The Education Of Hailey Kendrick Part 16

"Are you mad at him?"

"We're guys. I punched him, he hit me back, and then everything was fine. We went out for ice cream after."

I rolled my eyes. Men.

"I can't blame the guy for wanting to kiss you," Tristan said.

"I never wanted you to get hurt," I said.

"I know." Tristan paused, chewing on his lower lip. "If you guys want to go out, date or whatever, that would be okay with me."

I touched his shoulder. "I like Joel. He's always been one of my closest friends, but that almost works against us. It's almost too comfortable. There's no spark." I shrugged. I didn't know how to explain it. Logically Joel would make a great boyfriend, but sometimes the heart isn't logical. "I don't think he and I are meant to be, but I still appreciate you saying it."

"Feel good to be back?" Tristan asked as we pulled through the school gates.

I watched the line of trees that lined the driveway march past until we came into the quad. I looked up at the library, the gray stones covered in ivy. To my left were the dorm buildings. From the outside I could spot the windows for my different rooms over the years. I realized how well I knew this place. I knew how the second sink on the right in the bathroom never had really hot water. I knew the best place to sit in the library, and how the toffee chocolate chip cookies in the cafeteria were worth every calorie. I knew which stairs creaked and how if you wanted extra towels, you could bribe the maids by bringing them Starbucks from town. I hadn't wanted to go to Evesham, but in its own way it had become home.

"I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I think I'll miss this place after graduation."

"You know what they say: Loyalty, Duty, and Honor."

"That saying used to drive me nuts."

"I guessed that, after you went all whack job on the Tin Man."

I shoved Tristan in the shoulder. "I feel bad about that now. I think I was missing the whole point. It's not about blind loyalty and doing what you're told. It's about being loyal to yourself and those you respect, and about doing what you have to do, even when you're afraid."

"For graduation maybe all of us should get tattoos with the logo on it." Tristan pointed to his bicep. "Right here. That way we'll never forget our time at Evesham."

"Or each other."

"I got to tell you, you're not the kind of person that is easy to forget. Besides, we're all going to stay in touch. There isn't going to be a chance to forget."

32.

We were late. The morning a.s.sembly had already begun. The drama teacher was at the lectern talking about a field trip to New York to see some productions. Parents would have to pay the costs, but those who went and wrote a paper had a chance to earn some extra art credits. Dean Winston's eyes narrowed when he saw Tristan and me slip in the back. It was hard to be subtle, since I was on crutches. Tiptoeing in wasn't an option. Then there was the fact that Kelsie was waving at us like we'd been separated for years instead of a couple of days. She slid over on the bench to make room for me. Tristan made sure I made it safely to the row, and he made a funny face at Kelsie. She started giggling. At this point everyone was looking at us; even the drama teacher had stopped talking. From the back I could see the vein in Winston's forehead starting to throb.

I sat down as fast as I could and let my cast stretch out into the aisle. Joel had saved Tristan a seat a few rows ahead on the guys' side. Joel turned around and smiled. He mouthed the words "Welcome back" before turning back around.

The drama teacher picked up where she'd left off. The school would book rooms at the Library Hotel for three nights. I could hear a few people whispering. Weekends in New York were always popular. I wondered if the drama teacher believed that everyone who signed up was really interested in the plays. She must have thought Evesham was full of theater geeks.

Dean Winston got up as soon as she sat down. "For those of you considering the trip, be aware you'll be expected to sign the code of conduct agreement before you go. This means you will be held to the expectations of an Evesham student." His eyes swept the room as if he could tell already that people were planning to sneak out of the hotel and try to get into the clubs. "Evesham students should always demonstrate the highest standards of quality."

Kelsie poked me in the side with her elbow, and I pressed my mouth down to avoid giggling. I went to poke her back and accidentally hit my crutch, which fell into the aisle with a loud clang. Kelsie snorted, and I bit my lip to stop smiling.

Dean Winston stopped mid-word and froze me in place with his stare. "Is there something you find funny about this, Ms. Kendrick?"

