Lost and Found

To her relief, Darcy’s bus arrives. As she boards, the man gets back in his car. On the way home, Darcy thinks about all the horrible things that happened to her that day, and dreads asking for a new science partner.

The next day, the family goes to visit their Aunt Charlotte. Jamee and Darcy both dislike going because Aunt Charlotte insults everyone and complains a lot, and this time is no different. Jamee finally loses her temper and accuses Aunt Charlotte of neglecting Grandma. Aunt Charlotte asks them to leave. On the way home, Mom demands that Jamee write an apology to Aunt Charlotte. Jamee tells Mom a truth that she and Darcy have been hiding: Their father left the family to be with a younger woman. Their mother cries when she hears this.

At school, Brisana tells Darcy she should report Tarah and Cooper’s bullying in the hopes they’ll be sent to another school. Brisana again calls them “low class” and many other derogatory names, and Darcy finally tells her to stop. Brisana warns Darcy that getting mixed up with Tarah and Cooper is a bad idea. In class, Darcy finds a threatening note on her desk, telling her, “You can run, but you can’t hide” (57).