e-top as their maple syrup empire. I walked up the long

m, a bandage on his head. He looked surprised

id, enjoying my "attention." "Mom said

id flatly. "I want the penda

und. "That old thing? Why, you w

e it to m

necklace. He dangled it for a moment, then arrogantly toss

ht along in her small pot, let out a

stic imitation. The kind you

, she cried.

me, a cruel amusement in his eyes

ied?" h

d and walked away, my anger a

er tiny, mobile sapling form, to sneak back onto the mansi

the property, where a struggling plant nursery b

igure emerged from the

trespa

wn's resident outcast. He was known for being quiet and keeping to him

r a friend," I mumbl

t me with dark,

the fence. She wasn't carrying the pendant. Sh

. Ethan threw this out the window for

. He hadn't given her a gift.

en-it all hit me at once. The stress of the past few days crashed down on me.