Page 92 of Fall Fake-Out

He just needs to advance the plot.

Ari

Good call. Ashtyn will be there, so of course you’d want to come.

The dots appear. Disappear. Then return.

Wade

Yeah. Of course. For Ashtyn.

See? Just like I thought.

For Ashtyn.

By ten o’clock, thirty seniors are gathered outside the school entrance, excited about leaving campus in the middle of the day.

Wade appears in his casual P.E. clothes and a backward hat. My word, he looks good. How is it possible that he keeps getting better by the day? Could be the fact that I can now clearly picture him with his shirt off. Or maybe it’s the fact that I haven’t seen him since Saturday night when he dropped me off after the humiliating clinic experience. I was disappointed that he wasn’t at church on Sunday, and yesterday at school, we never crossed paths.

Another disappointment, if I’m being honest. But who needs honesty in their lives?

“Principal Stevenson.” I nod at him.

“Miss Langford.”

“Stevie!” Ethan, one of the students in my fifth period, dabs him up. “You gonna hold hands with Miss Langford on the walk to the library?”

“That wouldn’t be professional,” Wade says. Then his lips curve. “But after school hours, you never know.”

The boys catcall, but from the corner of my eye, I notice Ashtyn’s chin jut out.

Good. That girl needs a reality check.

Alright, everybody listen up.” I wave them closer, and for the most part, conversations die down. “First rule. Stay on the sidewalk.”

“Bruh, you act as if we’ve never walked anywhere before,” Connor says.

“Second rule. Nobody gets hit by a car. I don’t know CPR.” A few students laugh.

“Third rule. Nobody sneaks off. We’re headed to the library. I expect everyone to arrive at the library and stay there.”

Wade steps forward. “If you get lost along the way, you will have after-school detention for the rest of the week.”

There are a few boos. Understandable.

“Alright, let’s get going.” I point straight ahead.

The group starts moving toward town. The library is only a short walk away. Students spread out ahead of us in clusters, talking, laughing, listening to music. Wade and I naturally fall toward the back. The responsible adult position.

“Stevie?” I don’t even have to look over to know that voice.

Ashtyn has slowed her pace just enough to fall beside us.

Wade tenses just a little bit. “Miss Ellis.”

She smiles. “Are you here for Miss Langford or us?”

“Believe it or not, I can multitask.”