“Sure, I just have to work on my biology project, but it’s fine if you come over.”

“I’ll be there in a few, then.”

When I got to Madison’s house, I was winded, but not tired. Knocking our secret knock to let her know it was me, I let myself in.

“Hey,” Madison called down from the balcony. “I thought you were going to come home right after school. Why weren’t you on the bus?”

“Oh,” I said, hoping to find some way to avoid the conversation without lying to her. “Well, I got a ride from Ashley.”

“Ashley? Who is Ashley?”

I couldn’t believe I let that slip. “Ms. Davies, sorry.”

She rushed down the stairs to join me, dragging me to her room so her brothers wouldn’t hear. Shutting the door, she turned to me.

“I don’t think you’re on a first-name basis with her yet, Spencer,” Madison said. “And why would you even need a ride from her, anyway? Did you pull some kind of stunt?”

“No,” I said, somewhat mad that she would think that. “We were talking and time just got past us, I guess.”

She eyed me suspiciously and said slowly: “Talking about what exactly?”

“Dunno. I shouldn’t say. I did tell her… you know… what I told you the other day,” I said truthfully.

“You told her!” she gasped. “Why?”

“That’s not important. Do you want to know something juicy though?”

Madison waited expectantly.

“She’s Raife Davies daughter!” I exclaimed. “Not that that changes anything, but isn’t it cool?”

She looked purely stunned. “I knew her name was Davies, but I never put two and two together.”

“You know she sings very well. Rock star potential, even. And you know how I’ve always wanted to be a groupie,” I add mischievously.

“Spencer look at me,” she said in a serious tone. “I know you might like her and all, but don’t get your hopes up. You might only be three years apart, but she’s a teacher and you’re a student. Not only that, but she has more to lose than you do. That whole situation could get sticky.”