Katie and the Cupcake War by Coco Simon Page B

asked.
    â€œSure,” I said. I went behind the table and grabbed my overnight bag and backpack. Then I followed Mrs. Wilson and Callie out of the parking lot. I packed my stuff into the trunk and slid into the backseat. Callie was in the front seat with her mom, which was a relief. I sat back and tried to act invisible.
    â€œMom, this is so unfair,” Callie wailed. “You know there’s no alcohol in those cupcakes.”
    â€œI do know that, Callie, but as Principal LaCosta said, that’s not the real problem,” Mrs. Wilson toldher. “The problem is that you tried to make kids think there was alcohol in them.”
    â€œIt’s not my fault if people thought that,” Callie replied. “I can’t control what other people think.”
    â€œPrincipal LaCosta says you and Maggie and Bella were the ones spreading the rumor,” said Mrs. Wilson.
    â€œAnd you believe her and not your own daughter?” Callie cried indignantly.
    I knew Principal LaCosta was right, because I had seen it myself. But I didn’t say anything. Callie was in big enough trouble as it was.
    Mrs. Wilson sighed. “That’s enough, Callie. We’ll talk more about this with your father.”
    Callie started to cry again, and now I felt really awkward. I felt like I should say something to comfort her, but I figured anything I said might just make her mad. So I kept quiet.
    Boy, this is going to be a really fun weekend! I thought.

CHAPTER 15
Believe It or Not, Things Get Worse!
    A few minutes later we pulled up in front of Callie’s house. Callie quickly got out of the front seat and slammed the door behind her—hard. Then she walked through the front gate and slammed that behind her. Then she walked through the front door and—you guessed it—slammed that behind her too.
    Mrs. Wilson did not look happy as she opened the trunk for me.
    â€œUm, where should I put my bags?” I asked as she walked in the house.
    â€œIn Callie’s room,” she replied. “We pulled out the daybed for you this morning.”
    I’m sure I turned as pale as vanilla icing when I heard that. Callie’s room! Mrs. Wilson actuallyexpected us to stay in the same room! Ugh!
    Maybe Mrs. Wilson didn’t realize how bad things were between me and Callie. Or maybe, like my mom, she was choosing to ignore it. I think they still thought of us as little girls who had sleepovers together. I didn’t even bother to argue with her.
    I sighed and then walked to the staircase as Mr. Wilson came out of the kitchen wearing a big apron. (Only a big apron would fit him, because he kind of reminds me of a grizzly bear.)
    â€œKatie! Where have you been? You look like you’ve grown a foot over the summer!” Mr. Wilson said. Then he gave me a big hug.
    Remember I told you how Callie and I have known each other since we were babies? Well, that means I’ve known her parents for that long too. Mr. Wilson was always kind of like a father to me, which was nice, because I never see my natural father. But since Callie dumped me, I never get to see my second father either. That’s another reason why what Callie did hurts so much.
    I started to answer him, but Callie’s mom interrupted us. “Joe, we need to talk,” she said in a serious voice.
    Mr. Wilson nodded. “See you later, Katie. I’mmaking my famous spaghetti for dinner. Hope you’re hungry!”
    Normally I love Mr. Wilson’s spaghetti, but the thought of having to stay in Callie’s room made me lose my appetite. I slowly dragged my bags up the stairs and knocked on Callie’s door. She didn’t answer at first, so I knocked again.
    â€œWhat do you want?” she finally asked.
    â€œYour mom says I’m sleeping in here,” I said.
    After a minute, Callie opened the door and then walked back over to her bed without saying a word to me. She was furiously texting someone on her cell