She had finally finished her outline and therefore, received her extra credit sheet. The unfinished outline was the reason she hadn’t gotten her extra credit, Mrs. Houston explained to Melissa, Heather and George the day of Melissa’s "fight," as Joey and Shane called it, with Erika Biswan.

Actually, Melissa was quite proud of how she got herself out of a lot of trouble by mentioning the outline. She brought up the extra credit sheet almost by accident, but it helped her out.

"Do you see what we mean Melissa?" her father asked her. They were each seated in the small student desks in a room across the hall from Mrs. Houston’s.

"How many kids were involved?"

"A lot, not just me!" Melissa said. "Aimee, Erika, Joey, Shane, Eric, they all got in trouble."

"But whose parents did they call?" asked her mother.

Melissa shrugged. "I don’t know."

"Yours." said George. "Now do you see why we keep telling you how important it is that you do what you’re supposed to."

"Because I’m the only black student in the class," Melissa said.

"Everyone’s watching to see how you do, Melissa. Remember how we talked about that? What do we always tell you? We have to work twice as hard to get half as far," George said.

"They’re trying to tell us that the GT program is too hard for you, is that true?" asked Heather.

Melissa’s eyes widened. "What? They can’t say that! I get the highest grades in the class, well, me and Aimee. Mrs. Houston knows that, but she still wont give me the extra credit sheet," Melissa cried. GT program too hard? Melissa’s fists clenched in indignation. She knew she was smarter than anyone in her class, except perhaps Aimee.

"What’s this about extra credit?" her mother asked.

"The report...she didn’t even tell you about it?" Melissa looked back and forth between her parents. Maybe they were right about this black stuff. The whole thing started because Melissa didn’t get the extra credit, so she kind of had a reason to be mad. But no one even brought it up.

"This is the first we’re hearing about extra credit. Do you mean the family studies report?"

"I can’t believe she didn’t tell you," Melissa said. They looked interested. This was her chance; she dove into her story. "That’s how this whole thing got started. Everybody in the GT room but me got the extra credit sheet and I said if Erika Biswan got one then I should, because I’m in GT and she’s not. So Aimee lied to her and I said that I said she was dumb and then Erika started pushing me...so I hit her."

"No, we didn’t know about the extra credit," her mother said, looking over at her dad. Melissa knew now that they were mad at Mrs. Houston more than her.

"Mrs. Houston hasn’t brought it up since," she said.

When her teacher came in, the four of them ended up talking more about the extra credit report than about Erika Biswan. Her parents told her that she was right to wonder about the extra credit, but hastened to add that she shouldn’t have slapped Erika. Melissa nodded, but she hoped it was one of those cases where her parents secretly agreed with her, but felt like they had to yell anyway. They stopped off to get Melissa’s research journal and she was let off with a light punishment, she had to stay in and work on setting up her journal since she was behind in the extra credit. It wasn’t like Melissa had some place to go anyway. Of course, she had to listen to black people stuff even more now.

Mrs. Houston told her about something called a thesis statement, which basically told people what her report was going to be about. Melissa decided hers was, "In this report I will examine whether or not death in books and movies gives teenagers ideas about suicide." She thought "I will examine" sounded a lot more official than "this report will be about," which was what most people had.

Her research journal was for collecting her data, or stuff that was going to help her prove her point. Mrs. Houston said she should "observe" her brothers and sisters, who were supposedly normal teenagers and compare their actions with the information she found about teens who had tried to kill themselves, and "compare and contrast" their lives. Melissa had scribbled down these phrases, which sounded very official. She also hoped to work in the phrase, "high-risk group."

However, observing her siblings wasn’t as easy as she had hoped. Pat had caught onto her pretty early, and began lowering her voice on the phone or ordering Melissa out of earshot. The twins, who were secretive from birth, discussed everything in hushed tones and they were big on suddenly getting up and leaving a room.

That left Brian. Melissa couldn’t tell if he didn’t care if she was around or if he just didn’t notice her. But she found she barely had to hide her paper and pen when he was on the phone or with his friends. So she decided just to focus on him. He seemed to be having a normal enough teenage life, from what she could tell.

