even hit my stride and said, “Look, sweetheart, I don’t care if you get up there and start banging on a bunch of pots and pans, as long as that stage isn’t empty tonight.”
“So the spot is mine? I mean, theirs?” I asked, unable to believe my sudden change in luck.
“Sure, sure. Now get out of my hair, kid. I got a lot of work to do around here.”
I strode off, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. On the drive back to school, I put on something from my “World Domination” playlist—songs I usually reserve for a high test grade or when I win an especially brutal game of Sorry! against my dad.
I sing along to “Proud Mary” by Creedence Clearwater Revival at the top of my lungs as I turn into the parking lot of the school and find the same spot I vacated when I left.
I check the clock. Only a few minutes left of seventh period. I can do this. I can totally make this happen. I’ll just wait until the bell rings, then I’ll blend into the swarm of people exiting their last class.
It’s the perfect plan, if I say so myself.
I don’t know why I don’t ditch school more often. I’m clearly amazing at it.
The song appropriately comes to an end right as the bell rings. This day is totally turning around. All it needed was a little nudge in the right direction. A small shift in perspective and everything falls into place.
Whack-a-Mole will play at the carnival tonight. Then Tristan, having just come off an onstage high, and I will have the romantic night I’ve dreamed about since I was ten.
I see the swells of students exiting the outer bungalows and heading toward the main building. I ease into the stream like a fish, glancing around to make sure no one gives me suspicious looks.
So far, so good.
I can’t wait to find Tristan and tell him the good news. There’s no way he can be mad at me after I landed his band this gig.
I will have to eventually figure out a way to explain to Ms. Ferrel, my English teacher, why I never showed up for class, and why I was unable to turn in my extra-credit paper, but that shouldn’t be too hard. I’m a rebel now. I’ll improvise!
I’m two steps away from the safety of the main building when a large hand clamps down on my shoulder. “Ms. Sparks,” a gruff female voice says. With butterflies already stirring in the pit of my stomach, I slowly turn around. Principal Yates is standing behind me, looking like an ogre among all these students. “I hope you have a very good reason for missing seventh period.”
I Fought the Law and the Law Won
3:18 p.m.
I take it all back. I’m not a rebel. I’m not even a radical. I’m barely an agitator. I’m not cut out for the criminal life. I buckle too easily under pressure. I would fare miserably in prison. And an interrogation room? Forget it. I’d squeal the moment the police officer straddled his chair.
Case in point, Principal Yates does nothing more than pin me with an accusing gaze before I totally crack.
“I’m sorry,” I blubber. “I’ll never do it again, I swear. It was a onetime thing.”
I pray that Principal Yates will take pity on me as a first-time offender.
“One time or no,” she says regretfully, “I have to punish delinquency. As a matter of principle.”
I feel the strong desire to crack a joke, A matter of principle. ’Cause you’re the principal? Get it? But I hold my tongue.
Probably the smartest thing I’ve done all day.
“Detention after school today,” she concludes. “3:30 to 4:30.”
My mouth falls open. “What?! No, but you can’t. I have softball tryouts. I have to go. My dad will be crushed if I don’t make varsity.”
She gives me a disapproving look. “I guess you should have thought of that before you left school grounds without permission.”
3:20 p.m.
I run to Tristan’s locker, knowing I’ll beat him there since he’s coming from the math hallway on the other side of the building. When he appears around the corner, the entire world brightens. It’s like Tristan brings warmth and energy and light wherever he goes. I want to start singing “Here comes the sun!” at the top of my lungs, but obviously I refrain.
He sees me and a small hesitant smiles works its way onto his lips. Does he look happy to see me? Or is he still angry