“No, I don’t think so. Peeved in general about their principal canceling the junior high’s holiday concert, and before I knew it, I was suggesting a special event for the New Year.”
“Rookie mistake,” Stephen said.
I dry-swallowed the pills. “What can I say, I hate confrontation. Anyway, I got stuck behind a school bus on my way back here.”
The receptionist was tittering, and I began to suspect she was only holding the phone to her ear as a ploy so she could eavesdrop.
Stephen smiled. “Ready to chat with Cass?”
I resisted making a face. “Yeah. May I leave my things behind the counter?” I asked the receptionist.
She nodded and put the phone down without saying goodbye.
I piled my bag, case, and jacket to the side, then took a hot second to check my phone for the first time in hours.
One text from Felix.
Green. Why?
Huh?
Oh right. I’d asked him his favorite color. I didn’t get the chance to respond, as Stephen had my sleeve and was leading me to Cass’s office.
He knocked on the open door and we stepped inside. “Let’s do this thing, shall we?” Stephen asked, voice light and hiding any annoyance he might have been harboring with a skill I onlyhopedto one day possess.
“Yes, please sit down, you two.” Cass looked away from his computer and smiled at us. “So, like I mentioned, Amy can’t do the yearbook anymore.”
“Why’s that?” Stephen asked.
“Health.”
“Ah, sorry to hear that,” he answered.
Cass nodded. “Yes, we all do hope she gets better with a bit of rest. But the fact is, we can’tnothave a yearbook.”
I raised my hand a little. “Sir, if I may?”
Cass laughed. “This isn’t class, Merlin. You don’t need to ask for permission to speak.” He leaned back in his computer chair, the furniture creaking ominously.
I felt heat rise to my face. Great. Now I was getting blotchy.
“Oh, right.” I put my hand down. “Just curious, why me? I’ve been here for two days.”
“I spoke with the students on the yearbook committee this morning about a replacement advisor, and most of them are requesting Kelly,” Cass explained. “But a few suggested you. They’re in the band. Very impressed with you.”
“Th-thank you?” I said, but it came out more like a question.
“And you two seem to get along,” Cass said, waving a hand at us.
Stephen crossed his legs and folded his hands in his lap. “Sure do,” he replied.
I cleared my throat.
“So, how about it? You’d be doing a great service for the entire school,” Cass said.
Dammit, I wanted to smack him. Nothing like a good guilt-trip to get sincere teachers on your side.
“If you’ve really got no other options,” Stephen hesitantly said, looking at me.