She had been collecting little pictures to paste on each section divider. She pasted a picture of the Coppenhagen’s house on the first divider underneath where she had written, "Home."

That was the easiest data to get. Brian and Richard or whoever came over with him usually stopped for a snack or just sat down in the kitchen before going upstairs to Brian’s room or the basement. He talked to them in normal voices and spoke in plain English, without the abbreviated code Pat and the twins used with their friends to keep her from finding out anything, like, "Did you get my note about you-know-what?"

In fact, watching Brian at home was so easy, Melissa began to wonder if her mother didn’t make Brian talk about stuff in front of her so she could get stuff for her report. Melissa didn’t want that; she wanted Brian to talk like he normally did. She questioned her parents one night when Brian, Yolanda and Troy were at practice and rehearsal and not eating dinner with them. Pat was at the end of the table, reading a book she had open next to her plate.

"No, what you see is what you get," Heather said, spooning out extra green beans next to the small portion Melissa had taken for herself.

"Are you sure? Because I don’t want you guys to make him talk because he wont say anything good," Melissa said. She looked back and forth between Heather and George, who shrugged.

"Don’t look at us, we want to hear something good too."

"Well, just come to me, because I get it all," Melissa said proudly.

"Yeah, right," Pat said, without looking up from her book.

"I do!" Melissa said.

"Melissa, you hear what they want to you to hear, they wouldn’t talk about anything important in front of you," Pat said.

"Oh yeah, well how come Brian and them say stuff around me all the time?" challenged Melissa.

"Because egotistical jocks assume that everyone is interested in their lives, I guess."

"Well, I do want to hear about his life, so don’t tell him anything," Melissa said.

"Oh please, like I care," Pat said.

Her second section, school, was a little harder. She was only at Brian’s school on Saturday mornings, when nothing was going on. Yearbooks were a good start, but they were all for the previous year, and she didn’t have until the end of the year to find out what was happening right now. Brian and Pat sometimes brought school newspapers home, but they usually ended up in their bedrooms before Melissa got home. Bedrooms were hard to get into. Even if she had a good reason, like calling someone for dinner, they made her get out right away, even Brian.

So she would probably get most of her school notes from going Brian’s basketball games. She had to go, because the whole family went, but she liked to. She made a section for basketball games after she found the first one so interesting.

She started feeling a little of the excitement as soon as they got inside. Everything was so bright; the gym was completely lit up and lights bounced off the polished floor, drawing all eyes to the big part of the floor that was a picture of a canon.

At the ticket area they were greeted by Maria Cierra in her drill team uniform.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Coppenhagen, hi Yolanda, hi Melissa," she said. Pat was, of course, not sitting with them and Troy went to David’s. Yolanda said she had been invited to David’s, but had promised Brian she would at least be at the first game.

"Hello Miss Cierra," answered George. "Are we going to see some good dancing tonight?" To Melissa and Yolanda’s horror, George began to do some dance steps in front of a giggling Maria.

"Dad..." They moaned together.

"What? I was just showing her a couple of moves. I’m allowed, I’m a varsity parent," George said, holding up the special tickets Brian had brought home for him and Heather.

"You’re embarrassing," said Melissa.

"Well, it’s a good thing I’m escorting you to the family section," Maria said. "I’ll know where to get you for the half time show."

"I’m ready!" said George as Melissa and Yolanda shouted, "No!"

"Don’t encourage him, Maria," said Heather as they were led to the section of the bleachers reserved for the players’ families.

Melissa felt important as Maria led them across the shiny floor to an area of the bleachers marked with burgundy and blue streamers. She saw people turn and look at them, some pointing as they sat down. George and Heather said hello to and shook hands to other players’ parents. Melissa and Yolanda nodded to them all, uninterested.

As they got settled, Melissa spotted Anne Crindle down on the floor with a dark-haired girl. They were looking all around the family section of the bleachers. Melissa waved when Anne looked in their direction. Anne waved and started up the bleacher stairs towards them, pulling the dark-haired girl behind her.

