"Lucia, can you tell me what two divided by ten is?"

I looked up from my table to a pacing Ms. Isola in front of the white board. Numbers and symbols of different colors littered the board like sprinkles on a cupcake. "Zero point two."

I looked back down at the table, counting how many zigzags there were. ... nineteen, twenty, twenty-one...twenty-four... fifty, fifty-

"You may put away your worksheets and prepare yourself for snack recess," Ms. Isola said, walking to her desk. "Leave Maniac Magee on your tables so we can discuss afterwards."

Everyone stood up and congregated together. Excited chatter rose in volume. I joined Isabelle who didn't object. Twisting around, I caught sight of the traitor and her trophy. "There she is," I muttered to myself.

"What?" Isabelle said, looking at me. "Is something the matter?

I nodded to my former friend Avani and the little devil Leila. Isabelle sighed. "You have to let that go, Lucia."

"It's kind of hard to when you see them yapping away every day!"

"It's not like they're trying to be mean."

I turned away from Isabelle. "Ever since Leila came, Avani hasn't played with us or sat with us at lunch or recess."

For once, Isabelle seemed at a loss for consoling words. She patted me on the shoulder, like that fixed everything, and continued to walk in silence.

~~~

The sunlight flitted through the pockets between the clouds, giving the air a warm touch to the chilliness. As Isabelle and I walked across the damp grass, both of us played a game of tug-of-war with the wind and our hair.

"This feels so uncomfortable," I muttered. I gathered up all the loose ends of my hair and tied them into a ponytail.

"Do you have another extra hairband?" Isabelle asked. She wrestled with her hair until they were gathered together.

"Here." I slipped off a yellow hairband from my wrist and handed it to my friend. "You can keep it."

We continued to walk along the field, the breeze now whispering on our bare necks. "This feels better," I murmured, stroking the top of my head.

"Hey, Isabelle, Lucia!"

I swirled around to see Avani and Leila walking up to us. I want to punch her. No I want to punch her then hug her. Or is it the other way around?

"Hey guys," Isabelle said. Her lips grew into a large smile and she skimmed over the grass to meet them. I trudged after my friend, the wet grass pressing against my feet like a cage.

"Do you want to play with us?" Avani asked. Her eyes gleamed. Leila smiled and gave a wave.

Isabelle looked at me.

"Um, sure," I said, forcing myself to smile at the traitor. Isabelle raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything.

"Well let's get started." Avani clapped.

~~~

The clouds covered the sun and only a pale splotch of its glow could be seen. My shoes, still damp from running around in the field, created an annoying sound. Squish. Squash. Squish. Squash.

"So," Avani said, breaking the silence. "Have you gathered all your needed treasures for our bright, brilliant journey?"

The "bright, brilliant journey" was a school overnight trip to D. Smith Nature Center. On Monday, a woman visited my class to explain what the trip would entail. We would learn more about the natural world through games and small hikes.

"Yeah," I nodded, unable to meet her eyes. I felt a little uncomfortable not telling Avani my true feelings. Why can't I say it? I'll be homesick. I shook my head and focused on the cracks below my feet. That one looks like a mother to those baby cracks, I thought as we passed a curve in the sidewalk. I wondered how a crack lived. No feelings, no worries, no regrets. Sitting there in plain view, becoming wider. We took a left onto Jordan street from Beach and the familiar houses of my neighborhood came into view. I could see the backs of Ms. Lilly's and Mr. Carles' houses, blocking my house from my gaze. The lake glinted in the pale light from the sun and seemed to be the one thing shining in the world. The houses surrounding the lake, in their various shapes and colors, were like stones feeding on the light. They were entranced by the reflections of themselves. They reminded me of a pack of wolves surrounding their prey.

"You know, Lucia," Avani said as we came to the intersection of Jordan street and Barkstone, "I feel our relationship slipping away with each passing day. I hope it doesn't fade."

With that, she skipped off, the two purple ends of her hairband flying behind her. Avani's words rung in my ears like a bell that couldn't stop chiming. I crossed onto Barkstone street, hoping Mia hadn't seen me lingering.

The last moments before I came to my house were short-lived. My mind focused only on picking up a book. I need to be there now. I dashed across the walkway, my shoes clunking against the gray surface. I slowed down as I reached the doormat and grabbed hold of the door handle, letting the cool metal heat under my touch. I turned the knob and stepped inside.

I expected to see Dante on the living room couch, but the sofa sat still, unmoved by any human force. He's probably on the computer whizzing away on Photoshop. The warm air gathered around my feet as I slid out of my wet shoes. I headed upstairs to my bedroom.

As I looked behind me, I saw little puddles created by my socks on the wood. Mom's going to kill me, I thought to myself. If Dante isn't here, then maybe I could use the towel. I smiled and thumped down the stairs, careful to avoid the puddles. I crept through the passageway to the kitchen and took a right into the hallway. Dante's bedroom door was closed as always.

The bathroom felt stuffy as I entered the small room. My wet socks felt all the more uncomfortable, so I removed them. I laid them down on the hanging rack and took a white towel from its hook. Minty cologne stung my nose. Gross, Dad, I thought, waving my free hand in front of my face.

I scurried back to the stairs and began wiping them clean.

Creeeaaaak.

"I think we need to get this door fixed," my mom's voice echoed through the living room. I stopped rubbing. I pressed myself against the orange wall besides the staircase, praying my mom wouldn't see.

She opened the door even wider and I began to see her, brown hair and all. The cooler air from outside rushed in and I shivered.

"Lucia, what are you doing with Dad's bath towel?"

I looked down at the stair below my feet, unable to meet my mother's eyes.

"Answer me," she said as she closed the front door. A creeeeaaaak filled the room once again.

Like the grass at Warner Field and the cracks on the sidewalk, the stairs became suddenly so interesting. Each little dip and squiggle on the wood was a piece of history. A piece of me left over from past years.

"Earth to Lucia," my mom's voice rang through my ears. My head shot up, not to the joy of my neck. I massaged the back of my neck, half stalling time and half wanting to relax it.

I glanced at my mother. Her brown eyes looked at me, not at all the angry glare I expected. "My socks were wet, so I got the towel to clean the wet stuff."

"You mean the puddles," my mom said. She took a long sigh before speaking. "Get dressed for ballet. I'll see you down here in half an hour."