KALISTA

The morning was packed with gray clouds. No light seeped through them. Through the windows of the car, the green of trees was opaque, its usual shimmer dulled to a dusty glow. Everything looked vapid, almost dormant, void of the sparkly liveliness that greeted us every morning.

Besides the crappy weather, I had plenty of reasons to stay in bed and not go to school: Algebra II, gym, Chloe's threatening looks, Valerie's questions-which I knew she was going to ask if ...