Chapter 2

When they got home, the living room was pitch black. Only the light in the sunroom was still on.

I nervously fidgeted with my fingers.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I forgot to turn off the light. I'll remember next time..."

Mom couldn't hear my apology. A flash of irritation crossed her face.

She kicked her shoes off loudly on purpose.

"I haven't even confronted her about her lying yet, and she's already throwing a fit? Doesn't she know her parents are home?"

"And to think we even brought back a little gift for her. If she doesn't come out right now, she gets nothing."

A gift?

When did Mom ever buy me a gift?

I desperately wanted them to go to the sunroom.

I didn't want to hide, and I didn't want to reject the gift.

Most of all, I didn't want to make Mom angry.

But the only response to her shout was the flickering of the sunroom light.

Mom scoffed and flipped the breaker switch to the sunroom.

She even dragged the small space heater, the only source of warmth there, back into the living room.

"Fine. If you want to be stubborn, stay in the dark."

Chloe rummaged through the shopping bags. "Mom, which one is Nova's gift? I'll take it to her."

Mom gently patted her head.

"You're such a sweet girl. Not like your sister, throwing a tantrum over every little thing."

"Give her this one. She didn't get a perfect score, so giving her anything at all is already a huge exception."

The "gift" was just a cheap plastic keychain that came free with Chloe's expensive toy.

Still, I comforted myself. This is the first birthday gift Mom has ever given me.

I didn't have to get a perfect score for it. I didn't have to cry or beg.

Mom gave it to me willingly.

I promised myself I would treasure it.

But Chloe suddenly threw the keychain into the trash can and ran out of the room screaming.

Mom and Dad rushed out of their bedroom.

"Mom! Nova said she doesn't want trash! She said I was showing off, and she pushed me!"

There was a tiny scratch on Chloe's hand.

It was just a light scrape from when she threw the toy away.

Mom's anger instantly flared. She grabbed a wooden ruler from the counter and started searching for me.

"Nova Carter! Do you have any idea how important Chloe's hands are? She needs them for writing! Just because you're stupid and jealous, you want to ruin your sister's life?"

Dad tried to calm her down. "It's just a tiny scratch, Eleanor. It's not a big deal."

Chloe sobbed dramatically. "Nova ran out. She said if you guys don't look for her, she'll never come back."

Mom froze. "Fine! Let her run. Don't look for her! Let's see how many days she lasts out there!"

I curled my shoulders and began to cry.

Mom never believed me.

The first time Chloe framed me, Mom had only asked, "What do you mean, 'your stuff'? Did you get a 100%? Only people who get perfect scores deserve to own things."

But that journal was a gift from my classmate.

Later, Chloe told everyone at school that I threw the journal in the trash.

My friend stopped talking to me.

When I told Mom, she actually praised Chloe.

"Chloe did the right thing. That friend of yours had terrible grades anyway. You shouldn't hang out with losers."

So I was forced to only play with Chloe.

And Mom always took her side.

If Mom had only known I really got a 100%, would she have believed me just this once?

As if answering my thoughts, Mom's phone rang.

Mrs. Gable's voice came through the speaker.

"I'm sorry to call so late, Eleanor. Nova insisted that I call you today."

Mom frowned. "What is this about?"

"She wanted me to confirm that she really did get a 100% on her math exam."