Page 25 of Wylder & the Rising Rockstar
“It’s the music and theater students. They’re protesting the cancelation of the Winter Review. You guys should get down there.”
Wylder shot out of bed and reached for her jeans, pulling them over the thermal leggings she’d slept in. “You coming?” She glanced at Logan as she stepped into her closet for a sweater, and Devyn left them for whatever she did on Saturday mornings when she didn’t have a horse show thing.
“Yep, I’m working on it.” Logan reluctantly left the cozy bubble they’d shared all night.
Wylder would have to think about that later. And the thing he’d asked her … and the answer she hadn’t given.
* * *
“What’s happening?” Wylder asked one of the students holding a sign that said, “Cancel all or none!” in big red letters.
“We’re protesting the board’s decision to cancel the Winter Review,” the girl said. Wylder was pretty sure she was a theater student. “It’s not fair to cancel the Review when sports go on as planned.”
“That’s what I said, but Ms. Jones didn’t seem to think that was a good enough reason.”
“You got a meeting with the headmistress?” The girl turned her full attention on Wylder.
“Not a meeting, per se. I ambushed her in the hall outside of her conference room.”
“What did she say?” A circle of students moved in on Wylder.
“Something about collecting phones at sporting events, but the athletes are used to the scrutiny of the public eye. She says they canceled the Review to protect us, and I get that, but there has to be a better solution.”
“Yeah.” Heads bobbed around her.
“What do you think we should do to get our message across?” another music student asked.
“Er … Uh, I’m not sure.” Wylder took a step back. They were looking at her funny. Like they expected her to lead them.
“If you have the headmistress’s ear, you should take this to her.” The theater girl pulled a clipboard from her bag. “It isn’t much, but we have signatures from every music and theater student we could find, protesting the cancelation and asking for better security measures as a compromise.”
“I’ll sign that.” Logan reached for the clipboard.
“Me too.” Wylder nodded, glancing over Logan’s shoulder. “But this won’t be enough to convince her. Not just a petition alone.” Wylder whipped off her gloves so she could sign after Logan.
“We’re meeting this afternoon in the main theater hall to talk about our options. We’d love it if you’d join us.”
“She’ll be there.” Logan draped his arm around Wylder.
“What time is the meeting?” Wylder asked.
“Two o’clock.” The girl lifted her sign and went back to shouting about the injustice of it all. Wylder wasn’t sure who would hear them on a Saturday morning. She was pretty sure the admin building was empty, and Ms. Jones was probably at her home on the opposite side of the lake. But at least they were trying.
Wylder’s stomach gave an angry snarl.
“Breakfast first, then we protest?” Logan steered her toward the dining hall.
“Yes. Breakfast is top of the list. I’m starving.” She took his hand in hers, still not thinking about that question he’d asked her this morning. She’d think about it soon, when those zoomie feelings settled down some.
“Coffee is important.” Wylder stomped her feet on the mat in front of the dorm building, ridding her boots of snow. “Almost as important as food.”
Logan held the door open and turned her toward the line of students poking out the open dining hall door waiting for breakfast.
“There’s a line?” she whined.
“There usually is this early. Relax, it will go fast.”
“I’ve never waited in line for food here. Ever.”
