Page 160 of The Silent Note

“That’s good. And I’m relieved you liked the food. Zane spent the entire morning buying fresh ingredients. He said he wanted to surprise you.”

“Zane didwhat?”

“He didn’t tell you?” Cadence laughs prettily. “That’s unlike Zane to not take credit for a grand gesture.”

Was that supposed to be where he earned his second smile from me?

I glance over the hallway. It’s crowded with students heading to their next class, but there’s a very noticeable perimeter around me and Cadence. It’s like a bubble that no one dares to enter.

“WhereisZane? I haven’t seen him since first bell.”

Cadence crinkles her nose. “I’m not sure. Dutch went to check on Finn, just in case he needs help with the flash drive. Maybe Zane went with him?”

“Yeah, maybe.”

Serena lumbers toward us. “Thanks for waiting for me, Cadence. Hey, Miss Jamieson.”

“Hi, Serena.” I smile. “I like your hair.”

“Oh, thanks. It’s been a while since I pinned it up like a bob. I keep saying I’ll cut my hair short for real, but my mom absolutelyrefuses.” She rolls her eyes.

“How’s your mom doing?”

“Oh, you know…” She shrugs. “Getting there.”

It’s clear she doesn’t want to talk about it, so I awkwardly tack on, “Well, I’m sure there’s a good reason she doesn’t want you to cut your hair.”

“Mm-hm.” She nods. “Hey, I heard about your classes being super crowded today. Congrats.”

“I don’t know if that’s anything to congratulate me on,” I murmur. “I’m sure some people were just there to get out of PE.”

The PE teacher came into the teacher’s lounge glaring daggers at me after first break.

“I don’t think so.” Serena tilts her head. “When I was in the bathroom, I heard the freshmen raving about your lectures. A lot of them genuinely enjoy the way you teach.”

“Really?”

“They want to start a petition to have you teach next year.”

I laugh shyly, but inside, I feel warm. My reason for coming to Redwood was to investigate The Grateful Project, but I fell in love with teaching. I love the way students come alive during our debates. I love teaching them real, relevant lessons from classics written hundreds of years ago. I love watching them find their creative writing talents. Plus, I find it gratifying to protect the scholarship students the way no one protected me.

But teaching isn’t in the cards for my future. I’m well aware that my world will shatter when I expose the truth. Forget Jarod Cross and The Grateful Project, Redwood itself will rise up against me, using everything at their disposal to tear me down.

And they have a giant bomb by the name of Zane Cross at their disposal.

No school will allow me to teach their children if the truth about my relationship with Zane comes to light. Even if I move away from Redwood, that darkness will follow me like a shadow and the bomb will keep ticking in my ears.

The musical bells chime, and I wave goodbye to Cadence, heading to my next class soberly in thought.

Each of my sessions are filled to capacity. The buzz around my lectures have even roped back in a few of my regular students. Although Maisy is noticeably absent, Vanya does give me a little smile of apology as she leaves during my last lecture.

The day is over and yet I haven’t seen Zane at all.

I keep waiting for him to walk through the door and give me that signature, Zane grin, but it hasn’t happened yet.

His absence leaves a sharp piercing in my gut.

I don’t know when Zane got under my skin. It was a quiet thing, soaking through my defenses like water, like mist. I’m aware of the shadows he’s brought into my life, the darkness, the obstacles. But like the stories written about Greek gods who willingly descended to Hades for their lovers, there’s a part of me willing to walk through hell if it means I get to keep my hand in his.

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