Just looking at Grace made Nana cry.
One day, Grace had done something wrong. She didn’t know what it was. All she knew was that one minute she was standing there with a stuffed pink puppy that she’d found in her grandparents’ room, and the next minute Nana was yanking the puppy out of her hands so hard Grace stumbled sideways and plopped onto her butt.
Nana burst into tears and so did Grace. She waited for her daddy, but no one came to get her, and finally she just sat there alone, sucking her thumb.
Then she’d heard someone say her name.
Gracie, come here … follow me …
She’d wiped her slimy nose and stood up. Holding her yellow blanket, she followed the voice up the stairs to the door that was always shut. No one ever played in this room.
Inside, it was like something out of a fairy tale, all pink and yellow and perfect.
Over by the dresser was a big mirror that was shaped sort of like a football, with a red and gold flag stuck into the hinge. A bunch of glittery gold stuff framed the oval mirror—bracelets and metal flowers and sparkly rainbows.
Gracerina?
She remembered peering into the mirror, seeing a flash of yellow and smear of pink.
You okay?
Grace frowned, looked harder, seeing … something. A girl, maybe, a little older than her. Are you okay? the girl asked.
“I’m bad,” Grace said, feeling tears start again. “Grace bad.”
You’re not bad.
“Who are you?”
I’m Ariel. I’ll be your friend as long as you need me. Here, Gracerina. Lie down on the carpet, go to sleep. I could tell you a story.
Grace had been so tired. She’d curled up on the soft carpet and pulled her blanket around her. Sucking her thumb, she’d fallen asleep to the pretty sound of her new friend’s voice. Since then, Ariel had been her bestest—her only—friend.
Why don’t you go play with the other kids?
Grace looked down at her wrist. “They’re stupid.” She poked a stick into the sand at her feet.
Boy alert.
Grace sat up straighter and looked around. Sure enough, Austin Klimes was coming this way. His face was big and fat, like someone had konked him in the head with a pan. “Uh, you wanna come play hopscotch with us?” he said, breathing heavily. His cheeks were flushed, too.
The teacher had made him come over here. Grace could see the other kids huddled together across the beach, watching her and giggling. They thought it was funny that no one liked her.
“Ariel isn’t allowed to hopscotch.”
Austin frowned. “Everyone’s allowed to play hopscotch.”
“Not a princess.”
“Your fake friend isn’t a princess.”
“Shows what you know.”
“You’re a big fat liar.”
“Am not.”
“Are too.” He crossed his big arms across his chest.
Calm down, Gracerina. He’s just a bully.
“Your only friend is invisible,” Austin laughed.
Grace was on her feet before she could stop herself. “You take that back, lardo.”
“Who’s gonna make me, you? Or your invisible friend?”
Grace punched him right in his piggy nose. He screamed like a baby and ran for the teacher.
Oh, boy.
Grace watched the kids huddle around Austin. They turned to point at her and then huddled again. Mrs. Skitter led Austin over to the ice chest, where she kept all her teacher stuff. In no time at all, Austin must have been fine, because he ran off to play hopscotch.
Here she comes.
Grace didn’t need Ariel to tell her she was in trouble. She leaned forward and rested her arms on her thighs.
“Grace?”
She cocked her head up. Fine blond hair fell across her face. “Yeah?”
“May I sit down?”
Grace shrugged. “I guess.”
“You know you shouldn’t have punched Austin in the nose.”
“I know. And you’re gonna have to tell his parents.”
“And your dad.”
Grace sighed. “Yeah.”
“I shouldn’t have sent him over.”
“They don’t wanna play with me. And I don’t care.”
“Everyone wants friends.”
“I have Ariel.”