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“That’s what I said.” I stretched my legs out, hamstrings screaming in response. They werestillsore from the flat-out sprint on Friday. Another reason why I hated running. “Copy all the practice equations on these two pages and the next two pages. Everywhere it’s explaining something, copy it down.”
His lips twisted in distaste. “What, I’m plagiarizing my own math book?”
“Plagiarism insinuates that you’re trying to pass this off as your own. Seeing as how you failed Algebra II the first time, I don’t think anyone would believe—”
“Isn’t this wasting time? Copying everything down?”
“You talking is wasting time.” Like he gestured at me in the car, I waved my palm at him now. “Come on, get writing.”
With a grumbling sigh, Connor tipped his head toward the book, slowly picking up his pencil. I waited for him to bring up what Alex said earlier, to ask, “you used to be friends with Madison and Jade?” but he never did. He dutifully copied the Algebra page in silence.
While he worked, I scrounged around for a scrap piece of paper from my bag. It wasn’t until I unfolded it that I realized it was the note he’d left me this morning.
Meet me by the football bleachers at lunch.
-C
Smoothing out the wrinkles as best as I could, I went to work on folding the paper flower, creasing and un-creasing his writing in the quiet of the gallery.
Well, itwasquiet until his complaining started. “I’m getting a hand cramp.”
I didn’t even look up. “Get over it.”
“Do I really have to copy this whole page?”
“Isn’t that what I said?”
Theclick-clackof heels rapidly approaching caused both of us to lift our heads. When a figure stepped into the doorway of the exhibit room, I froze.
Mom’s work uniform was the picture of cleanliness. Straight blazer with a matching skirt, navy pumps, minimal jewelry. Her hair was wound back into a small braid. It was very sophisticated, like one look at her and you couldn’t tell she was an artist herself. The monotone colors, though, were for a reason—she could blend in while the art stood out.
“How did you know we were back here?” I asked, having enough presence of mind to finally rise out of my chair. It was too late to fully intercept her—she was already halfway to our table—but I cut her off before she got too close.
“The secretary thought it was you who walked in,” Mom said, spotting the boy at the table. “Hello, I’m Maisie’s mom. You look a little familiar, but I don’t think we’ve met before, have we?”
Of course she thought Connor was familiar—she was a Brentwood stan who never missed a game. With his posters hanging around the fenced off field, it’d be weird if he didn’t look familiar.
Connor’s chair scraped back. “I’m Connor,” he returned, coming close enough to offer his hand. It was the first time that he willingly acknowledged me in this universe, and of course, it was with my mother. He gave her his most dazzling expression. “Your daughter is tutoring me.”
“She’s really good at that,” Mom said, even though she wouldn’t have known. “Why’d you pick here?”
“It’s quiet.” But I was starting to wish I’d picked someplace else. With Mom’s full schedule and the upcoming week-long exhibit next week, I thought she’d be busier. Then again, I should’ve bet on the fact she’d come to investigate if someone told her I showed up.
“I’ve never been,” Connor supplied. He had tucked his pencil behind his ear and stuck one hand in his jeans’ pocket. “I’ve never really been to any art galleries, but this is a great addition to Brentwood.”
His flattering words hit their mark, because Mom’s lips went from a polite tilt to a full-on beam. “It’s taken a lot of work to get it here. We have a big exhibit next week celebrating Brentwood spirit in honor of homecoming, incorporating pieces from local artists, and it’s been all hands on deck for that.”
“I’ll have to see if I can swing by.”
“And bring your friends,” Mom said happily, clasping her hands together. “Or your parents, if you want to.”
Connor’s easy smile faltered at that, only a blip in the perfection simulation, but I caught it.
“Okay, Mom.” I started waving her back a step. “We’ve got to get to work.”
“Fine, fine. There’ll be someone coming through in a little bit with a few sculptures, though, so be prepared for an interruption, okay?”
I nodded quickly, trying to end the conversation as quickly as possible. Mom’s appearance unnerved me. Just a little. Our tutoring session had crossed into a personal territory for me, and I didn’t like the thought of Connor knowing more than he needed to.
