Page 14 of Her Passionate Hero

He raked his fingers through his black hair. She had a flashback to another boy who used to do the exact same thing. She slammed that door shut. Then he flashed a grin, and the door flew open and pain made her bleed. Nicolas even had dimples.

“I won’t. I’ll never give up on my dreams.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. But Ms. Novak, there are some others who are worthy of dreams too. I have to do my best to save them.”

“No,” she said vehemently. “Nicolas, it’s too dangerous.”

“I can’t live with myself if I don’t try. Don’t worry about me, I know what I’m doing. Remember this has been my life forever.” He looked down at his paper, and his grin exploded. “Thanks again.”

“Thanks for what?” Lottie asked.

Nicolas started and spun around. He relaxed when he saw the school counselor. “Oh, hi Dr. Rodriguez.”

“Hi, Nicolas. Are you staying out of trouble,” she asked, her eyes sparkling.

“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t dare piss off Ms. Novak.”

“That sounds about right. How’s Darla?”

It was as if all the air got sucked out of the room. Aliana shot her friend a dark look. Lottie ignored her.

“She’s doing okay,” he mumbled.

“She should stop by my office. I miss our talks.”

“She doesn’t go here anymore,” he said, surprised.

“Doesn’t matter. My door is open to former students. She’s special.”

He considered her words. “I’ll tell her. Look, I’ve got to go.” He brushed past her on the way out of the office.

“Dammit Lottie, why did you do that?” Aliana demanded.

“I know Nicolas is one of your pets, well Darla is just as important,” Lottie said fiercely.

Aliana disagreed. The girl had attempted to stab a freshman a year and a half ago and ended up in juvenile detention for eight months. She’d been out for the last six months and was now pregnant. The girl had been a bully the first day she stepped foot in Bertrum High, and she consistently escalated. Aliana had been a hairsbreadth from expelling her before the attempted stabbing had taken place. Her fault. Totally her fault Kevin had almost been stabbed. If she’d just gotten Darla out of the school sooner.

“I know that look. Stop it. You followed the process. Neither of us knew she was that desperate.”

“She wasn’t desperate. Quit saying that. She’s vicious.”

“You just can’t see past her actions to what motivates her. A lot of pain and abuse made her that way.”

“Nicolas and she grew up in the same house. They couldn’t be any more different. How do you explain that?” Aliana scoffed.

Lottie shook her head. “When it comes to some students, there’s no reasoning with you. It’s what keeps you from making the leap from great to exceptional.”

Aliana sighed. “Did you come here for a reason?”

“It’s time to leave. You have an appointment, remember?”

Aliana glanced up at the clock on the wall. Where had the day gone?

“At least I know talking isn’t hurting you anymore.”

“Arguing with you always comes easy.”