Page 148

Mark Bell: Who memorizes things these days???

I found Nicole in an empty classroom. Technically, I wasn’t supposed to be in the building. I didn’t think they would let me in, but the front desk lady knew who I was and broke a rule for me. Nicole was standing on a chair, taping something to the wall. I cleared my throat and she turned around with a raised eyebrow.

“You came crawling back.”

“Temporarily,” I said.

“It still counts. I suppose I’d say welcome back, but I don’t know how long you’re staying.”

“Until after the school year starts.”

“So that’s why you’re here. It’s not a friendly hello.”

“Sorry. The only person I’m friendly with is still Jade.”

Back in high school, she had a crush on me and asked me out. I turned her down.

“It’s fine. I was hoping you’d come in anyway. I’ve heard stories about your kids.”

“They’re not for the faint of heart.”

“I’m not for the faint of heart. Are you enrolling them?”

“I need to. I’ll be here for another couple of months, and they need to start school. They have a private school out in San Francisco, but my apartment’s not done and I refuse to let them trash any more hotels.”

“Enrollment is closed.”

“Jade told me you might be able to work around it.”

“You’re asking for a favor?”

I winced. I had a feeling this wouldn’t go well. “A few favors, actually.”

Nicole raised an eyebrow. I pulled out the curriculum that Director Smith had sent out a few months ago.

“This is the private school plan for the year. I need you to follow it.”

“This is a public school. You don’t get to demand how I teach.”

“I know. That’s why it’s a favor.”

I was sure I would catch on fire with how Nicole glared at me, but she grabbed the papers from my hand and took a look at them.

“This isn’t all that different from what I teach.”

“This is advanced stuff.”

“We have good funding. Very good funding, even. In fact, I’d call this a private school as well. Have you heard of the STM grant?”

I paused. “I have. You’ve used it?”

“Most people have. It’s helped us get out of the hole we were in. At first, I just used it for supplies, but now I’m able to do way more than what my salary allows me to. I can easily meet this, and I can get your girls into my class so I can watch them myself.”

“And do you want anything in return?”

She was offering me a lot, and she could ask for anything. She could ask for dinner. Or worse, a date again.

My body recoiled at the mere thought.