Pride & Popularity (6 page)

“Miss Hart? Excuse me. Ahem. Miss Hart!”

“What?” I jerked forward. As I sat up, I almost dropped my English book in the process. Mr. Young and the rest of the class were staring right at me.
Oh, no! I’ve been caught.

“Would you like to share what you were reading just now with the class, Miss Hart?” Mr. Young leaned up against his desk with his arms folded and waited.

“No, sir.” I gulped.
Please don’t make me read it.

“Miss Hart, are you aware of the rules in this room?”

“Um, yes.” I glanced over and caught Ethan winking at me. I think he thought it would make me feel better. It didn’t.

“Then you do realize that if you don’t read that letter out loud to the class, you must forfeit it to me?”

“Yes, Mr. Young.”

“By not reading it, you will also have to face any consequences I choose to give you. Are you willing to face anything I give you, or would you rather read it now?”

“I’m willing to face the consequences.”

“That must be one very interesting letter, Miss Hart.”

“Yes.”

“Bring it here, Miss Hart,” Mr. Young commanded, holding out his hand.

Slowly, I walked to the front of the room. I could hear snickers and whispering behind me. Red-faced, I handed Mr. Young the letter and watched as he read it silently to himself.
Can this get any more mortifying?

“You’re correct,” he said. “This is a very interesting letter. Should I share it now with the rest of the class?”

“No. Please don’t.”

“Look at how curious the class is. I want to remind you that if you can’t give me a good excuse why I shouldn’t share this with the class, I will read it to them anyway.”

“Please, Mr. Young, I’ll do whatever it is you want— detention, extra homework, whatever—just please don’t read that note out loud.” I was getting desperate. I couldn’t even face the class.

“Why not, Miss Hart?”

I looked him in the eye. “If you do, it could hurt someone, someone other than myself. It is my fault for reading that in here when I knew better and knew the rules. Completely my fault. I would hate to have someone get hurt because I was impatient. Please, please, please punish me, but don’t punish someone who doesn’t deserve it.” My hands had begun to shake. I held my breath for Mr. Young’s answer.

He took off his glasses and rested them on his receding hairline, then rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Congratulations, Miss Hart. In the last eight years I’ve taught at this school, no one has ever given me an excuse as worthy as that one.” Half of his white mustache rose into a smile, and I nearly died of relief. “Your secret is safe,” he said. The class erupted in groans. “I do however, expect you here precisely at 3:00 this afternoon.”

Oh my gosh, I think I’m gonna cry.
“No problem. Thank you, Mr. Young.” I headed back to my seat.

“Oh, and Miss Hart?”

“Yes?” I turned around to face him.

“Please don’t be late for class like you were today.” The other students burst out laughing.

“Yes, sir.”
Nothing like trying to stay hidden. Sheez, this guy doesn’t miss anything.

As soon as the last bell rang at 2:55, I was out the door and headed toward Mr. Young’s classroom. I hadn’t had a chance to tell Alyssa and Madison about my punishment yet. They would probably be waiting for me, but it was too late now. I definitely didn’t want to upset Mr. Young more by showing up late because I’d tried to find my two best friends. This was one of those frustrating moments when I wished my parents would relent and let me have my own cell phone. Their overprotectiveness was pretty annoying. After all, didn’t cell phones actually save lives? When I scurried into the classroom, I noticed I had two minutes to spare.
Phew.

“Welcome back, Miss Hart. Please come in and have a seat.” Mr. Young pointed to a desk at the front of the room. I nervously sat down. “If you don’t mind, we’ll wait just a moment,” he said. “I’m expecting another visitor.”

Obviously, someone else had gotten in trouble today too. But what if I had to sit through detention or something?
Oh, no,
I thought suddenly.
I can’t make Alyssa and Madison wait that long. I’m going to have to call my mom to come get me.
“Mr. Young? How long am I going to be here?” My voice sounded squeaky like it always did when I was nervous.

Mr. Young looked behind me, then smiled and exclaimed, “Welcome to the class, Mr. Anderson. Would you please take a seat next to Miss Hart?”

I whipped my head around and saw Taylor standing there.
What? Oh, kill me now. This is by far the most humiliating day of my life!
I could tell by the questioning look Taylor gave me that he had no idea what this was about. I couldn’t make up my mind if that was good or not.

“Mr. Bradford, if you would be so kind as to shut the door and to wait outside,” Mr. Young said.

Zack’s here too?
I glanced at Taylor, who looked back at his friend and shrugged.

“I promise you will see your friend alive and safe in a moment. Thank you,” Mr. Young said just before Zack closed the door.

I am so sorry, Taylor,
I thought.
If there was anything I could take back, it would be this moment. No, it would be reading that note in class.