Shattered Pages (48-82)

Stephanie Arteaga

Author: Paul Langan

It was hard for Darcy to pay attention in class. All she kept thinking about was what Brisana told her about Hakeem. Darcy is anxious to talk to Tarah about what is going on with Hakeem. Darcy is worried that Hakeem might have met someone else during the summer. Tarah tells her that they just need to talk and that everything will be ok. Tarah basically admits that she knows Hakeem met someone. Darcy was mad at her friend Tarah for knowing something all along. Tarah and Darcy had a huge arguement in class about Hakeem. Darcy couldn't beleive that Darcy could keep something like that from her. Tarah tries to apologize to Darcy but she walks out of class with tears in her eyes.

Brisana tells Darcy that she warned her about Hakeem. Darcy thinks she is trying to rub it in but Brisana just wants to know how she is doing. Brisana tells Darcy that she needs to move on. Darcy was so hurt that Hakeem had already replaced her. Darcy rushes after school to confront Hakeem. Just when she is about to speak to Hakeem, a girl she has never seen walks right up to him and gives a him a big hug. But Darcy was sure it was the girl Brisana told her about. Everything Brisana told her was true. Hakeem didn't know what to do, he looked like he was sick to his stomach. Darcy interrupts their conversation and tells Anika that her and Hakeem need to talk. Anika tells Darcy how her and Hakeem met in Detroit and he kissed her during her first guitar lesson. Darcy couldn't even speak she was so hurt.

Darcy walks away and goes to the cemetary. She needs to see her Grandma. Darcy begins talking to her grandmother about the trouble with her friends. When Darcy gets home she finds a note and money from her dad. Darcy and her sister find an emty bottle of beer. Darcy remembers how much her dad used to drink. She hopes he isn't starting to drink again. Jamee doesn't want to tell her mom about what they found. She is scared of what she might do. Darcy knew that the truth would destroy their family.

Do you think that Darcy and Jamee made the right decision by not telling their mother about the empty beer bottle?