My heart sunk to the floor. “You did what?”
“Claire came over.” She pointed to the tall white girlwith smooth hair the color of butter who everyone else always seemed eager to impress. Claire stood clustered together with Sarah Beth, a black girl with tight ringlet curls, and Kassidy, a pale girl with orange freckles and reddish brown waves swept into a high ponytail.
Kiera waved to Claire, and all three girls waved back. “She helped me clear out a bunch of old stuff. She’s really nice, you know. These girls used to make me so nervous, but they’re really cool.”
I nodded, not sure what to even say. I couldn’t figure out why Kiera was in such a hurry to be older and different... and leave me behind. Because I was in no hurry at all. The thought of fifth grade terrified me—not to mention actual fifth graders!
“It’s not a big deal,” said Kiera, her voice reassuring, but it did nothing to soften the brutal honesty of her words.
It was a big deal. It still is.
Chapter Twelve
Our Very Best Life
When we pull up outside of Trampoline Zone, Oscar is sitting outside on the curb waiting for me with a present stuffed in a reused Spider-Man gift bag.
“You okay if I just drop you off here, Sweet Pea?” asks Dad.
I nod. If it weren’t for Kiera’s dad, he’d probably go in and talk to the other parents. Part of me wishes I hadn’t agreed to go to this party with Oscar and I could just sit in the parking lot with Dad watching all the other kids file in.
“Okay,” he says. “Just borrow an adult’s cell phone if you need me before the party is over.”
“You know, you could just consider giving me a phone a few months early. Why wait for eighth grade to start?”
“Not gonna happen.”
“Can’t blame me for trying,” I tell him as I shut the car door behind me. I turn to Oscar. “Your present looks like it was gift wrapped at Love’s Hardware.”
“I had to get creative with my supplies.” He holds up the present for me to examine. “I used a bag from an old birthday party.”
I snort. “Only the best for Princess Kiera.”
“I’m surprised you even bought a present.”
I can’t hide the mischief in my smirk. “The gifts are the best part.”
“You’re up to something,” he says, narrowing his eyes.
Eager to change the subject, I shout, “I challenge you to a duel in the ball pit!”
“Bring. It. On.”
We knock on the front door, and a teen boy with light brown skin and black shaggy hair with a name tag readingRickycracks the door open. “You here for the party?” he asks, like he’s gonna ask us for our driver’s license or something.
“Yup,” I tell him, waving my gift in his face.
He eyes us both suspiciously. “What’s the password?”
“Um, Happy Birthday?” guesses Oscar.
An older man who looks like Ricky with a deep widow’s peak comes up behind Ricky and lightly smacks the back of his head. “Welcome to Kiera’s thirteenthbirthday party, including a special preview of Trampoline Zone! My name is Mr. Kapoor, but you can just call me the Jumping King. You’ll have to excuse my son, Ricky. I think all the jumping has jostled his brain.” He opens the door wider and Ricky rolls his eyes, ducking under his dad’s arm. “Shoes go in the wooden cubbies by the cash register, and presents go in the party room. Make sure to grab a fresh pair of socks! We’ve got a half hour of free-jumping time and then pizza, cake, and presents. After that there will be a full hour of jumping time, and we’re even busting out the foam machine.”
Our jaws drop in unison.
“Did you say afoammachine?” asks Oscar.
“Yes, sir. I don’t kid around about fun.” Mr. Kapoor leans forward. “We even have black lights.”
