I glanced at Maia, who was staring at her feet, looking like she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. Layla was staring at her cuticles as though bored out of her mind.
Shifting my attention, I looked over at the two teachers in question. On closer inspection Mrs. Rogers was attractive, and Mr. Tatum definitely was. It was clear to me why shallow little Layla had chosen these two as her victims. My gaze met Mr. Tatum’s again, and I found myself directing my words to him. “I’m a good friend of the family and I know Maia well. In fact, only a few weeks ago, while she was having dinner with me, she mentioned Layla had imagined there was something going on between yourself and Mrs. Rogers. Concerned, I asked if it were true and Maia said of course not, that Layla was just bored and inventing drama. I asked Maia not to repeat the rumor, and she promised that she would not. I believed her and I still do.”
Mr. Tatum nodded gravely at me. “I’m inclined to believe her too.” He looked at Mr. Bruce. “Layla has demonstrated inappropriate behavior around me and has been warned. I noted it and made sure management was aware of it.”
“Maia’s behavior of late hasn’t been great though,” Mrs. Rogers added.
“It’s been getting better again,” Mr. Tatum disagreed. “And I’ve noticed friction between the girls in my class.”
“You’ve got it in for me, Mr. Tatum.” Layla narrowed her eyes on him.
“Quiet,” Mr. Bruce said sternly. “Layla, were you the one who started the rumor? If you admit it, I’ll cut the length of your suspension.”
“Layla, please,” Maia suddenly said. “Tell the truth.”
Layla rolled her eyes. “You’re such a boring bitch lately.”
“Don’t speak to her like that,” Logan interjected, and Layla flinched at the warning in his voice. He held her gaze, his expression fierce, and it seemed someone was able to pierce that indolent arrogance of hers. She blushed and bit her lip, looking down at her feet just as Maia had done a moment ago.
“Layla?” Mr. Bruce said.
She refused to speak.
He gave a weary sigh. “Then I have no recourse but to punish both girls.”
I clamped a hand down on Logan’s arm, anticipating his reaction. Putting pressure on his arm, I forced him to be quiet without saying a word. “Perhaps we can work something else out that’s a little more fair.”
“Fair?” Mrs. Rogers snapped. “I had to explain this nonsense to my husband.”
“I know Maia wasn’t involved,” I told her. “So if she’s to be punished, I want to make sure it’s not a suspension that blackens her school record.”
“What are you suggesting?” Mr. Tatum said, seeming willing to hear me out.
“It’s the end of school. Isn’t there an event that they could volunteer to work on?”
There was silence as they mulled it over. Mr. Tatum looked at the headmaster. “There is the end-of-term service… but I have something else in mind.”
“Oh?” Mrs. Rogers wore an annoyed expression, as though pissed off he was contemplating my idea.
“Next semester I’ll be hosting the fund-raiser for Armistice Day in November. It’s always a stressful event for me on top of my work… so why don’t I just leave it to these two ladies to organize it for me?”
“But —”
Mr. Tatum held up a hand to cut off Rogers’s coming complaint. “If they screw it up, the suspension still stands.”
I looked over at Maia and Layla. “How does that sound?”
Maia nodded glumly.
Layla glowered at me. “How do you think it sounds?”
“Attitude,” Mr. Bruce warned. “If Mrs. Rogers agrees, then this will be your punishment.”
We all looked at the teacher in question. She glared back at us but eventually nodded.
Logan shook the headmaster’s hand and then the teachers’, thanking them. Maia sidled up to me and clasped my hand. “Always saving the day,” she whispered to me.
I squeezed her hand. “I’d do anything for you.”
She smiled cheekily and then looked pointedly at her dad. “Anything?”
I groaned. “Almost anything.”
We were heading out of the office when Logan caught up with us, Mr. Tatum at his side. The teacher immediately held out a hand to me. “It was nice to meet you.”
Our eyes met and held again, and I felt a little zing of attraction. “You too. Thank you for being so fair.”
“I don’t believe Maia had anything to do with it.”
“Nice, Mr. T.,” Layla snapped at him as she strode past us, eating up the ground with her long legs.
“I guess we’re not friends anymore!” Maia called after her sarcastically.
Logan put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “She was never a very good one anyway, Maia.”
“Um… do you have a minute to talk privately?” Mr. Tatum suddenly asked me.
I could feel Logan’s and Maia’s eyes burning into mine. “Uh… Yeah, sure.” I looked back at them. Maia was glowering. Logan’s expression was carefully blank. “I’ll catch up with you.”