Page 15 of Wylder and the Secret Rockstar
“Something must be very wrong if Wylder Anderson’s eyes are leaking.” He rubbed her back, and she bent her head against his shoulder, letting the tears fall. That was the best thing about Killian. He never asked questions. He wasn’t the type to pry, but he was the type to always be there for his friends.
He didn’t say anything. He just let her cry. He had sisters and a single mom, he knew how to deal with girls better than most guys his age.
“Is Wylder all right?” Sebastian’s voice sent her burrowing deeper into Killian’s side.
“Don’t you have a class to teach, Mr. Cook?” She shot back at him. She couldn’t believe he’d followed her out here when he was supposed to be teaching.
“She’s fine,” Killian insisted. “Wylder’s bark is worse than her bite. She’s just having a moment. You know the stress of this school is kind of off the charts.”
“Come to my office this afternoon, Miss Anderson. We have to talk about you leaving my class this morning.”
“She’ll be there.” Killian steered her away from Sebastian, glancing over his shoulder to see if he’d gone back inside. “It’s the first day of school, and it’s not even lunch yet. You’ve already gotten in trouble?”
“You know me.” Wylder shrugged, wiping at her eyes.
“I do, and the Wylder I know doesn’t cry, so what’s going on?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head. She couldn’t tell Killian about Sebastian. Not yet. First, she had to wrap her mind around the idea that he was teaching here. At Defiance Academy. “I have to get to the headmistress’s office. I have some classes to switch.”
“I’ll walk with you. I’ve got nothing to do.”
“How does one get an independent study?” Wylder sniffed back the last of her tears.
“If one is the top draft pick at their snooty private school, one gets a lot of special attention.” Killian draped an arm around her, content to let her change the subject. He trusted she’d tell him what was bothering her when she was ready. They were a lot alike. That was what made them such good friends.
“So what will you be independently studying this semester?”
“The business of the NHL.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, I have to really study it though. I have a bunch of papers to write and sample contracts to study. They even assigned me a mentor, an intern at my agent's agency. I’m supposed to meet with him once a month. It’ll be good for me, but I’d almost rather take a normal class instead.”
“So, it’s not an excuse to give you more time on the ice so you can win more games?”
“Nope. Defiance Academy wants me prepared for a career in the NHL well before I step foot on the Boston College campus next fall.”
“Must be nice to know exactly what your future holds.”
“In a way, it is. But it’s also kind of terrifying.”
“Now that is a feeling I can identify with.”
5
The school administration building wasn’t a new place to Wylder. She stared at the row of chairs outside Headmistress Jones’ office that she’d sat in many times waiting for punishment. Last year, there’d been the time she got in trouble with Killian, Diego, and Kenny for sneaking Beckett and his friends onto campus to help with a project for Diego.
Then there was the time she’d been caught late at night wandering the old part of campus—the off-limits part—where the buildings were like two hundred years old. It was the original campus but now had gates keeping students out. Wylder had only been looking for a little creepy fun.
But the things she’d gotten in trouble for didn’t hold a candle to everything she’d gotten away with. And yet, unlike her last school, Defiance Academy hadn’t given up on her.
Ms. Jones hadn’t given up on her.
Wylder had a grudging respect for the woman. Even as she flouted the rules, she still wanted to make her proud.
Which was why the disappointment on her face hit so hard. Ms. Jones looked down at Wylder, a frown tugging at her lips.
She was pretty for a teacher. Though, Wylder knew just how attractive teachers could be.
