Page 76 of Here & There

“Now, Mr. MacGregor, please calm down. I didn’t say that.”

The way he says that makes something twang in my mind. Some memory I can’t place.

But I don’t have time to search, because I’m pissed.

“No,” I say. “I won’t, actually. This is ridiculous. I came here for help and?—”

The school bell rings, alarmingly loud. Have we really been here that long?

“Well, I’m afraid that’s all the time we have for today,” the principal says. “Think about what I said, won’t you?”

Exasperation runs through me. Panic, too. Nate’s going to be out there now, knowing I’m here. Not only that, but his situation won’t have improved.

The only satisfaction I get is when I stand up, the principal seems to have forgotten the discrepancy in our sizes. Being my size led to a lot of awkwardness growing up. I hit my head a lot. Stubbed my toe on things. Hunched over when talking to shorter people as I adjusted. But for dicks? They get the part of me that takes up space.

Principal Ass-ews flinches as I lean over the desk.

And that’s when it hits me. Idoknow this man. It’s the flinch and those words before:calm down!He’s one of my father’s old mayoral opponents. He ran every single time my dad did and lost every time. My dad used him as a lesson for us as kids, because he ran on a platform of fear and scarcity. He was, in fact, a bully.

“Mac!” Shelby says, sounding concerned.

Good thing MacGregors don’t stand for bullies.

I reach back and grasp Shelby’s hand again, and this time, it’s me giving her a reassuring squeeze. It’s actually good the principal is a dick. Nate and I can bond over that. Also, it means I get to pick the option I wanted to choose in the first place.

But Shelby tugs on my hand. I turn to look at her. Her eyes are big and wide, but her brows are knitted together. “Mac,” shewhispers. She rises up on her toes. “What would you want Nate to see you do?”

Anger roils in my chest, but at those words, a calmness settles. She asked me earlier what my father would have done about a bully. I didn’t know before. But I do know now.

“Are we done here?” Matthews asks.

I give Shelby a nod. “It’s okay.” I smile softly, cupping her face and running my thumb over her cheekbone.

Then I turn back to the principal. “Yes, Matthews. We’re done. No thanks to you.”

I lean over the desk. He shrinks back. “You, Mr. Matthews,” I say, “are a goddamned popsicle stick.”

On the way out of the office, the secretary flags us down. “I’m so sorry about your meeting,” she says. Outside, a rush of students crowds the hallway. I’m anxious to leave and find Nate now that the original plan is shot. “Mrs. Holloway is on a short leave,” she whispers. “Mr. Matthews is only here for a few more months, and between you and me, everyone will be better for it when he goes. Whatever he told you, you should know Nate’s a good kid, you two ought to be very proud.”

“Oh,” Shelby says, “I’m not?—”

“Thank you,” I say. “We are proud.”

Shelby looks at me wide-eyed again, and I’m not going to lie, I kind of love the mistake. I can’t say exactly why, except that it feels right. Shelby would make an amazing mother. To Nate, in particular.

“Thank you,” I say to the secretary, whose name tag saysJean. “Jean, would you mind telling me which bus is Nate’s?”

I can feel Shelby’s questioning gaze, but I don’t look at her. I just squeeze her hand once more, since we didn’t actually separate once we left Principal Ass-ews room. Jean tells us and gives me directions. “Better hurry, though. It leaves in a couple of minutes.”

I give her a hasty thanks, then finally separate from Shelby. I toss my truck keys to her as I jog out into the hallway.

She catches them on instinct. “Wait, Mac, what are you doing?”

“Meet us at home?”

“Mac.” Shelby’s looks gravely concerned. “What about you two? Where are you going?”

“We’re taking the bus.”

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