Authors: Daisy Whitney
The Mockingbirds (36 page)
“Wait,” I say quickly. “I need more. Can’t you tell me more?”
“Not now. But you can start looking into it, right? Investigating it? Just don’t say the tip came from me, all right?”
“So why are you telling me, then?”
She gives me a look like
duh.
“Because it needs to stop. Because I can’t have this touch me again,” she says, and I instantly understand where she’s coming from. I understand deep in my gut how much you can want to get away from your past. And for the first time, this leading thing feels natural.
But only for a second. Because I still don’t get why this cheating ring would affect her.
“But why would it touch you? Are you involved?”
“No,” she says, and sneers at me. “And I’m telling you because I cannot afford to be even remotely associated with this.”
“But why would you
be
associated with this?” I press. “I’m not associated with it! Other people are, and you need to stop it,” she says, and her raspy voice has that same toughness it did when she first said my name. I picture her as the type to twist your shirt collar, jam her forearm against your chest, and say,
Don’t say a word
. “And you cannot, under any circumstances whatsoever, say this came from me.”
Even though I feel a kinship with her, even though I plan to do whatever I can, I’m pretty sure I don’t have to agree to every directive sent my way.
“If you want our help, I’m going to have to tell my board members,” I inform her.
She’s silent for a moment, then says, “Fine. I have to go,” and just as quickly as she clomped down the hall, she’s clomping the other way now, leaving me alone in the student-activities office with my first tip.
School hasn’t even started, a bell hasn’t even rung for a single class, and there’s already stuff going down.
That’s the Themis way.
Note:
The information below is current as of the date of publication.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Find out more at
www.ndvh.org
.
The National Sexual Assault Hotline can be reached twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). Find out more at
www.rainn.org
.
The National Center for Victims of Crime Helpline can be reached Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM Eastern time, at 1-800-FYI-CALL (394-2255). Find out more at
www.ncvc.org
.
For a list of state resources, visit
www.womenshealth.gov/violence/state
.
Girls For A Change
(GFC) is a national organization that empowers thousands of teen girls to create and lead social change. GFC provides girls with professional female role models, leadership training, and the inspiration to work together in teams to solve persistent societal problems in their communities. Visit GFC online at
www.girlsforachange.org
.
Girls Inc.
is a national nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Innovative programs help girls confront subtle societal messages about their value and potential, and prepare them to lead successful, independent, and fulfilling lives. Visit Girls Inc. online at
www.girlsinc.org
.
Girls International Forum
(GIF) is a nonprofit organization created to empower girls to take action on issues affecting girls everywhere now and in their future. Visit GIF online at
www.girlsforum.org
.
WriteGirl
is a nonprofit organization for high school girls that is centered on the craft of creative writing and empowerment through self-expression. Visit WriteGirl online at
www.writegirl.org
.
Chapter Three: AN EDUCATED GUESS
Chapter Six: WHILE I WAS SLEEPING
Chapter Nine: ATTICUS AND BOO ROLLED INTO ONE
Chapter Eleven: PIANO INJUSTICE
Chapter Twelve: A WINK AND A NOD
Chapter Thirteen: THE START OF SOMETHING
Chapter Fourteen: DAMAGED GOODS
Chapter Fifteen: KANGAROO COURT
Chapter Sixteen: SHOCK TREATMENT
Chapter Seventeen: SHINING TREES
Chapter Eighteen: HIGHER AUTHORITY
Chapter Twenty: ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW
Chapter Twenty-One: FOR THE LONGEST TIME
Chapter Twenty-Two: THE UNTOUCHABLES
Chapter Twenty-Three: WORDS AND DEEDS
Chapter Twenty-Four: LIGHTNING ROD
Chapter Twenty-Five: ACTING OUT
Chapter Twenty-Eight: SECRET BOYFRIEND
Chapter Thirty: A LOT OF LAUNDRY
Chapter Thirty-One: THE OTHER GIRL
Chapter Thirty-Two: SURPRISE WITNESS
Chapter Thirty-Three: BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT
Chapter Thirty-Four: THE WHOLE STORY
Chapter Thirty-Six: TIME OF YOUR LIFE
Chapter Thirty-Seven: JUST ANOTHER AVERAGE SCHOOL NIGHT
Chapter Thirty-Eight: HOW TO PLAY GERSHWIN
Chapter Thirty-Nine: PAY IT FORWARD
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2010 by Daisy Whitney
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
Little, Brown and Company
Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Second e-book edition: December 2011
Little, Brown and Company is a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
The Little, Brown name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.
ISBN 978-0-316-12684-7
