Page 82 of Atticus
“He’s not wrong,” Trey says gravely.
“I won’t be thrown away.”
“You won’t be,” Trey says. “You heard the nurse back there. Not everybody is on Team Sullivan. So long as we don’t lose our heads, they can’t act.” He idly brushes a hand over several of Bryant’s books. “This is probably the safest place you can be right now. Sullivan and his pals would’ve taken bats to you and smashed you into junkyard parts if Carlisle let him.”
“What about Lucy?”
“I’m more worried about your personal safety right now. The worst they can do to Lucy is say things to her, fire her. They won’t lay hands on her. Not like they’ll do to you,” Trey says.
“Maybe the fundraiser will cool everybody’s head,” Bryant offers. “And you know what they say. Any publicity is good publicity. Might even get more people through the door.”
I try to send Lucy one more message.Please call me immediately.
We wait around for another half hour before Trey rests his hands on his hips, resolute. “Okay. I’m gonna go take a look around. I’ll be back.”
He reaches for the door, but it opens before he can. Miss Curtis timidly peers into the room.
“I just wanted to say, it’s really brave, what you did. Standing up for Lucy when she wasn’t here to defend herself,” she says. “She’s here now, and they have her in the office.”
I head for the door immediately. “I’m going to her.”
“No,” Bryant protests. “You shouldn’t. You can’t.”
“I have to!”
“Let me go.” Trey puts his hand on my chest. “They won’t do anything to me.”
“I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, Trey. I understand why you’re trying to protect me. But I’m not doing this as just an android, you understand that? I have to go her. As a man. If I don’t go to her now—”
“You’ll never forgive yourself.” Respect flickers in Trey’s expression, the way he studies me closely. He’s hesitant, but then he nods. “Okay. We’ll go together.”
* * *
Lucy
I can’t find my phone anywhere. That should’ve been my first clue that something was amiss.
I pull up to Vautrin before the fundraiser is set to start, excited to speak to the press and take more footage for online followers. It’s a stretch, but I think we can reach the necessary ten-thousand dollar goal for the gymnasium roof repair. Even in the face of adversity, Atticus and I are helping make a difference for this community. And that feels good.
It’d feel better, of course, if people would recognize how wonderfully he and I work together, but that’s a different hurdle I’ll have to jump later. One night at a time.
I won’t lie and pretend I’m not a little nervous about speaking with Carlisle about Atticus tonight, but it has to be done. It’s not fair to either of us, to allow this to continue. I think if I approach this without guilt, without shame, just stick to the facts and assert that being romantically involved with Atticus doesn’t negate the fact that I do my job better than most with evidence to back it up, she’ll have to reach to deny me. That, and the entirety of my emergency savings as my last ditch resort should help her see sense.
I park and slip out of my car, checking my reflection quickly in a window and brushing aside my braids before turning and heading for the school. My classroom is all prettied up with the project I collaborated on with the art teacher, Heather Binkley. The kids all painted, drew, did whatever they wanted to depict their favorite Ancient Greek and Roman stories, all for sale to help build that fundraiser.
Jack Gunther’s drawing is my favorite. He’s more artistic than he lets on, and it doesn’t surprise me. His writing utensils are never still during my class. And seeing him draw Hector and Achilles clashing in battle was one of my prouder moments as a teacher.
“Warren? Lucy Warren?”
A crowd of reporters swarms me in the parking lot, climbing and shouting over one another about “Atticus” and “scandal.”
“Can you tell us about why you chose to engage in sexual acts with your school’s android at your home in St. Morgan?”
My heart falls into my stomach as I stare at them in shock.
“Is it true you’re no longer employed at Vautrin Middle School?”
“What does this mean for your robotic love affair?”
