Page 56 of Wylder & the Rising Rockstar
“Thanks, Mrs. S.” Luke stood at the front of the class, completely at ease. Even in ConMus, where everyone knew his career was tanking because his secret lip-synching scam was out of the box, he was still confident and charismatic. Nothing rattled the younger twin.
“Why don’t you join Wylder and Logan, and we’ll get started.”
Wonderful. Wylder scooted over to make room for Luke. Now she was a Cook sandwich.
“It’s a bit ironic, isn’t it?” One of the guys leaned over from the next table. “The Cook who can’t sing is now in an advanced level music class? Maybe you should think about taking up something more practical, like golf or maybe chess club?”
“Ouch, dude. Was that supposed to be a burn?” Luke turned his brilliant smile on his foe. “Don’t believe everything you read in the gossip columns, bro.” Luke adjusted his hat and leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, not a care in the world. She was beginning to see how Luke and Becks ended up being friends
“Now, those of you participating in the Winter Review will be happy to hear you’ll be eligible for some extra credit.” Mrs. Shepherd ignored the boys, passing out their graded tests from last week. “And some of you will need it after this test. I know it was a difficult exam, but I expected better results.”
Wylder flipped her paper over to see she’d barely scraped a C. The test was one of those tricky ones where every multiple choice answer was right, and they had to pick the most correct answer from the bunch. It was impossible. Wylder was going to need that extra credit. She needed an A in this class to keep her GPA up for the rest of the year.
“The Winter Review isn’t required, but the extra credit will help you get off to a great start next semester when we take on bigger projects as we head into the final months of your senior year.”
Wylder only half-listened to Mrs. Shepherd’s lecture on contract law. They were learning about celebrity endorsements and all the legal mumbo-jumbo that came with it.
Luke was quick to add his two cents to the discussion, but Logan remained silent. Mere inches separated them at the small desk meant for two, but he might as well be a thousand miles away.
“Logan, wait.” Wylder tried to grab his arm when the bell rang, but he shrugged her off and walked away.
“Give him some time, Wylds.” Luke leaned on her shoulder. “He’s just all in his head right now, and that’s never a good time to force Logan into anything he’s not ready to talk about.”
“I’m not sure it’s just that, Luke. He’s not going to forgive me this time.”
“Hey, look at me.” He turned her to face him. “I know my brother. It’s a twin thing. Trust me, he would not be this mad if you didn’t mean the world to him. Just give him some space right now.”
Wylder nodded. “You’re right, but I don’t think we should do the song together. It feels so wrong, like I’ve traded him for you, which is ridiculous.”
“Hey, that hurt.” Luke rubbed his chest like she’d wounded him with her words.
“Whatever.” She shoved past him, rolling her eyes.
“Do the song with me, Wylds.” He pulled her back. “It’s important.”
“Why?”
“I told you.” He draped his arm around her, steering her into the hall. “I have a plan, and the song is part of it.” He winked. “Just show up on stage and leave the rest to me.”
“All right.” Wylder watched Logan at the end of the hall, wishing he’d just talk to her. “Let’s do it, but you better not mess this up.”
16
“You want back on campus?” The security guard peered at Wylder in confusion through the open driver’s side window. “But you’re on winter break, Miss Anderson.”
Wylder sighed, praying her car wouldn’t stall at the rear gates of Defiance Academy. “I’m visiting a friend who lives on campus.” She pointed to the gate pass Sebastian had left for her. “See? It says right there I’m visiting faculty housing.”
“A teacher?” He scowled at her like she was up to something nefarious—not that he didn’t have good reason to suspect she was.
“A teacher’s younger brother who is also a student.” She rolled her eyes. “We’re working on a school project, if you must know.” She could easily amuse herself by telling the security guard that teacher was also her ex-boyfriend, but it was freezing, and her heater really sucked. She also didn’t have an expulsion wish.
“All right, your pass is for two hours, so I expect to see you back here before my shift is over.” The guard backed away from her window and waved his badge across the digital box behind him.
“Yeah, sure.” Wylder rolled up her window and pulled through the gates to make her way up the winding road through the forest. It was a quiet, remote part of campus she hadn’t yet explored. This route had potential to become another source for sneaking out—if she was desperate enough to hike through the woods when other methods failed her.
There were fewer cameras too. Wylder absently thought about making a map to leave for the next generation of troublemakers at Defiance Academy. A pathway to all her secrets for sneaking off campus and pilfering food from the dining hall. She owed it to her legacy to keep it alive, even after she was gone from these hallowed halls. Visions of rolled newsprint, stencils, and markers filled her mind as she drove. She’d have to make it difficult to find, with clues and hints hidden all across campus.
She made a mental note to get to know the best of the school’s troublemakers in the freshman and sophomore classes.
