“Ms. Halliway,” I hear someone say.
I look over and see Principal Edwards sitting next to me.
Chapter 20
“Principal Edwards,” I say, my heart racing. Just being near him is making me nervous now that I know the truth about him. “What are you doing here?”
He stares out at the ocean. “Sometimes after a long day I like to come out here and think. How about you?”
“I just wanted to get out of the house. A friend’s picking me up. I’m waiting for her.”
He glances down at the sack on my lap. “Do you always bring cupcakes and roses to the beach?”
“It’s a gift,” I blurt out. “For my friend. The one picking me up.”
“Is this friend someone from school?”
“No. She’s done with school,” I lie, not wanting to tell him she’s from Legion.
“And how long have you been seeing her?”
“Seeing her?” I ask, confused by his question. That’s an odd way to phrase it. “I guess a couple weeks.”
He nods. “Funny, I didn’t know that about you. I usually pick up on that right away.”
“Pick up on what?”
“There’s no need to hide it. I have no issues with girls liking other girls.”
“Wait, no, that’s not what I—”
“Is this your meeting spot? So your uncle doesn’t find out? You really should tell him. I doubt he’d be upset about it.”
Just as I’m about to explain I’m not dating Shayla, Principal Edwards stands up and slowly smiles. “Mr. Novak.”
Novak?
I quickly stand up and see Jackson coming up the hill, the folded-up tent under his arm.
“Mr. Edwards,” Jackson says, glancing at me, then back at Principal Edwards. I can see the panic in his eyes, but it quickly fades as he goes into actor mode, playing it cool, even though he has no idea what’s going on.
“I didn’t expect to see so many of my students here today,” Principal Edwards says. “Orformerstudents in your case,” he says to Jackson. “I would’ve thought you’d be at football practice this time of day.”
“I wasn’t feeling well,” Jackson says, stopping when he reaches us. “I thought some fresh air might make me feel better.”
“And yet you brought a tent.”
“To keep the sun off me. I left it open to let the air in.”
Principal Edwards smiles. “Perhaps you could share your tent with Ms. Halliway.”
Jackson looks at me, the panic back in his eyes. Does he think I told Principal Edwards about us? I need to say something.
“For me and my friend,” I blurt out. “My friend is meeting me here,” I say to Jackson.
Principal Edwards motions to the sack in my hand. “She already has the flowers and dessert. All she needs is a private place to enjoy them.”
“I don’t need the tent,” I say with a laugh. “We’re probably not even going to stay. She’s just picking me up.”
