It's Only Temporary by Sally Warner

come over this afternoon aren’t friends, then what are they?”
    â€œThey didn’t exactly
jump
,” Skye argued feebly. “Not all of them, anyway. I had to promise Maddy that she wouldn’t miss some TV show about meerkats. But–”
    â€œBut nothing,” Gran said briskly, expertly chopping the carrot into neat sticks. “As I recall, you didn’t have to argue with any one of them. And even though this sketchbook situation isn’t going to get any worse, I think you still owe those kids an explanation about the drawings you did of them that got put up at the dance.”
    â€œI guess,” Skye mumbled.
    â€œMaybe you even owe your friends an apology,” Gran suggested.
    â€œThey aren’t officially my friends,” Skye objected, hearing how lame her objection sounded even as she stated it. “And I never meant for anyone to see
any
of the drawings,” she added, defending herself – and practicing a little for the speech she’d apparently still have to give that afternoon. “Not to mention that Maddy and Jamila weren’t even
at
the dance,” she pointed out. “So won’t Ijust be stirring up trouble if I tell them–”
    â€œYou know Maddy and Jamila will hear about it eventually,” Gran interrupted. “And those kids are your new friends, Skye, whether you want to admit it or not. I thought you were getting used to living with me here in Sierra Madre, sweetheart,” she added, her voice softening. “I hoped you were, anyway. I certainly love having you here.”
    â€œI
am
getting used to it,” Skye mumbled. “
Too
used to it, maybe! Because this is only temporary, and sooner or later, I have to go back.”
    It wasn’t “
back home
” anymore, Skye noted, surprised–just “
back
.”
    â€œNot necessarily,” Gran said carefully, turning to wash a green pepper under cool running water. “This whole situation isn’t only about Scotty, Skye. Everyone – including your mom and your dad – wants what’s best for you. We want you never to feel trapped. And you do have a say in the matter.”
    â€œReally?” Skye asked.
    â€œReally.”
    â€œWell, one thing I have to say,” Skye said suddenly, “is that I wouldn’t put that green pepper on the platter if I were you, Gran – or Maddy will
freak
, and that’s all we need to make it a perfect afternoon.”
    â€œOh, my gosh, you’re right!” Gran said, smacking her head with the plump palm of her hand. “Now, that
would
have been a disaster.”
    â€œA little one, anyway,” Skye said, laughing.
    â€œAnd we’ve had enough of the other kind, haven’t we?” Gran said, reeling Skye in for a hug.
    â€œAnd so I just wanted to say that I’m sorry if anyone was embarrassed Friday night by those drawings, or if your feelings got hurt,” Skye told Amanda, Matteo, Jamila, Pip, and a confused-looking Maddy an hour later. “I didn’t mean anything bad when I did them, and anyway, they were supposed to be private.”
    Amanda scowled. “But I don’t get it,” she said. “Why did you even draw us that way? I thought you liked us! And you made me look like a – “
    â€œI do like you,” Skye interrupted hastily. “I mostly drew those pictures when I first got here, and I didn’t even know you guys. Not really. And I was feeling really bad about – about
everything
, so I kind of took it out on you. You’re not the only one with a dark inner life, you know,” she told Amanda, hoping she would remember the time she’d proudly claimed that for herself.
    â€œSorry about your brother,” Pip mumbled, looking embarrassed.
    â€œYeah,” Matteo said, eyeing the bowl of chips. “That’s gotta suck.”
    â€œScott’s better than he was last summer,” Skye assured