Changing the Rules (Richter Book 1)(83)
The bell rang and his students started walking in the room. “Hey, Mr. Mitchel.”
He heard that name so often, he was starting to adopt it.
“Hi, Coach.”
“Morning, Gavin.”
The bell rang and the stragglers ran in.
“Everyone, pull out a piece of paper, put your bags on the floor. Time for a pop quiz.”
A collective moan went through the room.
He turned around and picked up a pen for his whiteboard.
Not one spitball.
He dropped the pen. “Never mind. Let’s have a shop day.”
Moans turned to cheers and they all filed out of the classroom and into the shop.
Sometimes it’s good to be the boss.
Claire sat in homeroom, watching the backs of kids’ heads. Her shortest class of the day had the last standing suspect in this end of the investigation.
She really hoped she wouldn’t be staring down a courtroom testifying against him.
Every once in a while, Eastman would look up at her and she’d look away.
Sean ignored her altogether.
Claire found herself tapping her fingers when she was thinking. Just like Cooper.
“Have you taken to doing your homework before you get to school these days, Porter?”
“I’m fresh out of homework all week, Eastman,” she told him. “Do you want me to do yours?”
There were a couple of snickers.
“I’ll be sure and let your teachers know they’re not challenging you enough.”
Claire sat back, placed a hand over her heart. “Ahh, and I was starting to think you didn’t care.”
He actually started to laugh, and when he did, the kids in the class felt like it was okay to laugh with him.
“You’ve got balls,” Dalia, who sat in front of her, said.
Claire shook her head. “I just know that in a few years, when I’m at some bar soaking up the scene, Eastman’s going to be sitting there nursing a light beer. When he sees me, I’m going to make him buy me a drink, and he’ll remember what a joy it was for me to be in his class.”
Eastman met her gaze, respect shined in his eyes.
The bell rang and she grabbed her pack.
She wanted to catch Sean before he ran off.
Eastman stopped her. “Porter?”
“Yeah?”
He shook his head. “Never mind.”
She took a step, turned. “We’re good?”
He smiled.
Claire stuck out her fist. He bumped it with hers. “Don’t forget that beer,” she said as she ran out of the room.
She saw the top of Sean’s head and followed it. “Sean?”
She moved closer.
“Sean?”
He turned back, expression blank.
“Wait up.”
Once at his side, Claire slowed down. “Can I talk to you a second?”
He sighed.
She pulled him out of the line of students scrambling to their next period.
“Listen, I’m sorry.”
“You said that yesterday. I get it. You’re not interested.” He did not want to be standing there.
“It wouldn’t be fair. You’re a good-looking guy. I’m sure plenty of girls here would love it if you ask them to prom.”
Confusion sat around Sean’s eyes. “You have a boyfriend or something?”
It’s not the first time you’ve said this, Claire, it probably won’t be your last. “I . . . Shit.” She took a dramatic pause right out of a Shakespearian play. She leaned close, put a hand to his ear, and whispered. “I’m a lesbian.”
Sean leaned back, a myriad of expressions passing over his face. Doubt, confusion, acceptance, and then that . . .
“Don’t look at me like that’s hot.”
“Well, it kinda is.”
“Sean!”
He went back to acceptance. “Well, at least it isn’t me.”
“Like I said. You’re good-looking. It just doesn’t do anything for me. But you know my friend Ally?”
“She a lesbian, too?”
“No.” Claire spat the word at him. “She talks about you all the time. I bet she’d go to prom with you in a heartbeat.”
“She goes to Bremerton now.”
“And hates the kids there. She’d love a chance to come to Auburn’s prom.”
The walkways were clearing out. They were both going to be late.
“I’ll think about it.”
They started walking again.
“I know this is really juicy gossip. But can you keep it on the down low for a little while? There’s someone I want to ask out and if this starts spreading it will probably scare her off.”
Sean had that hot look in his eyes again.
Claire hit his arm. “I’m serious.”
“Okay, okay.”
The bell rang.
“Aw, damn,” he cried.
Claire kept walking slow. “Just tell your teacher someone turned you down for prom, they’ll cut you some slack.” She put her fist out.
“I’m starting to think you do have balls.”
They had pizza, chocolate, soda, and chips.
No liquor.
Apparently the old bat found a bigger lock for the liquor cabinet.