We're only three days into the semester and I'm already tired of school. As I stand in front of the mirror, I'm not sure I'm even willing to put in the effort anymore.

I sigh. Of course, I am. I can't go to school looking like a hobo.

"Honey, come down here for a second," Mom calls from downstairs. "I have something to talk to you about."

I groan. If she's heard a rumor, it was probably relayed by Miss May. Nothing in Norton Valley goes unnoticed by her. Or maybe it isn't gossip. Maybe there's bad news. Or good.

Mom's gaze is cast down at her hands as she fiddles with her crocheting needle. Nope. Definitely not good news.

"What is it?" I slow down on the stairs, my hand resting on the banister.

"Tay's family can't afford his surgery." She looks up at me, tears brimming in her eyes. "He won't be able to see again without it. His mom just told me."

Really? That explains his behavior the other night. Shouldn't his insurance have covered it, though? I know there's a possible surgery – I looked it up – but I didn't think it would cost that much. I guess I never considered the possibility that insurance won't be able to pay for all of it.

"Oh" is all I could manage. What else is there to say? It isn't like I can – wait.

"Can we hold a fundraiser?" If the community pools their money together, I have no doubt we can get enough money. The community always comes together for things like this, especially for a family as loved and respected as the Pérezes.

Mom's eyes meet mine as she sets her crocheting project down. "What?"

"A fundraiser." There was this nice fundraising idea in a show I watched a while back. Women made baskets with food and men are supposed to buy them. You could end up paying five bucks or you could end up paying fifty. Then the men would find the owner of the basket and they would have lunch together. And Tay and I haven't really talked about his date invitation yet. This would be a good opportunity. "To raise money for Tay's surgery."

Mom frowns. "I don't think Tay would -"

"He doesn't have to know," I interrupt, holding my hands up. If he knows, he'll do whatever he can to stop me. That, or he'll claim it is a pity party, and he'll be mad at me for God knows how long. "No one has to know what it's for. It can just be a fun community event."

"Well, people have to know there's some kind of purpose, hon."

"Okay, then I'll figure it out at school today. Will you help me, though?" I clasp my hands together in a pleading motion.

"Honey, I don't know how we'll get the money for it." She stands and walks up to me, adjusting the straps of my tank top.

"That's the beauty of my plan. We don't have to have any money for it. Everyone else contributes so no one person is spending a lot. I'll only have to pay for the permit to rent a gazebo at the park." I'll have to go through Travis if I want to get the permit. I swallow a sigh. I'm making plans to raise money for someone who probably won't accept it in the long run. He doesn't want to feel pitied. I know that. So, why am I doing this?

Mom nods. "Okay, do that. You need to get to school now, though, so no more talk about fundraisers."

School. Right. Like I'm going to be able to focus in class when the fundraiser is still heavy on my mind. I'll be too busy planning to study or pay attention to my teachers. That is something I know for sure.

The best time to do it will be on the weekend. Not Friday or Saturday because of football games, and band and dance competitions, so Sunday is the obvious option. But doing it then isn't ideal, either. We have church, which means most people will be at their services. Maybe the baskets can be for Sunday brunch.

Slow down, Emori. There's no need to get ahead of myself. No sense in planning everything if I'm not sure whether Tay will find out and make me call it all off.

By the time I get to school, it's almost time for the tardy bell. I'm not late yet, but I have to get inside the school before the bell rings. I've never been late, and I'm not going to start now.

"Hey, Emori!" Footsteps pound on the concrete behind me as Travis catches up.

I turn to face him. "What's up?"

He stops in front of me, a huge grin on his face. "I got my GPA up to where I qualify to get into Ole Miss. They'll have scouts there on Friday to watch us play."

I squeal and slap him on the arm. "Really?" I hug him. The University of Mississippi is his dream college and qualifying academically for it is amazing. "That's awesome, Travis! You're a shoo-in for that scholarship."

His grin grows, and the skin around his eyes crinkles. He wraps his arm around mine gently. "Thanks for that."

"What do you mean?"

He gestures to me. "You know, for being kind and not shrugging it off." He looks away, and I twist around to see his face. "My dad just shrugged when I told him. I don't think he believes in me."

My smile disappears. I've never heard much about the mayor's ex-husband, so it never crossed my mind that some of his indifference toward his ex-wife is also focused on his son. As far as I know, Mr. Blake was a football player when he was young. But like most, he never got the chance to go pro and became a coach to compensate for the loss.

"Well, that's your dad's loss, then." I tuck my arm in his and lead him toward the front door. "I'm happy for you because that's not something everyone can accomplish. If - no, when you get a scholarship, you'll be all set."

He looks down at me as if he's seeing me for the first time again. His eyes soften a little, and a regretful look passes over his face. "Why did I never realize how sweet you are?"

My stride falters. I fight back the truth and instead say, "I don't know." Liar. He doesn't know because he was too busy staying away from the almost three-hundred-pound recluse who would never have a life. Everyone was. But that's different now. "But what I do know is we'd better get to class before we're late."

