a step and tripped me up.”
“Because he’s scared of you,” Milo says, rounding the table to find his cat.
“He went upstairs,” Kai says, passing the dining room. “The thing is fine. Relax.” As his mother enters the room, Kai waves and says, “I’m heading out.”
“Where are you off to?” she asks as the two continue into the living area.
“Tabby needs a ride home after dance practice,” Kai replies, pulling on his sneakers.
My chest constricts. He’s leaving the house to be with her?
“Drive safe,” Mrs. Nelson warns. “I don’t want you showing off to impress some girl.”
