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nodded.
    â€œGrandpa was really upset about that too,” she said. “Nick came over to the house after he got out on bail the first time. Grandpa had just got home from the hospital. My mom was here with him. Nick said he wanted to talk to him, but my mom wouldn’t let him in the house. She told him to go away, but he barged into the house anyway. When she tried to stop him, he hit her.”
    My heart sank. Nick sometimes had trouble controlling his temper, but he’d made a lot of progress with that. I didn’t want to believe that he would hit anyone, let alone Mr. Schuster’s daughter-in-law. I wished I understood what was going on with him. I wished there was something I could do to make all this trouble go away.
    â€œMy mom said he only left when she called 9-1-1,” Isobel continued. “The police arrested him again.”
    I pulled a notebook and pen out of my backpack and scribbled down my cell phone number.
    â€œIf you need any help with Orion, call me,” I said. “I’d be glad to help.”
    As I walked to the bus stop, I thought about Nick. Should I try to see him again? Could I bear to after what he had said? What would I do if he came right out and told me that he and Beej had been seeing each other?
    Beej.
    She was worried about Nick. She was afraid he wasn’t going to put up a fight and, much as I hated to agree with her on anything, it looked like she was right: Nick seemed to take it for granted that everyone believed the worst of him. Despite that, Beej was determined to help him. And for that she needed me. She wasn’t allowed to see Nick, but I was. She couldn’t get near Mr. Schuster’s house, but I could. She believed Nick when he said he didn’t do it. The least I could do was keep an open mind. As for Nick and Beej—if they ended up together, well, maybe that was meant to be. Maybe Nick was right about us. Maybe we were too different from each other. But that didn’t mean I didn’t care.

    â€œ. . .Mars. . .,” Ben said. At least, that’s what I heard.
    â€œMars?” I said.
    Ben gave me a look. “March—not Mars. You’re not even listening.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I was thinking about something else.”
    â€œIt sounds like that project you and Morgan are working on is taking over your brain. Or is there something else on your mind?”
    â€œMy teachers are really piling on the homework,” I said. “I guess I’m just feeling pressured. What were you saying?”
    I felt bad lying to him, but it would have been worse if I’d told him the truth. A guy who considers himself your boyfriend does not want to know that while you’re with him, you’re thinking about another guy—especially an ex-boyfriend. But that’s what I had been doing.
    â€œI was saying that we should start making plans for March. One more week of school, and we’re sprung for a whole week.”
    Originally, we were supposed to spend spring break at his family’s cabin with Morgan and Billy. Morgan had been looking forward to it—especially after she heard that he had a hot tub. But a massive storm at the end of February had toppled a lot of trees up north. Two enormous ones had fallen on Ben’s family’s place. So we were city-bound.
    â€œWe could do some day trips,” Ben said. “Cross-country skiing—or downhill, if you like—hiking . . . What do you say?”
    My cell phone trilled. I checked the display: “Schuster, M.” It couldn’t be Mr. Schuster. I guessed Isobel. I was right.
    â€œCan you come over here tomorrow?” she said.
    â€œWhat for?”
    â€œMy dad wants to meet you.”
    â€œHe does?”
    â€œGrandpa really enjoyed your visit,” she said. “I suggested that my dad hire you to walk Orion. Grandpa liked the idea. But my dad wants to check you out.”
    â€œWhat do you