Part 7 (2/2)

”I decided I'm not really a better person,” I said.

It didn't take long to redo the floor. Turned out Drew was right, mud wipes right up. I helped put the cart back into the closet. Drew made sure everything was put back in just the right place, and he ticked off the tasks on the to-do list. He made sure the mop was clean before he hung it up to dry. He clearly took pride in his job. Once everything was properly stowed away, he grabbed his jacket off the hook.

”Here, don't forget these.” I handed him the printouts of the training programs I'd found.

”Oh, right. Thanks.” He pulled a book out of his coat pocket and folded the papers inside.

”What are you reading?” I asked.

Drew flipped the book over so I could see the cover. Dante Dante's Inferno Inferno. I hadn't expected that. I'd seen him as more of a Stephen King fan.

”Fan of the cla.s.sics, huh?” I asked, trying to hide my surprise.

”It's on the reading list. I'm trying to get a jump start.”

”Reading list?”

”I'm going to Yale next year. I'm working this job to earn some extra money.”

”Yale?”

”I got in last year but delayed my start. I wanted to travel a little, earn some extra cash.”

I could feel my face burning. ”Oh.” I couldn't believe I'd given him a bunch of information on vocational programs and had acted like he would be lucky to get in. ”I didn't mean to imply that the skilled trades were your only option.”

”Don't worry about it. Your heart was in the right place. Besides, I thought it was kind of cool that you noticed I have good dexterity.” He waved his fingers in front of my face. ”I like the idea of you thinking about what my hands can do.” He winked before turning to leave.

I flushed even redder. ”I wasn't thinking about your hands,” I called after him.

”Sure you weren't.”

”I wasn't. I was trying to be nice.”

Drew turned around to face me, leaning against the doorjamb. ”Admit it. You're thinking about it now.” He saluted and left.

I kicked the cart. Darn it. Now I was was thinking about it. thinking about it.

17.

The dining hall at Evesham is decorated to look like one of the halls at Oxford. The long wall has arched cathedral windows, and the ceiling is painted with vines and leaves. There are long wooden tables, and although seats aren't a.s.signed, it's habit that the seniors sit in the back, farthest from the front faculty table. Well, at least most of them do. I'd taken to sitting by myself in the leper section near the trash cans. Out of site, out of mind. Unlike in most cafeterias, we don't wait in a line for food. Each table has menus on a clipboard, and you check off what you want and then one of the servers bring your tray.

I ticked off scrambled eggs and toast and pulled out my math homework to go over my answers one more time. My grades had gone up lately because I'd had way more time to do homework, without needing to spend time talking to anyone. Isolation has its advantages. Kelsie sat down and waved away the server. She never eats breakfast. Or to be more precise, she never eats her own breakfast. Kelsie picked the strawberry off my toast plate and popped it into her mouth.

”So how come I have to hear from someone else that you're a.s.signed to clean with some sort of hunky man model?”

”What?”

”If I had known they hired cute townies to clean, I would have taken an interest in dust long before now.” Kelsie looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to us. ”Is he the one from that night?”

I rolled my eyes. ”No, he is not the one.”

”You're going to want to bail on breakfast, by the way.”

”Why?”

”Trust me. Make yourself scarce.” Kelsie took a piece of my toast and wrinkled up her nose. ”I hate this whole grain stuff. The nuts get in my teeth.”

”Then, get your own toast.” I grabbed the piece back. ”Why should I leave?”

”I can take time to explain things, or later we can talk about how next time you should listen to me,” Kelsie said, pointing a pink nail in my face.

I opened my mouth to argue the point, but there was a rustle at the front of the room and Joel hopped up onto one of the tables.

”Too late,” Kelsie groaned.

Joel clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. ”As the student council president I would like to call a town meeting.”

I raised an eyebrow at Kelsie, who gave me a look that said I should have made a run for it when I had the chance. Town meetings are an Evesham tradition. If someone has a gripe-ranging from someone playing their music too loud (or playing music someone else can't stand) to the need for more organic veggies for the salad bar-then we are supposed to talk it out over one of our meals. It's supposed to remind us of how we would have talked over issues with our families over a dinner table. The truth is most of Evesham's students didn't have family dinners, unless you count sitting down with your nanny over fish sticks while your parents go to some fancy fund-raiser.

Joel nodded to one of the tables, and I saw Mandy Gallaway get up. She pulled her uniform skirt down and paused long enough to make sure everyone was watching her walk to the front of the room.

”Uh-oh,” I said softly under my breath.

Kelsie grabbed the last piece of my toast. ”File this experience under, 'Next time I will pay attention to my best friend when she gives me advice.'”

”I wanted to bring up the issue of having to be on restriction.” Mandy looked around the room. ”I think it's unfair that we're all on lockdown when only one person did something wrong.”

There were a few grumbles from other people in the cafeteria. I stared down at my eggs so I didn't have to meet anyone's eyes. Did they think this was my idea? If Mandy wanted to go into town and flash a nipple or her thong at a random photographer, it was fine by me. If they wanted to gripe, they should take it up with Winston.

”Hailey, can you come up here and join us while we talk this out?” Joel asked.

I looked up from my eggs, my stomach flipping over. I pointed a finger at my chest, on the off chance that Joel had another Hailey in mind. He nodded, and Mandy crossed her arms over her chest with a smirk. With everyone's eyes on me, I figured bolting from the room was out. Taking a deep breath, I stood up and walked slowly to the front.

”Dean Winston imposed restriction on all of us as a way to demonstrate how we're connected. What impacts one of us impacts all of us,” Joel said in his best presidential voice.

”I don't think Hailey cares how what she did impacts all of us,” Mandy said. ”She isn't showing Evesham school spirit. I haven't been able to go into town. I know Hailey thinks sticking up for this guy is important, but what I want to do is important too.”

I fought the urge to push Mandy into a pile of pancakes. I could picture the syrup running down her face, slicking her hair down to her head.

”Of course everyone has their own unique wants and feelings, and all of those are important. Does anyone else want to share how this situation is affecting them?” Joel offered.

I turned to look at Joel. Was he kidding? I pulled on his s.h.i.+rt so we were closer.

”Why are you doing this?” I hissed into his ear.

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