Page 5 of Take Care, Taylor

“You did that to yourself.” I shrugged as our classmates started to fill the living room.

For the next hour or so, the party went on, and Audrey beat almost every guy at the game. The girls who didn’t play followed her mom around and gushed about her terrible young-teen romance books.

It killed me to admit it, but this was far more fun than any party I’d been to with my real friends, and I decided that maybe—just maybe—I would stop being so hard on Audrey.

Maybe she didn’t deserve it…

One Week Later

My mom stepped into my bedroom and unplugged my game system from the wall.

“What the—?” I sat up, glaring at her. “Why did you do that, Mom?”

“Audrey Parker’s mother just called,” she said. “Audrey was in tears—again. Hysterical tears, Taylor.”

“Why?”

“Are you seriously asking me that question?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “I’ve been nice to Audrey this week…”

“In what world doesnicemean stuffing fire ants into her locker?”

“What?” I said. “She’s been collecting them all week in a red bottle. She collects bugs like a weirdo, remember?”

“You honestly expect me to believe that she collected a thousand fire ants and let them loose in her locker—all to frame you?”

“Yeah. Obviously.”

“Nonsense!” She grabbed my system and tucked it under her arm. “I don’t know what she’s done to receive this level of harassment from you, but it ends today. You’re grounded until further notice.”

“But I have a football game tomorrow.”

“I already told your coach you won’t be seeing the field for the next month.”

“A full month over alie?”

“You’re the only one lying, Taylor Wolff.” She narrowed her eyes. “And stop bullying that poor girl. Are we clear?”

“Yes, Mother.” I gritted my teeth. “We are crystal clear.”

“Good. Now write her an apology letter and let me see it before I take you over there to give it to her.Again.”

“Are you serious? Because I swear—” I caught myself. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll do that now.”

“You’ve got five minutes.”

She slammed the door on her way out, and I stormed over to my desk.

Dear Audrey,

My only regret in life is not making you cry ten times harder.

Sincerely,

Forget you,

Take care,