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I’d had entirely too many voicemails from reporters on my cell phone when I turned it back on. I hadn’t called anyone back. Tristan assured me his PR people would take care of it, but so far, I wasn’t seeing any evidence of that. At this point, I only answered calls from my contacts. But that didn’t keep the thing from ringing constantly.
Given the fact that I’d had two people shouting my name as I ran from my car to the school, getting here early hadn’t done much.
At least they hadn’t followed me inside. I imagined they knew they’d get booted back out. Schools these days didn’t tolerate random people on the property. I was counting on that to keep today fairly normal.
The subtle sounds of the school waking up started to filter into my classroom and drew my attention back to the lesson plans I was playing with. I wanted to do something different. Shake things up somehow.
The footsteps in the hall got closer and I smiled slightly. It had to be Kayla. No one walked quite like her.
I was looking out the doorway when she stepped into view with a big grin and two enormous takeout coffee cups.
“Morning. Ready to get back at it? Shape young minds and get them to appreciate the beauty of learning?” Kayla stepped into the classroom and set one of the coffees on my desk. Then she leaned close and pressed a kiss to my lips. It wasn’t quick or perfunctory. I found myself leaning in and my hand reaching up to cup her face.
“Well, hello.”
She laughed and perched on the edge of my desk. “Hello, yourself. You’re bright and early.”
I shrugged. “I was trying to beat the press.”
“Uh-huh. How’d that work for you?”
I tilted my head to the side and studied her. “I take it that means the throng has grown, not shrunk?”
“I counted news vans from two local stations and a clump of what had to be print reporters.” She reached out and rubbed my arm. “Sorry.”
I blew out a breath. “I guess I’ll be putting in long days until it dies down. Or Tristan gets it figured out.”
“Austin. You can’t just live at school.” Her eyebrows drew together.
“I don’t know what else to do. So far, at least, they haven’t sniffed out my home address. Or they’re scared of parking enforcement.” I tried a smile, but it felt wrong. “What am I supposed to do, Kayla?”
She glanced at the clock above my door. “Right now? Get set for first period. Buses are going to get here any minute. Maybe—hopefully—you can have a normal day. That’s what I’m praying for.”
“Me, too.”
She slipped off my desk, cradling her coffee in her hands. “I love you. You know that, right?”
“I do. Back at you.”
She flashed a grin and disappeared into the hallway. I heard her greeting several students as she made her way toward her classroom.
I straightened my desk and took a drink of the coffee while I prayed—again—for a normal day.
By lunch, I was just praying to make it through the day. Every class so far, at least three students had tried to ask about the articles. Two separate kids had waited after class to ask for money. That was the worst. There was actual need there. And I could help. But I needed to do it the right way.
I closed my classroom door and dug my cellphone out of my desk. Kayla was probably waiting for me in her office, but she’d understand. For now, I needed to talk to Mr. Wright—Eric—and see how he and Renee were coming with the scholarship fund setup.
I found Eric’s contact and hit Call.
He answered right away. “Eric Wright.”
“Hi. It’s Austin Campbell. Is this a good time?”
“Sure. Aren’t you at school?”
I managed a weak laugh and sank onto the edge of my desk. “Lunch break. But it’s already been a day. If I thought the administration could magically produce a sub, I’d be tempted to go home and hide for the rest of it.”
“Sorry. That sounds rough.”
