She took Jane home, too, as Brynne claimed to need her for support, and Rosa had a soft spot for Brynne. Tito and Caden were left at school, each with detention slips, Tito for pulling the fire alarm—which apparently could have brought him much worse trouble than detention—and Caden for being late to his morning class a second time. Once again, he’d forgotten to get a note. Mrs. Belle’s science class had been relocated to a corner of the cafeteria. Caden, Tito, and the rest of her students crowded around two lunch tables. Scents of roasting ham and apricot crumble wafted from the kitchen. Caden leaned over to Tito. “Let’s question Mrs. Belle.” “After class, bro,” Tito said, and arranged his colorful pens. “I need these notes.” He held up his thumb and first finger. “I’m this close to the seventh-grade science award at the end-of-year ceremony. I need it to win the overall.” “These awards aren’t as important as my quest,” Caden said. “Bro, these awards are my quest.
