Page 8 of Spencer and the Younger Girl
“It’s just Paps. He’ll know what we should do.”
Her grandfather drummed his fingers on the counter. “A senior prank? One a scale of one to bad, how much trouble can you get in?”
“Depends what we do.” She shrugged. “But… our principal is pretty cool. I doubt he’ll punish us unless we like put his car on the roof or something.” Lies. He’d hate any sort of prank, but she couldn’t tell her grandfather she’d risk suspension for a few moments of adrenaline.
“Animals.”
“Animals?” She looked to Roman. “Do you know what he means?”
Her grandfather grinned. “They’re always a win. My senior year, we put chickens in the principal’s office.”
“They had senior pranks back in the stone ages?” She gasped. “And chickens?”
“We can’t bring animals into the school.” Roman leaned against the counter. “And chickens in the principal’s office is a bit lame.” He paused. “No offense.”
“None taken. But you’re wrong. We were gods at school the next week.”
That’s what Hadley wanted. Not the popularity, but she wanted to be remembered, to make her mark on a school she’d never been truly involved in. There’d be no pictures of teams she joined lining the halls, no trophies with her name on them in the giant case near the science wing.
She’d even missed getting her senior picture in on time for the yearbook.
It was like everything Hadley Gibson would be wiped clean from Gulf City High the moment she walked out those doors for the last time.
“Why not animals?” She needed something big, something they’d think about years from now.
“Hadley.” Roman shook his head. “We can’t.”
“It has to be overnight.” She stood, an idea coming to her. “I want them to still be in the halls when students arrive.”
“What animals? And where would we even get them?”
“Roman.” She turned to him. “All I’m hearing from you is ‘can’t.’ Do I need to ask that girlfriend of yours to help me instead?”
He laughed. “You can try.”
He was right. From the stories Roman told, Cassie used to be quite the troublemaker, but not so much anymore. She needed Roman to get on board.
“Goats, chickens, cows. Can you imagine people getting to school and finding a goat in their classroom?”
A smile spread across Roman’s face. “That would be pretty epic.”
“I like where this is going.” Her grandfather grinned. “It’s harmless and funny, but dear, we don’t have any goats.”
“Damien,” Roman said suddenly.
“What?” Hadley met his gaze.
“From the hockey team. Damien Lee.”
“Of course!” Her eyes lit up. “The Lee ranch just outside town. They must have animals we can rent or something. Hey! Wasn’t Damien the one who sabotaged the Zamboni for Charlotte a couple months ago? Think he’d help us?”
“Kids, hold up.” Her grandfather looked at each of them. “I know the Lee’s. There’s no way they’d allow this to happen.”
“For them to stop us, they’d have to know about it.” She gave her grandfather a pointed look. “We just need Damo.”
“Tomorrow is Sunday,” Roman said. “We can go out to the ranch then.”
Hadley nodded. This was the beginning of something—hopefully something great. They had a plan. All they needed was for Damien Lee to say yes.
