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But then she grabbed my hand and pulled me to the back of the room.

“He knows,” Scarlett hissed as we sat down.

Yeah... That’s what I was thinking too. “But how? Seriously...how?”

“Someone else must have known that Mr. Halifax was the mascot.”

“Shit,” I whispered. “Scarlett, what have I done? I didn’t want him to get fired.”

She didn’t say anything.

“I feel like I’m going to be sick.”

Scarlett reached across the aisle and squeezed my hand. “It’s going to be okay.”

No. It wasn’t. I was literally about to be sick to my stomach. I’d gotten Mr. Halifax fired. For having sex with a student. He was never going to be able to get a job anywhere else. And I knew this was what he loved to do. God, he probably needed this job.

“Take a deep breath,” Scarlett said.

“Scarlett, I’ve ruined his life.”

“You don’t even know if he’s been fired.”

“Your dad said he wasn’t sick. Why else would he be covering this class for him?”

“Deep breaths,” Scarlett said again, instead of answering my question.

My cheeks puffed up. But I was somehow able to keep it down when I followed her instructions. I took another deep breath. This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening.

The bell rang.

And Uncle James was still sitting there. With a smile on his face.

Fuck me.

“Where’s Mr. Halifax?” someone asked.

“Well, I have some news about that,” Uncle James and said and stood up. “Mr. Halifax is no longer with us.”

“He’s dead?!” Scarlett croaked.

My heart stopped beating.

“What?” Uncle James laughed. “No, pumpkin. Your previous teacher got a new job somewhere else. So I’m going to be covering a few of his more advanced classes this semester.”

My brain slowly processed his words. A new job. Somewhere...else?

Scarlett leaned over. “He probably changed schools so he could be with you.” She looked very pleased.

I exhaled slowly. She was right. I raised my hand.

“Yes, Sophie?” Uncle James said.

“What school is he teaching at now?”

“Don’t tell me he went to Berstein Prep,” someone said. “Traitor.”

“No,” Uncle James said. “He’s not teaching anywhere in the city.”