“Good-bye, Eva.”
Eva didn’t acknowledge her leaving. She’d rather not acknowledge Lily at all.
* * *
Lily’s easy ride to the beginning of her teaching career was brought to a grinding halt in its third week when two kids started arguing at the back of her honors class.
She’d had a few problems with one of them already—Denny Marshall could be disruptive and talkative, but Lily had always managed to dial it back before it escalated.
Until today.
“Give it back!”
Lily was surprised by the shout. Carly Adams barely said a word in class, staunchly ignoring Denny’s antics despite sitting beside him.
Lily was even more surprised by the shove—so strong it nearly knocked Denny off his stool. As anger washed over his face, Lily didn’t want to see what he might retaliate with.
“Carly!” The shout—the first time she’d had to truly raise her voice—silenced the whole class, several shocked faces turning toward her. “Outside. Now.”
Carly threw Lily a poisonous look, but she complied, stalking to the door and making sure to slam it shut behind her.
“Denny, would you come here please?”
His stool screeched against the floor as he shoved himself to his feet and approached her desk.
“Do you want to tell me what that was all about?”
“She said I could borrow a pen.”
“Did she? Because it sounds like you stole one.”
“Okay, fine, I took it, but she didn’t have to act like such a psycho about it.”
“I don’t think that language is appropriate, do you?” Lily met his gaze, and Denny’s cheeks reddened.
“Sorry, Miss Cross.”
“Consider this your warning—any more trouble from you, and you’ll be in detention after school. Go back to your seat.”
Denny nodded, ducking his head as he returned to his seat. Lily watched him go before rising from her own, intending to seek out Carly and give her the same speech.
“What are you doing out here, Carly?”
Lily heard the question as she stepped into the hall and did a double-take when she realized who was speaking. She’d never heard Eva sound like that—soft, almost fond—and Lily watched as Eva stopped beside where Carly leaned against a row of lockers.
“Miss Cross sent me out.” Carly was sullen, her head bowed.
“What for?”
“Pushing Denny Marshall.”
Eva groaned, pinching at the bridge of her nose. “What have I told you about being careful, Carly?”
Lily debated leaving Eva and Carly to it and edging back into her classroom—after all, it felt wrong to eavesdrop like this, but was it really her fault if Eva hadn’t heard her approach?
“It wasn’t my fault!” Carly’s voice was laced with indignation. “He was being a dick, and I hate sitting next to him, and—”
Eva cut her off. “Did you try using your words? Asking Miss Cross if she would move you, perhaps?”
