“Welcome,” she says, her thin lips curling up. “Here to pick up your books?”
“We are.” Maria smiles back and pulls a sheet of paper from her purse. “I filled out the checklist and added some things the boys requested.”
The woman takes the list. “I’m Ms. Pruitt. And you are?”
“The housekeeper for the Halliways,” Maria says.
“Yes, I remember you now. We’re looking forward to having Trystan and Braden back.”
“And this is Rumor.” Maria motions to me. “She’ll be starting here next week.”
The lady peers over her narrow reading glasses to get a better look at me. From the crinkling up of her nose, I’m guessing she doesn’t approve of me showing up in ripped jeans and a faded black t-shirt with a guitar printed on it.
Principal Edwards looked at me the same way. He definitely doesn’t approve of me, but I don’t give a shit. I’ve decided I hate the guy.
“She’s Mr. Halliway’s niece,” Maria explains when the lady doesn’t say anything. “She’ll be spending her senior year here and then going back to New York.”
“There are many fine schools in New York,” Ms. Pruitt says to me. “How did you end up here?”
“My mom died.”
I say it with zero emotion, just like I practiced. I’ve been practicing it because I’m sure I’ll be saying it a lot the next few weeks. I considered lying and making up an elaborate story of why I’m here, but then assumed Braden and Trystan would tell everyone the truth and make me look like an idiot for lying.
Telling the truth might actually be good. The dead mom story will freak people out and keep them away from me, at least for a little while.
Ms. Pruitt turns to Maria. “Did you fill out her list?”
“Yes.” She hands it to her.
Ms. Pruitt didn’t even react to the dead mom comment. That’s strange.
“This is the returning student list.” Ms. Pruitt gives it back to Maria. “She needs the one for new students.”
“Oh. I didn’t know. If you give it to me, I’ll fill it out now.”
“Never mind. As a new student, she’ll likely need everything on the list. Does she have an account set up?”
“You can charge it to Mr. Halliway.”
She nods. “I assume she already picked up her uniforms.”
“Yes. I got them last week.”
Ms. Pruitt looks over the list. “I’ll go gather the boys’ things first, then work on the girl’s.”
“It’s Rumor,” I say as she walks away.
She turns back. “What was that?”
“My name. It’s Rumor.”
She tips her chin up. “How unfortunate. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Is she for real?” I say to Maria.
“What do you mean?”
“How unfortunate,” I repeat in the tone the old lady used, lifting my chin in the air like she did. “Who talks like that?”
