Page 157 of Break Out the Girl

“What she said,” Tally rumbles, taking a massive bite of a scone.

London lets out a dramatic gasp. “But what about his interactive spreadsheets? Quick—toss the tea time, cancel the cake. Our Shane needs us.”

François huffs, giving a long-suffering sigh.

Though it’s only long-suffering because he hardly ever chooses to go with the flow. “Fine.” He slides onto the bench next to me, his grumpiness fading as our eyes meet.

I lean over and give him a lingering kiss. “Good job, babe. That’s called being flexible.”

London opens his mouth but François points a finger. “Shut it, goat. We don’t need any more commentary about your flexibility.”

“Boo, you’re no fun.”

“That’s what makes Frank the funnest of all of you,” Sky grins. “His eyes go snake-slit when he’s mad.”

I push a cup of tea in front of François. “Speak, then. Tell us what’s up.”

He clears his throat. “Very well.” Everyone quietens down.

For all the banter, we are a reasonably respectful gang.

François looks at us all, one at a time. “For the past several weeks, I have been working on a project.” He pats the closed laptop. “I have been in negotiations with the WMO and the regional oversight council, and finally got all the documents signed for the real work to begin.”

“Real work for what?” Tally asks, eyes narrowing. “What the fuck are you up to?”

“Well…” François actually looks a little nervous. What has he been working on?

I squeeze his leg. “Go on…”

“OK, well, we’ve officially secured the rights to the old Quo Reformare building.”

The entire table goes silent. Clay freezes, his fork halfway to his mouth. Layla stops chewing, her eyes instantly suspicious. “Why the hell would you want that place?” she asks.

“To give it an entirely new legacy,” François answers, swallowing. “To turn it into a fully-funded, community academy for the local youth of Ashgrave between the ages of sixteen and twenty. Vocational and magical training.”

I stare at him, mouth slightly open. An academy here in Ashgrave?

Community-based, for the kids of this under-served area?

It’s brilliant.

“Alexis Feniks is writing up the curriculum,” François continues, looking at me. “And I am liquidating the entirety of the Crankshawe fortune to fund the infrastructure, the staff, and the supplies.”

Something I can’t describe burns in my chest. Not pride, it’s more than that. It’s an overwhelming thankfulness that our generation is nothing like our parents.

We can make this world better.

It just takes imagination—and money.

Lots and lots of money.

I grab his hand, and squeeze his oh so elegant fingers. “You can count the Drakeward fortune in, too,” I pledge “Take my half. Every single cent of it. Let's do this.”

“Holy shit,” Layla drops her fork onto the table. “Holy fucking shit.”

Sky leaps to her feet, eyes glittering. “I’ll go! I’ll be the first student!” She doesn’t even blink at the idea of returning to the Quo location.

Tally and I meet eyes. “This could work,” he growls. “This could fucking work.”