Aimee Blake pivoted quickly away from the vanity where she was applying her makeup and stared at her daughter. With a bulging backpack slung over her shoulder, Samantha leaned carelessly against the doorjamb, her face serene, as if she hadn't just tossed a bombshell in her mother's lap.

"I'm going to ride to school with Jennifer. She's picking me up."

"Why?"

"Duh—because she can drive now," Samantha said, avoiding her mother's stare. "Jennifer's parents bought her the most awesome car. I'll just ride to school with her from now on."

"Without asking me if it's okay?"

Samantha rolled her heavily made-up, smoky-gray eyes, too heavily made up for Aimee's taste. "Puh-leeze, Mom. I'm not a kid anymore."

"Well, at fourteen, you aren't an adult, either," Aimee stated decisively. "Besides, Jennifer hasn't had her driver's license more than a month."

Samantha shrugged dismissively. "So? She hasn't gotten a ticket. Proves she's a safe driver."

Aimee stifled a grin. Even in her frustration, she was amused at Samantha's adolescent reasoning. Before she could discuss it any further with Samantha, Jennifer Nibert's screeching tires announced her arrival as she sped into the driveway. A slamming car door indicated that she was on her way to the house.

"You can go with Jennifer this morning, but we'll discuss the future tonight," Aimee said quietly. She stepped into the hallway a second before the front door opened and Jennifer wandered inside. As usual, Aimee was startled by the girl's appearance. She was dressed totally in black, except for the silver chains around her waist and neck. Aimee counted four earrings in her left ear, two in the other one. Heavy makeup disguised Jennifer