Page 3 of The Perfect Steal

Ms. Riley tapped along at the keyboard for a few minutes while I pulled out my phone, looking up some of the news in major league baseball since the final game of the World Series would be played that night. Too bad the Astros missed out on the finals that year.

The sound of a printer hit my ear, and I glanced up, wondering if she’d finished with my schedule.

Ms. Riley stood to grab the paper from the wall just outside her office. “Okay, so here is the new schedule. I had to move you to the sixth-period art class to accommodate for English and Math. We’ll have to count your extra P.E. credit for a health class, but because you didn’t take either of those core classes last year, you’ll either have to take a test for each or come back for summer school.”

Summer was my time, especially since it wouldn’t be an election year for my father. That meant fewer functions I had to attend.

“I’ll take the tests.” How hard could it be?

“Okay, you can let me know, and I’ll get it scheduled for you.”

“As soon as possible. And can you add the note about the health and P.E. credit somewhere in my file? I don’t want to not graduate because I thought I was all clear.” I might be a cynic, but growing up with a father who created and sold apps for a living and then became the mayor of a small town, you learn to be careful.

Ms. Riley typed into the computer a bit before turning her screen toward me. “I’ve just added that note in there and put my signature next to it. You should be good to go.”

I took out my phone and snapped a picture of the screen. After a nod, I picked up the paper printed with my schedule and nodded, ready to walk out of the room.

“Just a second. Let me fill out a form you can take to each of your new teachers telling them you’re in that class period now.” She wrote several things on a blue paper, and I started thinking about the amount of colored paper the school used with all their notes.

“Okay, here you go. And, Nate,” she said as I turned back. “You can come in and talk anytime. About anything, okay?”

I doubted I’d need to confide in her, but I was grateful she’d fixed everything now instead of making me scramble in a year, trying to make up for classes I should’ve taken.

“Thanks. Have a good one,” I said, walking out into the hall.

“I’ll let you know when I’ve scheduled the tests,” she called behind me.

I glanced at the sheet, trying to figure out where I should be now. Life Skills? How was that supposed to count toward my credits?

Hopefully, it was just as easy as it sounded.

2

Brynn

I leaned over my desk, still exhausted from the conditioning we’d had that morning for basketball. Tryouts were starting on Thursday, just two days away, and as tired as I was after, at least my lungs were only half burning this time.

Life Skills. Not the class I would’ve picked. That’s where my counselor had come in, trying to convince me that I needed something like this to fulfill a social science or something. I’d survived so far on not having to do too much, but with my luck, a chunk of homework would end up coming near the end of the semester, along with all the major tests for my junior year honors and AP classes.

“Are you ready for today?” Kate asked, slipping into the desk next to me. At least she was here to keep me company, even though she was a teacher’s assistant for our class since she was a senior.

I gave her a side-eye. “What’s supposed to be today?”

She clapped her hands together and grinned at me. “It’s time to see who your husband is!”

Frowning, my stomach dropped. I’d just talked to Hazel, my cousin, last night about not needing boys in my life right now, and Kate thought this was funny?

With a quick nudge, she laughed again. “The look on your face is priceless. I need to take a picture.” She bent over to get her phone out of her pocket as Mrs. Rhodes began talking at the front of the room.

“Good afternoon, class. Please take your seats so we can get started. We have a lot to cover today.” I could barely process her words as I was trying to figure out what Kate meant about the husband thing.

A few stragglers walked into class, taking their seats as Mrs. Rhodes stared them down with a smile. “Perfect. We’ve worked on several things this semester, but my favorite unit is up next. It’s time for your big lifestyle project.”

My brain caught onto the words “lifestyle project.” Give me a beaker and some chemicals or an equation to calculate and I was golden. A project that didn’t have a specific formula to it would make me go crazy.

Mrs. Rhodes stepped behind her desk and pulled out a clipboard. With it rested on her hip, she glanced out at the rest of us. I had to avoid looking in Kate’s direction because she was practically dancing with joy. We were good friends and all, but sometimes she could be just like Hazel, a little over the top.

“I have split you into pairs for this assignment, and it will take the rest of the semester to complete.” A groan rippled throughout the room, and Mrs. Rhodes waited for us to quiet. “Your project will consist of different sections. Each section will have a due date for when it’s to be completed and needs to be done with your partner.”

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