Everyone turned around to look at me. "No, sir." I made a vague gesture with my hand to the crutch. "It just fell."

"Ms. Kendrick, will you please step forward?"

"Oh, s.h.i.+t," Kelsie whispered under her breath.

I picked up my fallen crutch and went up the aisle until I was standing just in front of the lectern.

"This school is founded on principles, Ms. Kendrick."

"Yes, sir." I could feel everyone's eyes on me. My face was burning hot.

"You've been doing some research on the history of the school, haven't you?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then, perhaps you'd like to share with the group what you've learned thus far about the principles that are the cornerstones of this inst.i.tution?"

The last thing I wanted to do was share, but I had the sense that he wasn't really asking it as a question. He twirled his finger, indicating that I should turn around to face the audience.

I turned to face everyone and cleared my throat. "Evesham is named after one of the two main battles in thirteenth-century England. It was part of the Barons' War. The school's founder, Simon Kenilworth, started the school in 1911 with the idea that it would provide an opportunity for privileged young men to complete their education, with a focus on also developing their character. He'd attended boarding school in England and felt that there should be a school of equal caliber here in the United States. The school started admitting girls in the 1960s."

"Thank G.o.d," someone in the crowd said. Winston searched the crowd to see if he could tell where the comment had come from.

"And do you believe in the principles this school was founded upon?" Winston asked me.

"Yes and no," I answered honestly.

Winston's nostrils flared in annoyance.

"I've come to realize that the school is only a collection of buildings. History teaches us that nothing is permanent, but I do believe in this place, if by 'school' you mean the people who have gone here."

"If this school is so important to you, Ms. Kendrick, perhaps now you would be willing to share the name of who you were with the night you destroyed the statue that represents the principles you say you hold so dear."

I opened my mouth to tell him again that I wasn't going to tell. Not now, not even if he dragged me up in front of a million a.s.semblies.

"I was the one with her," a voice called out.

I looked up. Drew was standing in the back. He walked down the center of the aisle until he was standing by my side.

"I was with Hailey that night. It was my idea to destroy the statue," he said.

"I hope you realize this means you're fired," Dean Winston said.

"What are you doing?" I whispered to Drew.

"It doesn't matter that I wasn't there. I wish I had been," Drew whispered back. He smiled, and I felt my heart turn over. "I'd choose to be with you anytime, anywhere." He squeezed my hand, and we turned to face Winston together.

"It wasn't him. I was the one with Hailey!" Joel yelled out.

Joel was standing up. I could tell he wanted to throw up, he was so scared, but he was standing up for me.

"Actually, it was me," Kelsie called out, and she stood as well. She gave me a thumbs-up.

"Nope, it was me," Tristan said as he stood.

I felt my eyes start to fill up. There were squeaks and rustles as more and more people started to stand in the hall.

"It was me."

"I was there."

"I was with Hailey."

"I did it."

Soon more than half of the student body was standing up. Everyone from my old crowd was standing, and even a bunch of people that I didn't know that well.

Dean Winston looked like he was ready to have a stroke. His entire head had gone red, and the vein in his forehead was thumping like it was laying down a club beat.

"Everyone return to their seats. Right now," he yelled. He pointed at me. "Return to your place, Ms. Kendrick."

Drew walked by my side until I got back to my seat. I smiled at everyone as I walked past. They might have been mad at me, but they'd never abandoned me. If it wouldn't have gotten me into more trouble, I would have stopped to hug each and every person as I went by.

"You can leave now," Dean Winston directed Drew.

Drew winked at me. "I'll catch up with you later." He walked out of the a.s.sembly with his head held high. A few people, many of them girls, turned to watch him leave.

"Oh, now, he's dreamy," Kelsie whispered. "You should hang on to him."

"I plan to," I whispered back.

33.

Winston ended the a.s.sembly just a few minutes later. He was deflated like a helium balloon the morning after a birthday party. There was a sense in the room that things had changed. Or maybe it just felt that way to me.

