Attitudes at this school needed to change and, no matter how small a difference she could make, Lily was going to do something about it.
When she’d managed to calm down, she went into the hall and found Denny sulking outside her door.
“That kind of behavior is unacceptable,” Lily said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. “And I won’t tolerate it in my classroom.” She knew she could say more, but she’d wasted enough of her lesson on him already. “Here.” She handed him the detention slip she’d just filled out. “You’ll be spending an hour after school with me tonight.”
“But I’ve got football practice.”
“Should’ve thought about that before you opened your mouth, shouldn’t you?”
“But—”
“But nothing,” Lily said, cutting him off. She knew his type—the school jock who thought they were above punishment because they belonged to a team. “Don’t turn up, and it’ll be a weeks’ worth. See what Coach thinks about that.”
Denny scowled, but he didn’t argue, taking the detention slip and slouching back into her classroom.
Thankfully, the remaining fifteen minutes of the lesson passed without incident.
* * *
I’m having a shitty day at work,Lily typed, once her final class of the day had rushed out the door.Cheer me up?
Elsa’s messages were fast becoming the highlight of her day, and Lily thought it would be just the pick-me-up she needed.
Sea otters hold hands when they sleep.
Animal facts? Oh my God, are you a secret nerd? That is otterly adorable.
…Puns? Really?
Lily was still smiling when she knocked on Mei’s door.
Mei sat behind her desk and pulled out her earbuds when she saw Lily. “Hey. I hear you’ve had an eventful day. Tore Denny Marshall a new one.”
“How do you know that?”
“Everyone was talking about it at lunch. Apparently you’re scary,” she said, and Lily laughed. “I don’t see it myself, but it must mean I’ve not managed to piss you off yet.”
“There’s still time.”
“Don’t get on the wrong side of you—got it,” Mei said, chuckling. “You keeping him for detention?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I was so mad at him I forgot what day it was—could he sit in here? I’ve got a GSA meeting in my room.”
“Sure.” Mei didn’t hesitate, and Lily felt a swell of gratitude.
“Thank you. I’ll bring you a pack of Twizzlers tomorrow as payment for putting up with him for an hour.”
“Payment I will gladly accept.”
“I’ll bring him in when he gets here.” Or should that be if? Lily wasn’t convinced he’d turn up at all.
Lily had lost all hope by the time she’d ushered the last of the GSA kids into her classroom with the promise she’d join them soon. Macie launched into business as Lily hovered by the door, only half-listening.
“As we all know, today is National Coming Out day. We didn’t decide to do a school wide event, but—”
Lily tuned her out as Denny came into view, slouching down the hall toward her.
“Sorry I’m late. I had to explain to Coach why I wouldn’t be at practice.” His lip curled, and Lily hoped it had been an unpleasant conversation.
