If I said something now, she’d discover the note for sure. “Nothing.”
I turned and forced myself down to the second row, thinking about how Sasha and Cade would be perfect for each other.
I glanced over my shoulder again. Maybe I didn’t have to worry about her finding the letter at all. It was possible my pen pal had gotten displaced today, too. Maybe there wasn’t a letter.
Or maybe Sasha was about to find it because her eyes were now on the desktop, her head tilted as she read the words there. My heart was pounding. Lauren whispered something to her and Sasha laughed, her focus changing direction. I took a breath of relief.
I looked over my shoulder so much throughout the rest of class that finally Sasha let me know exactly how she felt about it with a rude hand gesture. I hadn’t meant for her to notice.
Toward the end of class the door squeaked open and in walked Cade Jennings. Great.
“Can I help you?” the sub asked.
Cade’s eyes scanned the room, landing on Sasha. She smiled and he winked. Looks like she hadn’t needed to worry after all. Cade walked a few steps forward and addressed the sub. “Yes, I was told to inform you that your class should get out ten minutes early today to give the students time to get to the assembly.”
“Really?”
While Cade was playing whatever prank he and his friends decided was funny, I figured I should probably write my pen pal a letter even though I hadn’t read his yet. I didn’t always need to be the responder. I’d write him a letter, then leave it on my way out.
I pulled out a sheet of paper while the sub looked through his notes on the desk, trying to confirm Cade’s claim.
Almost out of time. Haven’t read your note yet. Long story.
Remember a while back, I was trying to leave you on a happy note and I ended up talking about Mondays and how they suck … sort of defeating my purpose? Well, I take back my labeling of poor, innocent Monday. I found myself humming this morning on my way to class. Is it illegal to hum on a Monday? I blame you.
“I see nothing about this,” the sub said.
“That’s why I’m here telling you,” Cade answered with his big smile.
“Your name?”
“Jack Ryan.”
He said it in a casual tone, not in the deep voice that would indicate he was mocking the teacher. Sasha snorted from behind me and that’s when the teacher’s brow went down.
“Young man, wait here for a moment.”
“I would,” Cade said, “but I’m on a secret mission.” He headed for the door and waved to Sasha on his way out. She laughed and then he was gone.
The sub looked around at the classroom in annoyance. “Who in here is willing to give me his name?”
Nobody said a word. I was so tempted to. I wanted Cade to have some consequences once in a while. But I stayed quiet with the rest of the class.
The bell rang and I grimaced. I quickly jotted down a closing line on the piece of paper.
Sorry it’s so short, started too late. I’ll make up for it tomorrow.
I folded the letter and slowly packed my things. I just needed to wait until everyone was gone. I stood up and nearly ran into Sasha’s chin.
“Do you have a problem with me?” she snapped.
I took a step back. I should’ve known looking at her for the first half of class wasn’t going to be tabled with one rude gesture. “No. I don’t.”
“You were mad about me stealing your seat? You don’t think Lauren is your friend, do you?”
I hadn’t been expecting this. “No,” I snapped back.
“I’m glad you know your place.”
“Is there a problem, girls?” the sub asked.
Sasha’s smile made its first appearance as she unleashed it on the teacher. “No, we’re just talking about meeting up later. See you.” She turned and took her long legs and perfect hair out of the room.
“I wouldn’t want either of you as friends anyway,” I said way too late.
“What?” the sub asked.
“Nothing.” I walked to my normal seat and squatted down, pretending to tie my shoe. Then I exchanged the notes.
I lingered for a moment, staring at the desktop—my initial exchange with my pen pal. The sub was busy writing on the whiteboard so I took out a pencil and erased as much as I could as quickly as I could. Satisfied I didn’t have to worry about someone like Sasha reading it ever again, I got up and left.