392 FAKE FRIENDS

After their little ice cream date, Isabella dropped off Keisha at home. She planned to speak to Madison, but she was asleep. She helped Keisha freshen up and cook lunch before she headed to Emerald's school to pick her up. "Hey, how was school?" Isabella asked Emerald, who ignored her and got into the car, slamming the door behind her. "Woah, what's wrong?" "Nothing," Emerald mumbled angrily. "Please drive." She tried to use her hair to cover the side of her face, hoping Isabella wouldn't notice the cuts on her face, but she already had. "Why is your face red, and why is your lip cut? Emerald, why are there scratch marks on your face?" Isabella reached for her daughter's face, but she flinched away. "It's nothing, Mum; I fell down. Can we please just go home?" Emerald said. Isabella sighed, not sure about what she was going to do anymore. If he kept nagging, she was just going to push Emerald away. "Okay," she said as she started the car. "But when we get home, you better tell me