Martha guessed that Kelly’s ambush was probably still waiting for them just outside the school gates, but Ivy seemed to think it had all been nothing more than an empty threat. “They probably weren’t even looking for us,” she said. “They probably only wanted to scare us.” Martha wasn’t so sure. “Maybe they’re up on the hill waiting for you when you go up the path,” she said. “I doubt it,” Ivy said. “But I’ll go a different way, just in case. I’ll take the cutoff down to the freeway and around.” She started off up the sidewalk, turning once to look back and wave. Martha stood at the beginning of her own sidewalk, close enough to the front door to be sure that no one could cut her off from it, and watched Ivy go. She held her breath as Ivy disappeared around the corner of the Peters’ house, and breathed again when she reappeared farther up the hill. She looked tiny and alone. Martha’s fists clenched, and she actually took a few steps to run after Ivy and offer to walk her part way home.
