I throw my arms out at my sides. “I don’t have a few weeks.”
“If you don’t know, then no one knows.” She takes a tentative step toward me. “You’re not going to be at a disadvantage if you don’t talk to Dr. Freck today.”
I take a step back. “I know you’re trying to be helpful, and I appreciate it, but I’m just going to go to the headmaster’s office.”
“And what are you going to do? Sit outside his office until he agrees to answer all your questions?” She laughs. When I don’t join in, her smile falls. “You can’t be serious.”
“Why not? It’s a great plan.” I start walking again, and Lily follows beside me.
“Um, because you can’t miss class.”
The old Ella didn’t miss class. The new Ella might not care about such trivial things. It’s hard to say what matters until I get a chance to talk to Dr. Freck and get some answers. I look back at the Bates building where the majority of our academic classes are held. “The bell is about to ring. There’s no reason for us both to be late.”
There’s hesitation in her eyes, but she eventually turns and walks in the opposite direction. I pick up my pace as I close the distance between me and the administrative offices.
It’s much quieter on this side of the campus. This building houses the business office, the teacher’s lounge, and, most importantly, the headmaster’s office. My shoes make a soft squeaking noise as I walk across the polishedterrazzo floors to his office. As predicted, the door is closed, and the lights are off. I’ve beaten him here.
“Can I help you, Miss Adams?” Ms. Chen says from behind a desk that sits outside his door. Her dark hair comes to her shoulders with the smallest amount of grey framing her face.
My fingers tap against her desk. “I’m here to talk to Dr. Freck.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. He’s not here right now, but I’d be happy to let him know you stopped by.” When the bell rings signifying the start of class, she frowns and pulls out a yellow pad of paper. “Where are you supposed to be right now? I’ll write you a pass.”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll wait for him.” I sit in one of the chairs lining the wall before she can tell me no.
Ms. Chen’s brows furrow. “Ella, you can’t just wait for him. He’s very busy and I don’t know when he’ll be back, but I will?—”
“I don’t mind.” I lean down and pull a book from my backpack. It’s the summer reading that I’ve already finished but I open it up and look down at its pages. There’s no way I can focus on the words, but it’s better than fidgeting.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake.” Ms. Chen sighs.
I’m already formulating my arguments for why I can’t leave, but she’s looking past me. I turn and see Connor walking toward us. I quickly force my head toward the book in my hands, but my eyes follow Connor through lowered lashes as he approaches her desk.
“Hello, Ms. Chen.” His fingers graze the leaves of the small plant on her desk. “How was your summer?”
She brushes his hand away. “I guess it’s safe to assume you’re here to see Dr. Freck?”
Even though I can’t see his face, I know he’s flashing his signature smile at our headmaster’s administrative assistant. “Only if it’s okay with you. I don’t want to impose.”
Her face is expressionless as she stares at Connor. Without breaking eye contact, she grabs the walkie-talkie from her desk and brings it to her mouth. “Dr. Freck?”
“Yes, Kathy?” comes his static reply.
“What’s your location?”
“I’m in The Yard encouraging some stragglers to hurry up and get to class. Is everything okay?”
“A few of those…stragglersended up at your office, and they want to talk to you.”
There’s a pause before he responds. “I’ll be right there.”
Ms. Chen sets the walkie down and motions to the chair next to me. “Have a seat.”
Connor turns around. His dark hair is messy like he’s run his hands through it several times. When he sees me, his eyes narrow. He grabs the empty chair next to me and pulls it a few inches away from me before sitting down.
“Real mature,” I say under my breath.
“Says the girl who interrupted Dr. Freck in the middle of the assembly.”
