Page 29 of Wylder & the Rising Rockstar
“Email the parents with this list so they know the school is being proactive.”
“Extra security inside the event.”
“Have the AV club film the event so parents can buy copies since they can’t record their kids on stage.”
Wylder added all the suggestions to the growing list, proud of everyone for taking this seriously.
“Why is it, Ms. Anderson, that whenever something like this happens, you’realwaysinvolved.” Wylder cringed at the sound of Ms. Jones’ voice and turned around slowly.
“I was drafted,” she blurted. The headmistress stood in front of the stage with her arms crossed over her chest and a very unamused expression on her face.
“When security called to tell me students were gathering by the hundreds in the main theater, I wondered what I would find.” She walked up the steps onto the stage. “A party? Dancing? Pizza? Vandalism? All these things crossed my mind on the way over here.” She moved to stand in front of the whiteboard, picking up the red marker. She popped the cap off and circled several of the items on their list, crossing out only a few.
“But I’m sad to say an organized, peaceful protest was not one of the things that came to mind.”
“I booked the theater, Ms. Jones.” Meghan stepped up to the stage. “It started with the theater students and we got some of the music students involved in a petition, but Wylder really got the other students involved. It’s not her fault, ma’am.”
“You mistake my tone, Miss. Fletcher.” Ms. Jones came to stand beside Wylder. “I am not exactly angry. I’m a little perplexed and also … proud of you. All of you. I will take your valid concerns to the board, along with your petition and your list of compromises. I can’t promise you anything, but if you will all make your way from the building without further protest, I believe we can come to an arrangement that will satisfy the board and the parents. Wylder, I would like to see you in my office. Right now.” She left the stage and marched from the room. “Everyone out. Now.” She shouted back at the silent room.
Wylder hung her head. She was pretty sure she was going to be in trouble for all of this, even though she still didn’t know how she ended up on stage, leading the protest.
“Well, that was unexpected,” Logan said as Wylder made her way up the steps to where he still sat at the back of the theater. Most of the other students were already gone, none too eager to upset their headmistress when she’d let them all go without punishment.
“Yes,” Wylder blurted, taking his hands in hers before she leaned in and kissed him. “Let’s do this.”
“Wait, not that I’m complaining about the kiss, but what are we talking about, Wylds? Use more words.”
She grinned. “Will you go out with me?”
“On a date?” He peered down at her. “Oh, so you’re saying yes to my earlier question?”
“Yes.” She bounced on her toes.
“It’s about freaking time, Wylds, you’ve left me hanging all day. My heart can’t take that kind of anxiety.” He clutched a hand over his chest.
“Sorry.” She leaned up and kissed him again. “Don’t make plans for tonight. I’ve got to go get detention or something worse from Ms. Jones, but then you’re all mine for the evening. You know, if I’m not expelled first.”
9
Wylder took her time getting to the administration building despite the cold. Most of the snow had melted overnight, leaving them with the ugly after effects. She hugged her coat tighter around her and looked up into the gray sky.
The last time she’d gotten in trouble for using school facilities without permission had been to throw a party at Twin Rivers High. This was different, she knew it was. For one, she wasn’t really responsible. And two, Meghan said she’d booked the theater so it was all above board.
Yet, Wylder couldn’t help being transported back to a similar walk, escorted by her parents and two police officers. The school had already kicked her out before the party, so the only punishment left for them to give was to levy charges against her.
And they didn’t. The school that had thrown her out like yesterday’s trash saved her that day. The principal she’d hated decided all she wanted was to never see Wylder again. She’d had to clean up from the party and was banned from ever setting foot on school property again.
The rest of the students had their next dance canceled.
This wasn’t then. Ms. Jones didn’t have a vendetta against Wylder. If anything, she’d been more supportive than any school official ever had. And being pulled into a protest of a school decision was not the same as breaking into an empty school for a party.
Still, the closer she got, the more she felt like that version of herself. The one who’d put on a sarcastic face to hide her loneliness, the desperation brought on by a year-long search for her birth mom. She wasn’t that girl anymore. The academy had instilled a confidence in her, made her believe for the first time she could succeed if she really tried. That she wasn’t an idiot.
She just had to remember that.
As she pulled open the heavy door to the administration building, she lifted her chin, holding her head high. Joining that protest had been the right thing to do. For once, she wasn’t making trouble just to make trouble.
Ms. Jones had to know that.
