“Reluctantly, but yes. It was back when Principal Ballantine was in charge. He’s retired now. Some people say it was a forced retirement.”
“Because some kid got the wrong books? That’s insane.”
“It wasn’t just that. I’m not really sure what happened. I just heard rumors he’d been asked to leave. When Principal Edwards got the job, he hired Bianca to manage the store.”
“But he doesn’t trust her to run it?”
“He does, just not in the week before classes when everyone comes in to get their supplies. After that, not many people visit the bookstore again until second semester. Ms. Pruitt takes over during that week too.”
“What does she do the rest of the time?”
“She teaches English.”
“Good thing I’m not taking English.”
“Youaretaking it. Didn’t you look at your class list?”
She can’t be serious. I have to take English from that woman?
No way that’s happening.
Chapter 14
“I’m not taking it,” I say. “I already have my English credits.”
“You did at your last school,” Maria says. “This one is different. They have different requirements.”
“Then I’ll take the class from another teacher.”
“You can’t. She’s the only one.”
“There’s no way I’m taking a class from that woman. She just met me and already hates me.”
“You could’ve been nicer to her,” Maria says under her breath.
“Iwasnice to her. And she still hated me.”
“She just needs more time to get to know you.”
“It wouldn’t matter. Did you see the way she talked to me? There’s nothing I could do that would make that woman like me. And I don’t care. I’m not trying to win her approval. Let her hate me.”
“I wouldn’t worry about Ms. Pruitt. She was probably just in a bad mood today.”
“She wasn’t when this other girl came in. When she saw her, she raced over to help her like she was her favorite student.”
“What girl?”
“Some blonde girl,” I say, not wanting to tell her I met Kristen at Jackson’s house. I don’t want to bring up Jackson again, knowing Maria doesn’t like him. I like Maria, but she’s not my mom. I don’t want her telling me what to do.
Her phone dings. She checks it and sighs.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Shayla’s covering for me today at a client’s house. The owner’s dogs made a mess and she can’t get the stains out of the carpet. I need to go help her.”
“Is Shayla coming over again? To Brock’s house?”
“Not with Brock there. He doesn’t like her filling in for me.” She pulls in the driveway and parks. “Why do you ask?”
