The Key to my HeART

13 Moods

H A R P E R

By lunchtime, Max still wasn't home. I helped my mom clean the house while my dad ran errands. Josh was still in bed. Lazy bum.

"Did he say anything?" My mom asked as she unloaded the dishwasher.

"No. He just asked to drop me off and then he went back to his house."

I finished sweeping and put the broom in the hall closet. I went straight for the refrigerator. I was hungry from playing with Beretta and sweeping and vacuuming the house.

"I hope he's ok. And you're sure he went back to his house?"

"I don't know for sure, but that's what he said. He wanted to spend time alone with his dog."

I spotted a tupperware of chocolate-covered strawberries. Jackpot.

My mom checked the time. "I'll call him soon and make sure he's safe. Poor kid."

"Why didn't you tell us his parents were in financial trouble?"

My mom turned to me, eyes narrowed. "Who told you that?"

"Max."

"I told you not to ask him about it. This is a tough time for him and you prying isn't going to help, Harper." Her tone was clipped. I probably shouldn't have said anything, but I didn't like how we had to tiptoe around things just because my parents thought it was rude. Max lived in our house, we had a right to know why.

I sat at the table with my strawberries and shook my head. "He seemed willing to talk about it."

"Still. It's a private matter with the Dravens."

"I'm sorry, but he looked like he needed someone to talk to. I was just trying to be a good friend to him." Did good friends make the hearts of other friends race like mine did when I got close to Max?

"I suppose it's alright, just don't tell Josh. I don't think he'll be as tactful as you with any of this."

Nodding, I took a bite of one of the strawberries and dropped it back onto the plate. It was like fire coated my tongue. I wheezed and put a hand over my mouth.

"Harper?"

Sweat beaded on my forehead. I spit out what I'd eaten and ran for the sink, sticking my head under the stream of water. My entire world was pain. Fiery pain.

"Hot! So hot!" I gurgled into the water.

I whimpered feeling the heat coming out of my nose. I could breathe fire if I wanted to I was pretty sure. All feeling in my mouth was lost but the intense burn.

"Oh for the love of Pete," my mom snapped. "Joshua Wilson! You get down here and tell me why you put habanero peppers in these strawberries!"

~*~*~

Josh and Max had done well with the spicy strawberries. They'd hollowed the strawberries and stuffed habanero peppers into them, seeds and all. Then to mask their crime they dipped them in chocolate. Josh knows I can't resist chocolate-coated fruit.

My mom reamed Josh for several minutes about ruining perfectly good food and pranking me. I quietly vowed revenge. He had upped his game since Max arrived and I could not let this stand. I would need to call Lexi and Tyler for more ideas to get them back. They'd used the food I loved most in this world against me and this could not go unpunished.

Max came home just before dinner. I saw him pull into the driveway, but he didn't come in right away. I could hear his music blasting and see him seated in the front seat. My parents stood at the front window looking at him and talking quietly. I couldn't hear the whole conversation from the kitchen, but I heard snippets of them saying he was a good kid, but his mom told them he could get into angry or sullen moods. After about two or so minutes of them deliberating and me unsuccessfully eavesdropping my dad announced he was going out to talk with Max.