fun of her and her eccentricities.
“Of course. I’m here for all of my students. It’s my job to help them soar.” She giggled. “Get it?”
How embarrassing is it that I actually laughed? “Good one, Bird.”
“How about you get back to class, and I’ll call your parents to set up a meeting? Do you know what time is usually good for them?”
“My dad works ‘til close at the store, so it’ll have to be in the morning.”
“Perfect. I’ll let you know what we come up with.”
I left Mrs. Bardot’s office feeling more hopeful than I had since my parents broke the news. They might not listen to me, but another adult? Maybe. It was the only chance I had.
I tried not to worry about college or Ray for the rest of the day and looked forward to the middle school basketball game I was covering for the Academy’s YouTube channel. At least it got me out of Mom’s after-school schedule. Snack, then cleaning, then exercise, then supper, then cleanup, then homework until lights out. Every day. The only time I got a reprieve was when I had something to do after school or Mom was gone with the twins.
Unfortunately, watching middle schoolers huff and puff down the basketball court was just about as interesting as watching paint dry. The third time I caught a kid picking their nose instead of guarding their opponents, I called it quits and packed up. Surely there was enough footage to piece together a five-minute video. I walked across the parking lot to the high school and entered the empty building to do some quick edits before uploading.
The halls were almost completely empty sans the haunting notes of a violin. Jordan’s boyfriend, Kai, had his private lesson after school each day. Since I was technically at school, and therefore free from my parents’ rein, I decided to take my time and walk closer to the source of the sound. Maybe I could listen for a little while and just relax.
However, the notes stopped when I got a few feet away from the music room. I waited for them to resume, but apparently, he was done.
The door cracked open, and I realized how absolutely creepy this idea had been. Lurking in the hallway and listening to my friend’s boyfriend play violin? Not one of my finer moments. I turned and hightailed it away, but the door swung fully open, and Kai called, “Ginger?”
Slowly, casually, I turned. “Oh, Kai? Hey. What are you doing here?”
Smooth like butter.
He held up his violin case. “You?”
I held up my camera bag in response.
“Nice.” He fell into step beside me as we walked toward the videography room. “Heard there was some drama with the cowboy?”
I rolled my eyes. “He’s insufferable.”
With a shrug, Kai said, “I have him in music class, but he’s quiet. A good guitar player.”
I remembered him playing guitar at the party by the beach, the way his voice blended with the notes and he just seemed so carefree. He wasn’t like that at school. I shoved down the feelings warring in my chest and tried to make a joke. “So he’s a future country music star, huh?”
Chuckling, he said, “Don’t bring that up to him. It drives him nuts.”
“Tucking that piece of information in my back pocket for later.”
He laughed, stalling by the dark videography room. “Are you good here by yourself?” He seemed skeptical.
“Yeah, l do this all the time.”
“I could stay,” he offered. “I have some homework I could do.”
I shook my head. “I’m good.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I am,” I said and waved him goodbye before using my key to get into the classroom. Actually, being on my own at the Academy was a relief. It was one of the few times where I could exist outside of my parents’ watchful eyes. Although, all I did was edit video and upload it. That’s what they didn’t understand. I didn’t want to go out and do anything crazy—get hurt or risk my health. I just wanted to live.
My phone began ringing from a number I didn’t recognize, and I answered it. “Hello?”
“Hi, Miss Ginger,” a woman said in a sing-song voice.
“Who is this?”
“Bird, of course! The Bird-man.”
I covered my mouth to hold back a laugh. “Hi, Bird-man.”
“I got a hold of your parents. We’re on for eight in the morning. I’ll see you then!”
My mood soared. “Thank you!” But as soon as I hung up, worry took over. What if Mrs. Bardot couldn’t convince them to let me live