Page 39 of Save the Last Dance
“Attention please!” the math teacher shouted, holding a hand up in the air and waiting for the class to quiet. “I’ve got an update for you on the first-ever Straw Maze Match Challenge.”
The teacher had devised the competition two weeks ago for an extra credit project, but he’d had so many entries he’d opened it up to multiple sections that he taught. Today’s mini field trip included students from four different math sections. Mr. Cummings had submitted their designs electronically to the committee a few days ago and the students had spent the day at the fairgrounds walking around the site where the winning maze would be built and painting the outline of the exterior walls, which were the only real design constant.
“Good luck,” Ethan whispered in her ear, making her hopeful he wasn’t mad at her after all.
“The committee has chosen an unorthodox winning entry,” Mr. Cummings explained, waving an envelope back and forth. “I think you’ll all agree with the choice.”
Someone whistled. Mr. Cummings grinned.
“And the winner is…” He opened the envelope and withdrew a paper while a few kids imitated drum rolls. “Rachel Wagoner…”
He stared at the paper while cheers erupted and Rachel hugged the girl sitting next to her, her perfect sheet of golden blond hair spilling down her back in a shiny layer.
Relief swept through Ally even as Ethan’s hand went to the small of her back.
“I can’t believe it,” Ethan grumbled. “There’s no way hers is better than yours.”
“And,” Mr. Cummings continued, holding up his arm again in the universal kindergarten teacher signal for quiet. “In an unusual request, there is a second winner. Ally Finley.”
Ally’s heart stilled. The whole grandstand seemed to go quiet. Her gaze went to Rachel, whose face fell as she looked up at Ally. Her stomach knotted.
“I don’t understand.” Ally shook her head, wishing everyone would stop staring at her. Rachel made a much better class representative than she did. Raising her voice, she shouted over a slowly growing hum of whispers, “How can we build two designs?”
“That’s the thing.” Mr. Cummings cleared his throat and straightened a lopsided bow tie in the school colors. “You won’t. The committee liked elements of both designs and have asked you to work together to bring some of each to the final maze.”
Seriously?
Ally knew better than to say anything aloud. But how had the competition turned into a group project? And with, of all people…Rachel? Her stomach twisted. Her fingers twitched with the need to scratch. And scratch.
“That’s so cool,” Ethan started, until he saw her face. “Hey. You okay? Ally?”
His friends turned around, staring at her as if they knew she could turn crazy at any second. Which was silly since no one here knew her secret. Except for Rachel. Her new partner for the straw maze.
“I’m fine.” She forced a smile. “It sounds fun.”
“Didn’t I say she’d win?” the boy playing a game on his phone groused. “It was totally fixed, man.”
“Oh, shut up, Barry.” Ethan gave the kid a light shove on the shoulder. “You’re just jealous youdidn’t add a turret to that piece of crap you handed in.”
Barry laughed. “You know it, dude. Hey Ally, you think you can put in a good word for me with Rachel?”
Ally swallowed hard, twice, struggling to hold back a hysterical laugh.
“I’ll see what I can do,” she mumbled, trying to smile but all the while thinking it was a damn good thing she was seeing that counselor this week.
Because the stress of working with the girl who knew her worst secret was going to punt her over the edge.
Chapter Nine
“Nina!”
Gram’s voice carried up the stairs on the same shrill note Nina remembered from her childhood days. Back then, her grandmother had called her like that only when Nina had overslept and was going to miss the bus. Now, Nina worried she needed help or was trying to do too much on her own.
“Coming!” Still damp from a late morning shower, Nina stuffed her arms into the sleeves of a heavy flannel robe that had magically appeared in her closet a few days ago after Gram said Nina had forgotten how to dress for the farm.
Nina had refrained from arguing the point, even though the “farm” hadn’t been operational for a long time and maybe Nina didn’t care to dress in jeans and flannel like a country girl cliché. Although, damn it, she had to admit the robe was incredibly comfortable and warm for a chilly morning.
Hurrying down the stairs, she found Gram leaning her elbows on her walker in the kitchen, talking through thescreen door. She looked comfortable enough, smiling at Nina as she entered. Her color was good and she seemed to be moving well enough after her fall at the Owl’s Roost. So why had she bellowed?
