Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen

GREY

I underscore the word tragedy on the white board. "We're approaching the end of Romeo and Juliet. Everyone knows what's about to happen, right?" I walk in front of my podium, looking over the faces staring back at me.

Several seats are empty.

So is Zane's.

I clear my throat. "But here's a secret. Romeo and Juliet know what's about to happen too. They knew from the moment they first laid eyes on each other."

A hand raises.

"Yes, Maisy."

"How are you so sure?" Maisy asks stiffly. "There's no foreshadowing in the book that they knew they were going to die before the end."

I smile in relief. The students have been distracted all day, just as they were back when Jinx spread rumors about me and Zane. Maisy's the first person to actually participate and not just glare at me while I teach.

"That's a great question. And it's also the thesis of the essay I'm assigning you for Wednesday."

I hear a murmur of dissatisfaction but no one outright protests.

After I give more detailed instructions, I let the class out early. Attendance has been down across the board and those who do turn up to my classes are disengaged. At this point, it's better the kids be outside than here. If they're just glaring darts at me, they're not learning anything anyway.

"Maisy, can I see you a moment?"

Maisy frowns but obediently walks up to my table.

The class clears out, everyone whispering as they leave.

Maisy looks uncomfortable when it's just me and her left and, as I step forward to speak to her, she draws back.

Stunned, I remain in place. My breath is shaky but I manage to sound professional when I say, "Maisy, I stopped by the office after lunch and I was told you're dropping this class."

Her eyes dart away.

"If you have an issue, why don't you discuss it with me?"

"Miss Jamieson, I'm not comfortable taking classes from you."

I dig my fingers into the edge of the desk, my heart racing. "Why not?"

Maisy pushes her glasses up with her pinkie finger. "I'll be honest. I hope that's okay."

"Of course."

"Jinx calls you Sexy Teach in her app. Did you know that?"

I squirm.

"Even before Jinx gave you a name, the guys called you ‘the hot teacher'." She stares at me intently, as if I'm supposed to know my transgression.

"Maisy, I don't encourage this behavior, but I also can't control what others do outside of my classroom. I'm not sure why this is relevant to?—"

"I ignored that." Maisy tips her chin up. "Because you are attractive and that's not your fault."

I'm not sure whether to be flattered or insulted.

"Despite how you look, I thought you were a good teacher. Someone who could help me ace my college entrance exams. Unlike the bozos around here," her shrewd eyes contract, "I actually want to run my parents' company and to do that, I need two MBAs."

I smile proudly. My AP class isn't like my general lectures. It's filled with a different caliber of students. Maisy's mindset is exactly why I keep entrance so strict. These are whip-smart students who—for their own individual reasons—are invested in their education.

"But after your speech last week and what happened with Harris, I realized that you're not here to teach us, Miss Jamieson."

"I—"

"And honestly, I don't care why you're really here." Maisy lifts a hand. "But my future matters to me. It matters enough that I sacrifice everyday for it. That's not true for you and that's why I need to drop your class."

"Maisy, I do care about you and your future. I want the best for all my students."

"Then you shouldn't have messed with Harris and put a black eye on Redwood Prep."

I exhale to calm myself. "What are you talking about?"

"Do you really not know?"

"Of course not."

"Redwood Prep's been around for hundreds of years. We're the most prestigious academy in the state. We're in the top ten of the entire country."

She doesn't need to tell me. Kids would kill to get into Redwood. Futures are made here. Network opportunities. Legacy deals. Practically a red carpet, no—an airplane runway, to success.

I was able to teach here without having a Masters Degree because Redwood Prep was my alma mater. But many of the other teachers needed to qualify with a bunch of certificates and earn a high status in their chosen field just to get their foot in the door.

"If you knew," Maisy purses her lips, "then why would you embarrass our school like that?"

