Twice the Talent by Belle Payton Page B

all our problems are solved yet!” Ava reminded her.
    They got off the bus. Alex stuck with Ava’s slow pace as they walked to the house, but as soon as they got inside, she bolted upstairs. She quickly changed out of the plaid skirt and white blouse she was wearing and into a T-shirt, leggings, and hoodie. Much better for bike riding.
    Then she took her bike and helmet out of the garage, hopped on, and headed to Magnolia Terrace.
    She didn’t remember the house number, but she knew she just had to look for the white house with the overgrown grass. When she found it, she parked her bicycle by the front steps. Then she walked up and pressed the doorbell.
    Through the door, she could hear the loudwailing of a baby. Then a woman’s voice yelled, “Max! Please get that!”
    A minute passed, and nobody came to the door. Alex thought about pressing the doorbell again, but she felt bad. Things sounded pretty hectic inside.
    Then there was the sound of feet, and the door opened. Max looked surprised to see her.
    â€œAlex?” he asked.
    â€œUm, can I please come in?” she asked. “I need to talk to you.”
    Max was too surprised to say no. He motioned for her to come in.
    The sound of the baby’s wails grew louder. Alex looked around and saw that the living room was a mess. There was a baby’s playpen in the middle of the room and toys strewn about all over the floor. A basket of laundry spilled out onto the carpet.
    A woman came out of the kitchen, talking into a phone. Her hair was swept up in a messy ponytail, she had a rag draped over her shoulder, and Alex could see the dark circles under her eyes from across the room. She didn’t seem to notice Alex was there.
    â€œSteven, you need to come home and help mewith this, please,” she was saying. “I can’t find her bottle, and she won’t stop crying!”
    Max nodded toward the staircase. “Downstairs. It’s quieter.”
    He led her down a short flight of stairs into the family room. It was just as messy as the living room, but only a little quieter. Alex was starting to figure out why Max was always tired in school.
    â€œMax, I just wanted to thank you,” Alex blurted out. “For telling the truth. I understand why you didn’t at first, but I’m really glad you did. And I hope you’re not in too much trouble.”
    â€œI don’t know yet,” Max said. “I haven’t gotten probation, but I think I might.”
    â€œDo your parents know?” Alex asked.
    â€œI don’t think so,” Max said. “My dad is so busy that he never reads the e-mails from the school. And my stepmom hasn’t said anything either.”
    â€œThat’s why you had to cheat, right?” Alex asked. “Because it’s so chaotic here?”
    A weary look swept over Max’s face. “It’s been crazy ever since the baby was born,” he said. “Dad and Karen are like, freaking out, like they don’t know what to do. The baby screams all night and I don’t get any sleep. And when I ask Dad or Karenfor help with homework, or to go to the library, they’re always too busy.”
    â€œBut I bet if they knew you were having trouble in school, they wouldn’t be,” Alex said. “I bet you got good grades before this, right?”
    Max nodded. “How did you know?”
    â€œBecause you’re smart,” Alex told him. “You knew what the Fifth Amendment was without having to look it up, and you have an impressive vocabulary.”
    â€œWell, I have one of those word-a-day calendars,” Max admitted.
    â€œMe too!” said Alex, and they smiled at each other.
    â€œYou know, you should talk to your parents and teachers about what’s going on,” she said. “I’m sure they would understand.”
    â€œI probably should have done that already,” Max said. “I just didn’t want to make anything