Instead of running to cla.s.s when the a.s.sembly was over, almost everyone stopped to tell me how glad they were to see me back. Tristan had his arm draped over Kelsie's shoulders, and she was busy inviting everyone to the party she was planning.

"Oh! Maybe we should do costumes! We could make it a theme party, dress up like your favorite past Evesham student," Kelsie said, her eyes sparkling. "Or people could just pick a time period they like, anytime since the school started." She never met an event that wasn't made better by dressing up.

"I bet my parents could snag some great 1920s costumes," Tristan suggested.

"I love those flapper outfits!" Kelsie squealed. A few of the girls surrounding us started to buzz with ideas for food and decorations. It was rapidly changing from a small welcome back party to an A-list event.

Joel touched my elbow softly. "I'm sorry," he said, so quietly that only I could hear him.

"Me too."

"I should have owned up to Tristan long ago. I never should have left you hanging. I didn't exactly come across as a real knight in s.h.i.+ning armor."

"You stood up for me when it mattered. And you told Tristan when you didn't have to. Besides, I think, since I tried to behead one, I'm not all that keen on s.h.i.+ning armor types anyway."

"Even without the armor, I'm guessing there isn't going to be a you and me, is there?" Joel asked.

I shook my head. "Someone's going to be lucky to get you, though."

We hugged. "There will always be room for you to visit at the White House," Joel said.

"Visit? What happened to my amba.s.sadors.h.i.+p?"

Joel snapped his fingers. "Right, I almost forgot. You wanted someplace like the Arctic, right?"

I pleaded that I had to go, leaving everyone else to plan the party. It was going to take me time to get across campus to cla.s.s with my crutches, and I wanted to go back to my room first to pick up my things. Kelsie offered to come with me, but I waved her off. When I stepped outside, the sun was s.h.i.+ning. There were still splotches of snow around, but there were also shoots of green popping up from the mud. Spring was coming.

I'd hoped Drew would still be around, but I didn't see him anywhere. I started heading toward the dorms. A horn beeped, and I turned to see Drew sitting in his truck parked in the lot. I smiled and headed over. He got out to meet me halfway.

"You've got some nice friends there, Prima Donna."

"I do."

"I'm glad things are working out."

"Yeah, about that. Some things haven't worked out." I took a deep breath and reminded myself, no guts, no glory. "I need to tell you something. I don't want to be friends with you."

Drew blinked. "Sort of wish you had said something before I opened my big mouth to Winston and lost my job."

This wasn't going the way I'd expected. I tried to figure out how to explain everything. That I liked him. I wanted to be with him. I'd only slapped him because I hadn't been expecting the kiss. I'd been confused, but I wasn't confused anymore. I knew what I wanted. My brain scrambled for the words that would make all of this make sense and leave Drew with no choice but to throw his arms around me, but I couldn't think of a thing.

I dropped one crutch and grabbed Drew by the s.h.i.+rt and yanked him close and kissed him. The entire world shrunk down to the point where our mouths met. I felt off balance, and not just because I had only one good leg. The air outside was cool, but I wasn't remotely cold. I felt like my entire body was thawing out. The kiss lasted forever, but eventually we both pulled back. Drew was quiet.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" I asked. He remained silent, so I kept going before I could lose my nerve. "I like you. I was afraid to say anything, but something you told me stuck with me. How being brave is about being scared but doing it anyway. That's why I kissed you. You may not want to be with me anymore, and I can understand that. I'm high maintenance, and it apparently takes me a long time to sort out what I want. Sometimes I come across as stuck-up, but it's more because I only know my own world. I'm bad about trying new things unless someone pushes me. I'm a lousy cleaner."

Drew put his finger over my mouth. "You also talk too much." He leaned in and kissed me again. He pulled back and cupped my face in his hand. "It also took you long enough to figure this out."

"You're saying you knew I liked you?"

"Oh, yeah. Written all over your face. I figured you just needed to get to the answer on your own."

"Is that right?"