He chuckles. "Yeah, I suppose you're right, as usual."

"I'll see you at lunch, Travis." I pull my arm from his and take off toward my first class. Miss May tells me to slow down as I pass the office, but I ignore her and pick up my pace.

I reach my class just as the bell rings, and I let out a breath. Everyone's eyes turn to me, their gazes burning holes into my body.

Mr. Chambers looks up from his computer as I cross the room to my seat. "Miss Hagen, glad you could join us."

I lower my eyes to my feet as I pass him. His gaze stays on my back as I sit down and pull out my notebook. Is he going to give me a tardy slip? I'm not technically late, but some teachers wouldn't agree. A tardy slip isn't as bad as it could be, but I've also never gotten one before.

I let out a breath when he rises and begins teaching.

—

"Hey, Emori, come here for a second!" I flinch when her high-pitched voice calls my name. Roxie and her gaggle of cheerleaders smile as I make my way over to their lunch table. There is something sinister about the width of their smiles. It's hard not to wonder what horrible thing they plan to do with me.

"Yes?" My steps slow as Roxie pats the seat beside her.

Her eyes meet mine and she laughs. "Why do you look so terrified?"

"I-I'm not" Damn it. Stammering doesn't help my case any. If anything, it probably makes me seem more nervous.

She laughs a laugh so short it almost sounds like a scoff. "Anyway, I was wondering if you've decided on whether you wanna try out for the squad or not."

Actually, I have decided. I want to join a sport, so why not the cheerleading squad? Of course, I'll be a little behind, but I'm sure I can catch up. How hard can it be? The first competition isn't for another two weeks.

"Yeah, I have." I elaborate when she cocks her head to the side a little, "I'm gonna try out."

She grins and claps her manicured hands. "Well, that's good." Her gaze flicks over my shoulder at someone. "Looks like Travis wants to talk to you. It seems important."

Sure enough, Travis stands by the lunch line, but by his glancing at the clock, I can tell he won't wait there much longer. When he realizes we're looking at him, he jerks his head toward the line a little before turning to Lottie.

"Right." I wave at Roxie before approaching my friends. They seem engaged in an important conversation, evidenced by Lottie's large gestures. "Guys?"

Travis's head turns toward me quickly, and Lottie throws her hands up with a sigh.

"I'm assuming you know about the problem with Tay and the surgery." Travis scowls at a group of kids staring at us and murmuring amongst themselves. He clears his throat at him, and they turn away, a few of their faces turning red.

I nod.

"Well, it's now the hot topic of the day." Lottie pinches the bridge of her nose and exhales. "I thought all of the attention to my brother before was crazy, but this is just plain annoying. I'm not sure how the news got out, but if I find out I'm kicking some major ass."

What's up with people feeding off others' shortcomings? I mean, before now, I thought the Perez family was rich. Clearly, I was wrong. But that still doesn't leave any reason for people to gossip about it.

Speaking of Tay, where is he? He usually sits with us at lunch, but he doesn't seem to be anywhere in the cafeteria.

"I'd never have thought they could be so poor," someone further up in line said.

Travis's jaw clenches, and Lottie and I grab him before he can march up to the people. "Why don't you assholes find something else to talk about? Ain't you had enough already?"

A few eyes turn to us, and I nervously wave at them while Lottie tries to calm Travis. "People don't realize how many people they hurt when they gossip. Just ignore them."

As much as I want to tell them off, I don't have Travis's confidence. And yelling at them will only make things worse.

He huffs but turns his attention to the salad bar. "Damn idiots," he mutters as he shovels toppings into the pre-cut lettuce. By the amount he scoops up, I'm surprised there's any cheese left for everyone else.

"Speaking of which." I add toppings to my own salad. "I think I have an idea of how to get the money to help."

"Tay'll never accept money from someone else. He's too damn proud." Lottie shakes her head as she adds ketchup to her cheeseburger. "How'll you get him to take it?"

"He doesn't have to take it." I already came up with a plan to get it to him. It's just a matter of whether Tay's refusal to accept help is genetic. "Your parents do."

"Hah," Lottie scoffs. "My parents? Good luck getting Dad to. Ma might take it, but it has to be earned. She doesn't accept anything unless it comes to her in a 'show of good faith' or whatever."

Travis pays for his food and stands at the end of the line to wait. "We can figure that out later. How do you reckon we'll get the money?"

"I'll need your momma for that." I hold a finger up when he opens his mouth to speak. "Fundraising. I got this nice idea. I just need to get the permit from your momma so I can use the gazebo in the park. We may not get all the money we need, but it will still get them closer to having enough for the surgery."

Lottie loops her arm in mine and squeezes a little. "I think it's worth a shot. Thank you for putting in the time to help my brother." She leans in close. "Even if he doesn't deserve it most times."

Travis laughs and shakes his head. "We can talk to my ma after school. I'll drive you there after practice."