The voice on the other end lets me know which periods were missed by Lola Savullo. Which is pretty stupid really, since every kid at Maple Ridge High knows to expect the call and grab the phone before the unsuspecting parent catches a whiff of guilt from their school-skipping teenager. I erase the call history when I hang up. I’ll write myself a note, sign Mom’s name and take it to the attendance office tomorrow. Dinner’s uneventful and quiet. Eva steals furtive glances and I meet her gaze with a stern glare and a slow shake of my head. She looks away. Size has always been my one advantage over Eva. She knows I can pummel her into the ground as easily as swatting a mosquito, but now I have more ammo. Now, there’s not just fear reflected in her eyes, but terror. I grin inwardly and secretly wish I could gloat. I’ve played around with the thought of letting my secret out. The power I’d have over my family would be satisfying, but it wouldn’t feel right. I know the kind of girl I am, and it’s not the power hungry, “I’m going to crush you unless I get my way”
