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could pet Riley. When Kat didn’t answer, Grace got that mean look. Then she started to cry.
    Suddenly Kat understood. The mean look meant Grace was sad and upset. It meant she was trying to stop herself from crying.
    That’s what she had done yesterday. And that’s what she was doing now. She just looked angry and mean, because she didn’t want to cry. Maybe she was a nice person, after all. Maybe she was just unhappy about being at a new school.
    Kat had planned to apologize to Grace or to tell her a joke. But now she knew she had to do more than that. Even if it made Maya upset.

At the end of the afternoon, Kat turned to Grace. She was about to speak, but the bell rang. Grace jumped up, grabbed her backpack, and hurried out of the classroom. She must have been waiting to make her escape.
    I have to catch her! Kat thought. I have to talk to her now!
    She ran after Grace. But, to Kat’s surprise, Maya was right outside the door, waiting for her.
    â€œKat, I want to tell you something,” Maya blurted out. She looked embarrassed. “I wasn’t really sick at lunch. I was just angry. You’re my best friend, and I like looking after the puppies with you. And I like doing it alone, with just you.”
    Kat tried to interrupt, but Maya kept going. She looked sad. “But I was thinking at lunch that you’re my best friend because you’re so nice. You’re kind and thoughtful. And if you think Grace needs a friend—” She stopped. “I mean, if you think she needs two friends, then that’s okay with me.”
    A big smile spread across Kat’s face. “Maya, you’re the best. I mean it!” She threw her arms around her friend and hugged her. “I do think Grace needs two new friends. I’ve got to catch up with her and tell her that,” Kat said. “Even though I’m nervous!”
    â€œKat-Nip, I’ve got your back!” Maya grinned. “That’s what friends are for.”

    The girls spotted Grace right away. She was standing near the fence. She kept glancing at the road, as if she were waiting for someone. Her face looked hard as stone.
    Kat stopped in front of the new girl and took a deep breath. “Grace, can we talk to you?”
    â€œAbout what?” Grace replied. She tossed her head, flipping her braids onto her back. “You didn’t seem to want to talk to me in the park yesterday.”
    Kat turned red. “I know,” she said. “I want to say I’m sorry.”
    Grace didn’t say anything. She just pulled on the end of her braid.
    Kat continued, “Grace, this my friend Maya. She’s in the other fourth-grade class.”
    â€œHi,” said Maya, smiling at Grace.
    Grace looked at Maya, but didn’t say anything. She didn’t even smile.
    Kat took a deep breath and plunged ahead. “Grace, I just want to say that I know you copied my poem, and it made me angry. But I’m sorry I didn’t let you pet Riley yesterday.”

    â€œWhat? I didn’t copy your poem,” Grace blurted out. Now she looked directly at Kat. She folded her arms. “I can write my own poem. I don’t need to copy yours.”
    Kat considered. She had seen Grace looking at her poem, but she hadn’t actually seen what Grace had written. “No? Okay,” she said with a shrug. “My mistake.”
    â€œAnd you’re the one to talk anyway, sending me that rotten note.” Grace glared at Kat. Her brown eyes flashed.
    â€œHey, I didn’t write that note,” Kat said, her hands on her hips. “I don’t know who wrote it, but it wasn’t me.”
    For a moment there was silence. The girls looked at each other.
    â€œOkay. I believe you,” said Grace.
    Kat nodded. “And another thing. I wanted to say sorry for what I said at recess on your first day. Maya and I were talking by the big tree, and we didn’t know you were