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Just then the leadership students filed onto the stage, taking their seats set up there. I wasn’t sure how, but as Ryan sat down, it was like he knew exactly where I was because his eyes locked onto mine. A small smile flitted over his lips, and he gave the slightest nod of his head.

“Oh, he like likes you,” Fiona said from next to me. “You’re welcome.”

“I’m welcome?”

“For last night. For leaving you alone with him. What happened?”

“Oh, you’re taking credit for…” I trailed off, not sure how I was going to finish that sentence. I didn’t know if Ryan like liked me. I didn’t know anything except that every time he met my eyes, I seemed to lose my breath a little.

Stop it, I told myself sternly.

“Yes, I am,” Fiona said.

The late bell rang out in a long monotone, and everyone quieted down. Our principal, Mr. Argyle, got up and welcomed us all. Then we were listening to the student body president, Miranda Ramirez, make some announcements, and then it was Ryan’s turn.

I watched him closely, trying to find signs of these nerves he’d confessed to last night, but all I saw was a handsome, confident guy, standing up and smiling as he stepped in front of the microphone. His stance was strong, his shoulders were back, his hands were steady. He seemed relaxed. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe he was nervous, I was sure he was, but he hid it very well.

His eyes flitted in my direction one more time before he said, “Hey, everyone! Welcome! Happy holidays. As part of the celebrations this year, our leadership team wanted to make sure we gave back. I appreciate all the donations, and we’ll be continuing to collect them all week.” He gestured toward the bins to his right that were overflowing with cans. “I’m hoping we can get at least three times this much,” he said.

Fiona cursed under her breath.

“You don’t want three times as much?” I asked.

“No, not that. What if he doesn’t say it?”

“Say wh— Oh, right.” Our poster boards. Her magic phrase was food drive. What if he didn’t say it? I was nervous for her. I wanted her to experience success in her first Banksy-style art display that she had obviously put a lot of thought and work into.

Ryan was wrapping up, talking about how fun it was to be in our town during the holidays and how lucky we all were to live here. And how this year especially, he’d felt very inspired. My heart fluttered with those words, even though this time he didn’t look in my direction. And then he said the words Fiona had been waiting for.

“Thanks for donating to our food drive.”

Fiona and I immediately raised our poster boards. Then, slowly, the other boards went up, not necessarily in order, so I had to wait until the last person raised theirs until I could read the message.

PEOPEL ARE HUNGRY ALL YAER NOT JUST IN DECEMER

A few of the boards had obviously been switched—whether on purpose or by accident, it was hard to tell—but the message was clear. I gasped and lowered my P. My eyes shot to Ryan. He was looking at me, and I couldn’t read his expression.

“Fiona,” I said in a low voice. “Why … this…” I didn’t even know what to say.

“Do you disagree?” she asked, a smile on her face, proud that both her experiment and message worked.

“Well, no, but you need to give people the choice in whether they want to help you state a message or not.”

“That’s not how this style of art works,” Fiona said. Her eyes were on Ryan now too. “It was nothing against him. It’s just to make people think.” She forced my P back up. I noticed someone on the stage taking a picture of the message. In fact, a lot of people were taking pics. Fiona wasn’t, though. Maybe that was the point too, to have her message shared by others, on social media and in texts, not by her.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about her not telling me that this was going to happen. Or about it possibly hurting Ryan or making him more nervous than he already was. I felt a little ambushed. But maybe I was a little proud of her too. It really was a good message and a cool delivery.

“I agree,” Ryan said smoothly into the microphone. “People are hungry all year. So, let’s make sure we fill those shelves so they can continue to feed people well into the new year.”

The audience clapped, the signs went down, and Fiona gave a satisfied nod.

The principal walked up to Ryan, and they shared a quiet word. Ryan nodded his head and smiled. It seemed as though he was telling Mr. Argyle that this was all part of his plan. That he was in on this. It was for the food drive. I wasn’t sure if that’s what he was saying, but when Mr. Argyle’s expression went from irritation to all smiles, I was sure it was something along those lines.

“Unexpected benefit of Ryan liking my best friend,” Fiona said, obviously concluding the same thing I had from the exchange we witnessed.

“You can’t prove that,” I argued.

I couldn’t find Ryan after the assembly. I couldn’t find him the rest of the day, actually.