All These Things I've Done (Birthright #1)(9)

‘Anya, have you met Win?’ Scarlet asked. She slightly raised her eyebrow to let me know that he was the one she’d been telling me about.

‘In the principal’s office. She was busy getting herself in trouble,’ Win said.

‘Story of my life,’ I said. I started eating the vegetable potpie in what I hoped was a somewhat ladylike fashion. Even though I was sick of smelling the stuff, I was still famished.

As the bell rang, Win and Scarlet left, and I concentrated on speed-eating. I noticed that Win had forgotten his hat.

Just as the second bell rang, Win returned to the cafeteria.

I held out the hat to him.

‘Thanks,’ he said. He was about to leave but then he sat down on the chair across from me. ‘Felt rude to leave you here all alone.’

‘It’s fine. You’re late.’ I took one last forkful. ‘Besides, I like my own company.’

He crossed his hands over his knee. ‘I’ve got independent study this period anyway.’

I looked at him. ‘Suit yourself.’ Scarlet was into him and there was no way I would ever go for a guy she was into, no matter how nice his hands were. If there was one thing my dad had taught me, it was the importance of loyalty. ‘How do you know Scarlet?’

‘French,’ he said, and he left it at that.

‘Well, I’m done now,’ I informed him. It was high time for Win to be on his way.

‘You forgot something,’ he said. He removed the hairnet from my hair, his thumb gently grazing my forehead, and my curls spilt out. ‘The hairnet’s nice and all, but I think I prefer you without it.’

‘Oh,’ I said. I felt myself blush and so I ordered myself to stop blushing. This flirtation was starting to annoy me. ‘Why did you move here anyway?’

‘My dad’s the new number two in the DA’s office.’ It was well known that DA Silverstein was basically a puppet – too old and ailing to be effective. Being the second-in-command was actually like being the first-in-command but without the annoyance of having to run in an election. Things must have been pretty bad for them to have brought in someone from Albany. An outside hire implied a major regime change. In my opinion, that could only be a good thing, as the city couldn’t get much worse. I didn’t remember exactly what had happened to the old number two, but it was probably the usual: he’d been incompetent or a thief. Possibly incompetent and a thief.

‘Your dad’s the new top cop?’

‘He thinks he’s gonna clean everything up,’ Win said.

‘Good luck to him,’ I said.

‘Yeah, he’s probably pretty naive.’ Win shrugged. ‘Calls himself an idealist, though.’

‘Hey! I thought you said your people were farmers,’ I said.

‘My mother is. She’s an agricultural engineer specializing in irrigation systems. Basically a magician who grows crops without water. My father used to be the Albany DA, though.’

‘That’s . . . You lied!’

‘No, I only mentioned what was relevant to your question, which, if you recall, was how did I get my calluses? And I certainly did not get my calluses because my dad’s the DA.’

‘I think you didn’t say anything because you knew who my father was, and . . .’

‘And?’ Win prompted me.

‘And maybe you thought I wouldn’t want to make friends with a guy whose family is on the opposite side of the law from my family.’

‘Star-crossed lovers and all of that—’

‘Hold on, I didn’t say—’

‘I take it back. And I apologize if I misled you in any way.’ Win looked a bit amused with me. ‘That’s certainly a good theory, Anya.’

I told Win I had to get to class, which, in point of fact, I did. I was already five minutes late for Twentieth-Century American History.

‘See you around,’ he said as he tipped his hat.

On the board, Mr Beery had written Those who don’t remember history are doomed to repeat it. I wasn’t sure if this was meant to be inspirational, thematic, or a joke about making sure to study.

‘Anya Balanchine,’ Mr Beery said. ‘Nice of you to join us.’

‘I’m sorry, Mr Beery. I had lunch duty.’

‘Thus, Ms Balanchine provides us with a walking example of the societal problems of crime, punishment and recidivism. If you can tell me why this is so, I won’t send you back to the principal’s office for a late pass.’

I’d only had Mr Beery for one day so I couldn’t completely tell if he was serious or not.

‘Ms Balanchine. We’re waiting.’

I tried not to sneer when I answered, ‘The criminal is punished for his or her crimes, but the punishment itself leads to more crimes. I was punished for fighting by being given lunch duty, but the lunch duty itself made me tardy.’

‘Dingdingdingdingding! Give this woman a prize,’ Mr Beery said. ‘You may take your seat, Ms Balanchine. And now, boys and girls, can anyone tell me what the Noble Experiment refers to?’

Alison Wheeler, the pretty redhead who would likely be our class’s valedictorian, raised her hand.

‘No need for any hand-raising in my classroom, Ms Wheeler. I like to think of us as being in discussion.’