Chapter 39

"She is in the vines," Meg told Leo, who had been trying to see Emma.

"Thank you, Meg," he said and headed out of the house.

He saw Armano speaking to Emma's father in the garage. He knew she must have been avoiding him. It had been a week since his suspension, and he was to resume school the following day. He had been pleading with his parents to let Emma return to school with him, but they had refused.

He scoured the vines for her, eager to see her. To speak with her. He was anxious about how she would react to seeing him. Finally, he spotted her close to the seven-foot Concord grapevines. He eyed the purple grapes as he moved close to her.

Her chestnut eyes caught his. He could see disdain in them. Her brown hair was shabby and frizzy. He knew she was in one of her bad moods.

"What are you doing here, Leo?" she bit out angrily.

"I'm sorry about what happened, Emma."

"No, you're n