"Hi Coppenhagens!" said Anne when she reached them.

"Anne, hi," said Heather, "I thought we’d see you out there." Heather motioned towards the floor.

"Nooo, I’m just JV, maybe next year," Anne said.

"What’s on your shirts?" asked George.

"Ohhhh," Anne and the girl exchanged a glance, "it says Varsity to the tenth power. Get it? Like when you do exponentials in math?"

"10th power, as in the 10th grade," Heather said, nodding.

"We didn’t make it up," the other girl said.

George laughed. "What’s wrong with the 10th power?"

"Ugh, it’s corny!" Anne said. "Right?" she asked Yolanda and Melissa.

"Well..." They faltered.

"Exactly," said the other girl.

"I thought it was cute," said Heather.

"What do we know?" George said.

"Anyway, we’ve got something for you." Anne motioned to the other girl, who was fishing around in a plastic bag for something. When Melissa peeped over the opening of the bag to see, the girl smiled at her.

"Somehow, the Varsity cheerleaders ‘forgot’," Anne made the quotes sign with two fingers, "to make your guys’ parent buttons, even though all parents are supposed to have one. So Suz made you these." Anne nodded at the dark-haired girl.

"Oh I see," Heather said. She and George exchanged a smile. "Thank you."

"You’re welcome," said Suz. She handed a Heather a button that had a background of burgundy and blue glitter, with curled ribbon hanging down from the pin in the back. Across the front Melissa read, "Varsity Mom" and the number 10, Brian’s number, on it. George’s button looked the same, except it had "Varsity Dad" on it and less ribbon.

"Ooo," Melissa said, "Mom, can I wear it some?"

"Are you a Varsity Mom?"

"No, but I’m coming to all the games," Melissa said.

"I’ll make you one," Suz offered, "Varsity little sister."

Melissa nodded. "Thank you," she said quickly before Heather could prompt her with, "What do you say, Melissa?"

"Thank you girls," said Heather.

"I think these look better than the Varsity cheerleaders’ buttons," George said in a loud whisper.

Anne and Suz laughed nervously, looking around. They told the Coppenhagens they were welcome, then were off in search of the Cudaghys. "I wont forget!" Suz called to Melissa on their way down the bleachers.

The Junes and the Aarons got there after that. Her aunts Julia and Stacy and Andie, C.J., Tibia and Matty. Diana went off to find Pat. After a less than enthusiastic greeting from Yolanda, Andie turned to Melissa.

"Hi Melissa."

"Hi Andie! Hey, did you know you were a Varsity Cousin?"

"A what?" said Andie, dropping down in the bleachers next to Melissa.

Melissa told her about the buttons and Andie was properly impressed. They ended up talking until a big cheer erupted all around the gym as the varsity team trooped out in their burgundy warm-up suits.

Melissa and Andie stood up in order to see Brian and Richard run out with the team and begin their practice lay-ups.

When the team starters were announced, George explained that starters were out on the court at the beginning and during most of the game, Yolanda showed them the cheer everyone was doing. They arched over to the left, arms curved around, shouting, "C!"

She saw Richard too. He made a basket and Melissa yelled, even when Yolanda looked at her. It was okay, because Andie was yelling too.

"Ten, nine, eight...." They joined in the crowd counting down the last ten seconds of the game, which Seb won. Everyone in the family bleachers was jumping up and down at the end, Melissa and Andie each reached up to hit the hand of a very tall man with the number 8 pinned to his chest.

After the game, everyone was excited, trying to talk at once when Brian came out to see them before they went home and he went to the dance that was held after the game.

"What’s this?" Brian asked, pointing to Heather’s button.

"Varsity Mom," answered Heather, "What do you think? Anne and another little girl came by with them."

"Little girl?" Brian said.

"Excuse me, young lady," said Heather.

"What’d she look like?" asked Brian.

"She had curly brown hair and eyes and freckles," Melissa volunteered with Heather paused. Heather nodded in agreement with Melissa’s description.

"Oh, then that was Suz probably. She made those?" Brian asked, bending to get a closer look at the button.

