Page 76 of And They Were Roommates

Jasper stops in his tracks. “Whyever do you say that?”

If Jasper thinks I can’t figure out that exchange, then he looks down on me more than I already thought. “Jasper.”

Jasper turns, journal tucked beneath an arm, the ocean-blue gemstone clasp sparkling in the antique lamp lights. He sighs. “My room in my aunt’s quarters is gone.”

“What, like, bibbidi-bobbidi-boo?”

“She reverted it into an office earlier this year. I asked about my suite from last year too, but it’s permanently occupied by that first year with a senator for a father. So, yes, I slept in Xavier’s room. Well, the floor.”

“You can’t sleep on the floor of your aunt’s office?”

“We don’t particularly speak much,” Jasper says. “So I’m not sure how to broach the subject of sleeping on her floor. And she is technically still my principal, and…” He massages the back of his neck, faltering.

I grip my forehead. “Okay, you can’t keep sleeping on Xavier’s floor. I’ll feel bad.”

Jasper’s tired eyes open wide. “For me?”

“ForXavier.”

His shoulders shrink, and I don’t feel bad for him. Idon’t. “He could’ve declined my request, so I’d refrain.” He studies me. “I didn’t expect you’d come to the meeting. You told me you were done.”

I rub the back of my head. “I’m under fire here too. I’ll keep helping STRIP for now.”

“We should finish these hundred letters together as soon as possible, then.” Jasper nudges his head toward his office. “You can use the fairy-tale books back here for your blackout poetry.”

Working together? Now of all times?

“Yeah, no,” I say. “I’ll talk to my friend and help with the re-delivery, but that’s it.”

Jasper’s mouth hangs open slightly, like he’s deciding how to say whatever comes next. “I admit, I no longer have enough time to finish the letters on my own.”

“Wait, seriously?”

“I have an estimated seventy left. I need you, Charlie.”

The words make my stomach flip in a way it shouldn’t. I cover it up with the biggest sigh I can manage. “Fine. Whatever. But we’ll write separately.”

Jasper barely nods. “Very well.”

Chapter 27OUR MUTUAL FRIEND

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16

“Family emergency?” Ms. Lyney repeats behind the office counter. Her fuzzy sweater shoutsVALENTINE NAM AMOR TRADITIONALIS EDUCATIONISat the top of its lungs.

“Yes.” My voice comes out half robot, half butler. I can’t control it when the number of lies I’ve told since coming to Valentine has stacked up like Tetris blocks.

“How could you have possibly heard about a family emergency without first hearing from your said family emergency contact?”

Fair question.

“Um.” My gaze shifts toward a few gnomes staring back with their beady, foreboding eyes. “I’d rather not talk about something so personal.”

She picks up the phone. “Shall I call your mother and ask?”

I reach forward so quickly that Ms. Lyney jumps, and I internally smack myself for being so obvious. This might be my only chance to convince Delilah to help STRIP. As my eyes land on the gnomes again, an impressively poor strategy hits me, but it’s all I’ve got. “M-my mom got cast onGnome in Loveover summer vacation.”

Ms. Lyney gasps. Like she believes me.

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