The next morning, I reach for my phone but all I find is the charger unplugged. I get up and open the curtains. Callie and Mariana groan as they wake up.
"Hey, have either of you guys seen my cell phone?" I start searching. "I know I plugged it in last night."
"I'll call it." Mariana reaches for her phone but it's not there. "Mine's gone too."
"So is mine," Callie says. "I'm guessing moms took them because we're grounded."
"But I have to text Sophia and tell her I can't see her today!"
"This is so unfair." Mariana flops back.
"I'm so sorry guys, it's all my fault."
"Stop blaming yourself Gracie, it's fine we've been grounded before." Callie gets out of bed. "Come on Mariana, you'll survive." She pulls Mariana out of bed and we all go down for breakfast, the boys are already down there trying to get their cell phones back.
"Brandon gets to keep his phone, why can't we?!" Jesus yells.
"Wait, Brandon gets his phone? That's not fair!" Mariana sits down next to him.
"Brandon is waiting for an important call, once he gets the call, we'll take his phone." Lena shuts everyone up.
"Can't we at least text people to cancel our plans?" Jude asks.
"You can call on the landline."
"Like we know anyone's numbers." Jesus eats grumpily. I still feel so bad.
"What are we gonna do all weekend?" Callie asks Mariana and me.
"This is gonna be good for you, Callie you have your senior project, Jude, Gracie you have your English assignment and-" I cut off Stef.
"Actually, we finished that," I say.
"Even better, you have more time to catch up in your other classes, Mariana, Jude, you can tutor Gracie, and Jesus-"
"I'm all caught up."
"We know," Lena says, "You can help Jude and Gracie figure out what team to join."
"Team?" I ask confused.
"Like sports? I get breathless walking up the stairs." Jude jokes.
"That's the point, almost all of your grade are some kind of sports team, they're getting extra credit and exercise, which both of you could use." I hate sports, I suck at literally everything. I don't say anything though, I don't want them to think I'm not taking my school work seriously. We finish up breakfast and Mariana starts tutoring me in our room. I've started picking things up a lot faster than I used to, and I'm getting better at taking notes and stuff.
"Are you sure you don't mind doing this? I'm sure you've got a lot of your own work to do to."
"No, it's cool, I love tutoring, it actually helps me out a lot too. Let's take a snack break." We go into the kitchen. "Have you thought about what sport you're gonna do?"
"I've thought it about it, I've thought about how un-athletic I am and how much I despise breaking the tiniest sweat." We pick at a bag of chips.
"Yeah, I used to be like that."
"Used to? Did you join a sports team?"
"Yeah I was on the dance team at school, and then me and my friend Tia started our own team."
"Do you still do it?"
"No, I had so much other school work going on that I just didn't have time for it, but I did get a lot of extra credit for it. You should join, I mean it takes a lot to get in but I could help you."
"I mean, yeah I guess it's a worth a shot."
"What's worth a shot?" Callie comes in from the backyard.
"Gracie's gonna try out for the dance team!"
"Well I don't know if I'll get in, but it does sound kind of fun."
"Tryouts are Monday so we better get practising, come on I'll teach you an old routine, you never know this could be your hidden talent!" Mariana takes my hand and we go out into the yard.
Mariana has me doing all these crazy moves, and it's actually not that hard. Callie watches us.
"You're doing a lot better than me when I tried out."
"You tried out?" I can't help but laugh.
"Yeah, she was like Bambi on ice!" Mariana jokes, earning a playful punch from Callie. "Okay, show me the combo." Mariana sits down with Callie and I show them both the routine full out.
"How was that?"
"It was good, really good, you pick things up really quickly, just one tip though," Mariana comes back to me.
"Yeah?"
"You need to make everything bigger! So, when you do the turn, it's more like this." She demonstrates the turn and I see what she means.
We dance for a little longer and then we have more studying to do, then after we have lunch Jude tutors me and after that, it's dinner time. Stef and Brandon are both working late, so it's just us and Lena.
"Jude, Gracie, did you figure out your sports elective?"
"Gracie did!" Mariana says before we get a chance to say anything.
"That's great, what team are you joining?"
"I might not get in, but I'm trying out for the dance team on Monday. Mariana taught me a combo for my audition." I'm actually a little excited.
"I'm very proud of you. Jude, you pick something?"
"I don't know, maybe Badminton, that looks easy."
"It's not about it being easy Bubba, it's about getting credit and exercise!" Lena argues back.
"Well, I can't dance, I can't wrestle, I can't run."
"What about swimming?" I suggest.
"That's not a bad idea Jude, you used to pretend you were swimming in the Olympics every time you'd take a bath when you were little," Callie says, everyone laughs at him. The door knocks.
"I'll get it," I say politely, I'm not that hungry anyway. I open the door and see the familiar blonde hair I've missed so much. It's only been a day and a half. "Rae, you can't be here." She ignores me and pulls me in for a kiss, which I don't resist at all.