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“So you already know who’s behind this?”
Another nod.
My pulse kicks up.
“Who?”
She looks me dead in the face.
“You know him too.”
“Me?”
“Yeah, Max.” She leans back in her chair. “Isn’t it obvious?”
Considering I currently have no fucking idea what she’s talking about, I’d say no.
“He’ll be there today,” she says. “I know it.”
“Who?” I whisper nervously. “Who do you think will be there?”
Sienna doesn’t so much as blink as she utters his name. “Mr. Collins.”
Chapter 26
Fairhope, 15th October 2013
My brows furrow the second I walk into my English class and find a substitute teacher sitting behind Mr. Collins’s desk.
Is he sick?
He certainly didn’t look it yesterday when he was in class.
“Where’s Mr. Collins?” Laura asks from behind me, voicing my own concerns.
The woman looks up from the papers she’s arranging on his desk, her lips pursing in disapproval.
“Good morning is usually the polite way to greet someone when entering a classroom,” she replies curtly. “I’m Mrs. Tracy, and I’ll be substituting for Mr. Collins, who is currently on leave. Until a permanent replacement can be found, I’ll be taking over his classes.”
“Permanent?” I blurt out. “You mean Mr. Collins is not coming back?”
“That’s all the information you need. Now, have a seat, ladies. Class is about to start.”
Her clipped tone makes it clear she won’t be answering any more questions.
“What’s wrong, Max? Your favorite teacher bail on you?” Peyton snickers from her seat. “Too bad. Must suck to be you.”
I ignore her and make my way to my desk, trying to piece together a puzzle that makes absolutely no sense.
Why would they need a permanent replacement?
Mr. Collins never said anything about leaving Fairhope. Not to me. Not to the rest of the class either.
Did he get another job? Is he moving? Then why not mention it?
The questions are still running rampant through my head when the intercom crackles overhead.
“Maxine Morgan, please report to the principal’s office. Maxine Morgan, please report to the principal’s office.”