Shock rattles in my chest. "Maisy…"

"So what if Harris was stealing money? You think anyone here didn't know?" She thrusts her hand out toward the hallway. "You think anyone here would miss a couple thousand or even a couple million?"

She says that so callously, without blinking. Without even hearing the ramifications of her words.

I'm starting to believe that my view of the students—from Sol to Maisy and even to Zane—was completely skewed. Was it stupid na?veté or optimism that made me so blind?

"A little of both."

I glance behind Maisy's head and Sloane is there, sitting at a desk in the front row and chomping on an apple.

"Although I wouldn't call it being ‘stupid'. Some people always see the worst in the world and complain about everything. But no one calls THEM stupid. So why should you call yourself that?"

"And here you are, running your mouth?" Maisy's still talking and I tune back in to realize I'd missed a good chunk of what she said. "Calling reporters, airing Harris's dirty laundry, now his suicide? That affects us. Who'll want Redwood Prep students if Redwood Prep no longer stands for being the best of the best?"

"Someone died and that's all she can think about? " Sloane takes a bite of her apple. "I say you fail her just to spite her. "

"Let me get this straight." I struggle to clear my head and focus on Maisy's concerns. "You don't have a problem with Jinx who has an app exposing all the scandal and gossip that goes on at Redwood Prep, but you're upset that I called reporters to talk about a crime Harris committed?"

She folds her arms over her chest. "Jinx is entertainment."

"She has the ear of the school. In fact, several schools follow her app."

"They only care about Jinx because of us. It's not the other way around. Don't you get it?" Maisy scrunches her nose. "She's like that servant who brings in lions and slaves to fight in the middle of a colosseum. She's not the one who kills Caesar. She's got no teeth. The only power Jinx has is the one we," Maisy taps her chest, "give her."

That seems a little arrogant to assume. I've seen first-hand how one word from Jinx can ruin a life. Mine in particular.

"The only reason she's still yapping is because she's anonymous. If anyone knew who Jinx was," a hard look enters Maisy's eyes, "they'd shut her up for good."

The bell chimes.

Maisy looks down at her watch. "Are we done here? I have trig now."

I nod.

Without another word, she tosses her designer book bag over her shoulder and stalks out.

"That was harsh."

"That was Redwood."

"You realize… no one punished you when Jinx insinuated you might be sleeping with a student, but now people are dropping out because you did the right thing and exposed Harris. It's totally screwed up."

"Y-yeah." I fall against my desk, staring dazedly into the distance. "It does explain why my classes are so empty." I hug myself. "Imagine what happens when I blow the whistle on The Grateful Project?"

Sloane looks concerned.

My phone buzzes on the desk.

I fly toward it and check the message.

Disappointment sinks in hard and I shut it off roughly.

"Who was that?"

"The Vice Principal is having a staff meeting after school. Attendance is mandatory."

"Zane still hasn't called?"

"No," I mumble, glaring at the hallway.

A sly smile spreads over Sloane's face. "You miss him."

I frown at her. "I need an update on Slavno's clue. I'm restless as it is."

"Nope. You just want to talk to him."

I gather my books. "If you think I miss him so much, why don't you fly around and see what he's doing? Be a useful ghost for once."

"Ouch. Hey, I know you want to see your husband, but don't take it out on me. I'm an innocent bystander. Also, still not a ghost."

"Goodbye, Sloane."

My phone buzzes again.

This time, I make sure not to look too excited when I check, but it's not a message from Zane. Instead it's from the Vice Principal.

VP: Miss Jamieson, can I see you in my office? It's urgent.

Jinx: Who says queens have to be flawless?

Sexy Teach made her return to Redwood, but it was nothing close to triumphant. Instead of flowers, the people threw rocks. Maybe that's why she has a jagged scar on her face?

No one likes a traitor, but I do.

What other delicious secrets will you serve for us, Sexy Teach? I'm ready and waiting…

Until the next time, keep your enemies close and your secrets even closer.

Jinx