Nathan let out a big breath between his lips and leaned against the door, gazing out at trees. They sped past neighborhoods he'd driven by earlier. Many houses were dark now, as it was closer to midnight. Streetlights dotted the sidewalks.
When they got closer to the school, Nathan's attention turned toward it but he tried to pretend he wasn't looking. He didn't want to seem interested, just in case Dr. Green was still out there.
He pressed his tongue to the top of his mouth, waiting until they passed to say anything.
“What in the world is going on now?”
Nathan turned as she slowed down. Just over the hill, red and blue lights were flashing.
Shit.
Two cop cars were parked close to each other, blocking the exit for more vehicles that were there. He counted the cars, looked for Dr. Green among some of the vehicles and people standing around. There were more people here than when he left.
Was the smoke bomb not just smoke? Or did they panic and call the police?
He was so distracted looking for Dr. Green, he didn't notice the cop Erica was slowing down for. He was waving at her as she was passing and she stopped, rolling down the window.
Nathan's instinct was to sit back, avoid eye contact, but he knew what that would look like. He forced himself to look completely interested in this.
Rain splattered into the car as she spoke to the officer. “What's going on?” Erica asked.
“Kids throwing some kind of fireworks at teachers that were parked here,” he said. He shined his flashlight into Nathan's face briefly and then toward Erica. “Got caught in the rain?”
“Yes,” she said. “Crazy storm, right?”
“The usual South Carolina weather,” he said and lowered his light. “Just be careful.”
“You, too,” Erica said.
He waved her on. Erica rolled past but she sat back in her seat and put both hands on the wheel.
Nathan sat back as well, placing his palms on his knees. Where was Dr. Green? Was Luke still inside?
Was that why Mr. Blackbourne couldn't answer? He was dealing with someone calling the cops on what was happening at the school?
“That wasn't you, was it?” Erica asked. She glanced over at him once before refocusing on the road.
“Me? No. I’ve never shot fireworks at anyone.”
“Do you think your friend did?” she asked. “Is that why he left you and didn't come back? I'm guessing it isn't Luke or one of the others...”
“No,” he said. “Not them.”
She shook her head slowly. They were coming up to the shopping center near the school.
Erica parked. She put her hands on the wheel, staring out the windshield while speaking to him. “Okay. We have to stop this now. I'm not letting you turn into a hooligan, hanging out with kids who leave you out like that alone.” She looked at him and stabbed her finger against the middle console, her fingernail tapping it. “Apologize to Sang again. Apologize to Dakota. He's been depressed since he had the fight with you. I’m willing to believe Sang that it was a misunderstanding between you two. But I know you’ll never do it again.”
“I'll apologize again,” Nathan said, sitting up. He hated to say this to her, to continue the lie when Kota was still trying to work out what exactly to tell her. But he had to keep it going now. “If you think it'll help...”
She reached into the back of the car to grab her purse. “I'm going in for milk and a few other things,” she said. “You should come back with me tonight. Maybe wait up for when Kota gets in with Sang.”
Was he supposed to bring her home tonight?
He slumped in the seat again, stuffing his hands under his biceps as he folded his arms. Erica got out of the car. He rolled his head against the headrest.
Once she was gone, he cursed at himself for getting into this mess. And for also not asking her for her cell phone to give someone a call. He glanced back toward the school, but he couldn't see it through the buildings from where they were.
This whole night was a complete disaster.
Coming To a Hilt
Sang
––––––––
I turned around in a slow circle, with my heart in my throat, and my basket ready to swing if it was Volto.
Dr. Green's face loomed close to mine. “Hey, thought I recognized you,” he said with a grin. “Did you study for my test tomorrow?”
Words choked up in my throat for a second. Relief had me relaxing, but only a little bit. I was glad to see him. Only I had to pretend he was my teacher for the moment.
“Yeah,” I said, although my voice shook at first. Nerves rattled my bones. “I think I'm ready.”
“You're up late,” he said. “You should get some sleep.” He looked at my basket and then at my face. “That all you're getting?”
I indicated to the basket, waving at it like I didn’t need any of it. What to do with it? I didn’t want to bother with buying the items but Wil would find it weird if I just put the items away and walked out.
Wil eyeballed Dr. Green. “Why are you interested?”
Dr. Green shrugged. “Oh, I wasn't being critical. Don't mean to offend.” He winked at me and then walked by. It made sense we probably needed to continue to make it look like this was coincidence.
“I don't like him,” Wil said quietly.
“He just scared me for a second,” I said and watched as Dr. Green turned the corner a little slowly. He was showing me where he was going.
“Yeah, there's a rumor he's been hitting on students.” He looked at me. “Be careful around him, okay?”
I clenched my teeth, wanting to defend him but knowing what it'd sound like if I tried too hard. “He's fine,” I said. “I don’t believe in rumors. Anyway, I should get going...He's right. It's late.”
I went to walk past him and he stretched an arm out, not touching, just enough to get me to pause.
“Hey,” he said. “You can tell me if something's wrong.”
“I'm okay,” I said. I smiled at him and lifted my basket up to show him. “I just forgot to get...eggs.”
He waited for a moment, his arm still raised like he wasn't sure he believed me. After a moment, he lowered his arm. “Oh,” he said. “Back of the store, all the way to the left...”
“Thanks,” I said.
He watched me as I left the aisle. My body was tense. My mind reeled. How many people were spreading rumors about Dr. Green? Was this a valid concern right now? I needed to get out of the store and get into a vehicle with Dr. Green without Wil noticing. I didn't want to risk Dr. Green's reputation any more.
I wondered if Dr. Green would call that Mr. Toma about Wil. I should tell him, when I got a chance, about what he’d said.
Dr. Green was near the dairy section in the very back of the store, looking at yogurt. He glanced my direction once, winked again and then went back to looking at the display.
I got the feeling he was doing what I’d been doing and was just waiting for me. This was public space. If he'd been informed by the Academy girl I'd talked to, then he knew Volto could be near. Not to mention people who knew him from school could walk in at any moment.
Should we stall and wait for North? I thought it might be best to get us both into a car. We could watch for North from there.
I took the smallest carton of eggs then headed to the front of the store. We needed to get out and not wait around where Volto could do something stupid to us.
Dr. Green kept his distance, but when I went into the checkout line to wait, he joined behind me. It was the only lane open, so it shouldn't have been a surprise, but because we acknowledged each other earlier, we still waved to one another.
I grimaced toothily out of nervousness.
He smiled pleasantly and held on to his couple of containers of yogurt.
I put my items on the belt, and then opened my bag to see if North had any money in it, checking the pockets.
Suddenly Dr. Green bent over and picked up a folded couple of twenties. “Oh, hey. You dropped this.”
I knew I didn't but I glanced up at where he waited patiently with the cash extended out to me.
I took it, understanding. “Thanks.”
“Sure,” he said. “Get some good sleep tonight. Be ready for that test.”