“I don’t care what you thought. I didn’t lie. I don’t deserve your anger, Ja—Leo. God, that’s weird to call you,” I tell him.
“It’s weird hearing you say it, and not-so-weird calling you Jillie.”
“It’s my name.”
I start walking back to class again.
“How long will you be in Shell Beach?” he asks, but I know he already knows. He clearly heard me tell Elan.
“I’m only here temporarily and I don’t know how long. Just as I told you. I didn’t lie about anything.”
He nods, still wielding that grim set to his lips.
Whatever, dude.
“I better get back to class,” I tell him and start walking.
He stops me just outside the classroom.
“There’s a lot more that needs to be said, Jillie.”
“No. I don’t think there is, Leo. We’re obviously not friends. We don’t even know one another. That night was supposed to be just that—that night,” I tell him.
“But it’s not. We’re right here.”
“Look, Leo. I don’t want you to get all Hulk-like again, but in our bubble, it was great. But we’re not in that bubble anymore. I don’t date jocks—”
“What about Eee-laane?” he interrupts, deliberately mispronouncing his name.
“It’s E-lahn, but you already knew that. He may be a jock, but he’s not douchy to me. He’s been nice. I don’t want to get involved with what everyone around here seems to call “richies”, and I certainly don’t wantanypart of the Ella-Leo drama going on there.”
“It’s Ellen,” he corrects.
I nod. “That’s what I said.”
“It’s not—you know what? Never mind.”
“Probably for the best.”
He just nods and opens the door for me—angrier than before.
We take our seats and when I look over at him, he’s looking straight ahead. He never looks my way again.
I’m so glad when the day is over. I have calculus homework, but that’s it. My backpack is much lighter on the way out than it was on the way in. I’m walking toward Audrey and Isla when I spot Headmaster Hollingsworth. I only met him once, but there’s no mistaking the man. He’s tall, lanky, and kinda nerdy, but he’s super nice.
“Headmaster Hollingsworth,” I say by way of greeting.
He nods and grins. “Jillian. Are you integrating well? It’s kind of a madhouse.” I’m surprised he remembers me from the enrollment interview. You see, to get into SBH or SBA you have to be approved. Apparently, I passed muster.
I shrug. “It’s going okay. I have a question for you, though.”
“Sure.”
“Are we allowed to wear Chucks? I’ve seen a few other girls wearing them, but I wanted to make sure it was okay, so I don’t get into trouble.”
“Yes, you may. Anything that covers your feet completely and blends in with the school colors. No sandals, no—what my wife likes to call peep-toe shoes, no flip-flops. And you must wear socks. Those are the only requirements of footwear,” he tells me, and I grin.
“I knew it. Thank you so much, Headmaster Hollingsworth.”