No sooner had he asked that when Yolanda and Andie piped up. "Who’s Suz?"

"Nobody," Brian said quickly. He received his last minute instructions about curfew and being careful and then was off in a sea of blue and burgundy.

Melissa gave Brian’s friends a section of their own as well. She liked his best friends, Richard and Anne especially. They didn’t have younger brothers and sisters--in fact, Anne had no brothers and sisters at all--so they didn’t always act like they knew everything. Richard and Anne talked right to her, asked her what she thought about things sometimes. Maria was also nice, but she treated Melissa like she was a little kid, well, a littler kid than she actually was. Also the way Maria talked to her sometimes sounded like Maria didn’t think she, Melissa, was very smart. But when Maria said, "Oh, don’t be mean!" if Brian was in a bad mood and tried to make Melissa leave the kitchen, Melissa could get away with sticking around. Even Richard couldn’t do that.

She drew burgundy and blue pompoms to represent Anne and Maria and drew a basketball with Richard’s number, 11, on it for the "Friends" divider in her research journal. As she looked over the notes she had on the three of them already, Melissa had to admit to herself that she probably thought Brian’s friends were so interesting because she didn’t have any of her own.

The school situation had gone from bad to worse since the day of the fight. Oddly enough, the boys left her alone. Joey and Shane, after calling her slapping Erika "a fight," never said much more about it. Once in awhile they shouted, "Don’t mess with Baby Snitch!" and Melissa couldn’t tell if they were making fun of her or laughing at Erika, whom they claimed lost the fight. Unless he was with Aimee and Erika, Eric Lysander didn’t say anything to her in class or the GT room. Not that anything the boys did mattered that much.

Now Aimee had gotten into the act of tormenting Melissa in public. Before, where Aimee would just ignore Melissa and let Erika do all of the dirty work, Aimee began to say things out loud that Melissa could hear, talk behind her back and pass notes.

Melissa found pictures of babies cut from magazines and drawings of babies in her cubby in the class coat closet and in her desk. She had to be quick, almost the first person to sit down at lunch, because otherwise everyone would move together and she wouldn’t find a seat.

"Why don’t you go sit with the fifth grade, that’s where you belong anyway," Erika shouted one day. Melissa, with hot cheeks, walked across the room to the other sixth grade’s lunch table and asked Sarah Coombly if there was any room. She always sat there with Christy, the girl that was in the bathroom with them the day of the fight. From then on she told her mother the school food made her sick and packed her lunch, and she hurried to the cafeteria before the rest of the class and sat down while they were in the cafeteria line.

Her cousin Andie asked her about the situation every week at the basketball games, for now if Julia didn’t bring her, the Coppenhagens picked her up.

"Tell that Erika you’ll hit her again if she doesn’t shut up!" Andie said one night when George went to find Yolanda, who had disappeared with David Sumner and his sister.

"I can’t, because if something else happens my mom said I’ll be the only one that gets into trouble because I’m the only black kid."

Andie folded her arms. "That’s stupid, white people get into trouble, I see them all the time at my school."

Melissa thought about this. "Well, Joey and Shane get into trouble, but the girls don’t. Not really."

One day, her mother said she hadn’t been to the grocery store and made Melissa buy her lunch. Melissa dragged her feet to school, only to learn that it was Rosh Hoshanna, a Jewish holiday, and that neither Aimee nor Erika were in school. She had such a pleasant day of everyone leaving her alone that she went home and found a calendar and wrote down all of the Jewish holidays coming up, hoping Erika and Aimee would miss school on all of them. Her mother told her their Christmas was eight days long.

Home wasn’t much better. When she worked on her journal past the required day, finding more pictures and drawing objects on its pages, having fun with it, Troy came up and said, "Is schoolwork all you do? You have no life Melissa."

So basically everywhere she went someone thought she was weird. But Brian’s life wasn’t like that. Brian had friends coming in after school, crowds of people shouting his name, well at least his initial, every week and no matter how good his schoolwork was he was never called an Egghead Baby Snitch. Watching his life was more fun than living her own.