JELLY DOUGHNUTS

CARTER YELLS AT ME. But it’s like nice yelling. Like supportive, yet disappointed and extremely frustrated yelling. He makes me wish I hadn’t done it. But he doesn’t make me feel horrible.

He does have to suspend me. For the rest of the day. And two days after that.

I ask him if I can go back and get my new assignment—another essay from Cassidy—before I take off. He’s fine with it. Says he likes my initiative. As I’m walking out of his office, I ask if he’s heard anything about where Luis is. He’s serious when he says, “Nothing yet, Sam.”

It’s lunch. Cassidy’s in her room alone. Munching on a salad.

“Headed home?” she asks.

“Yeah. I’m—”

“Suspended. I heard. McClean.”

“He was talking crap about—”

“Luis. I heard.”

“Who told?”

“Everyone, Sam. It’s all over school.”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Cassidy.”

“Don’t apologize to me,” she says.

I collapse into a seat, pissed off at myself for losing it. For wasting my energy on him.

Cassidy rolls my way in her chair and slugs me in the arm. “Buck up, cowboy! Something had to be done, so you did it. It’s over. Now, go home, get some rest, work your tail off on this assignment”—she hands me a paper—“and don’t make any plans to run for office until you clean up that gutter mouth of yours. Got it?”

“Got it.”

I start walking out, but there’s something I have to say.

“Ms. Cassidy?”

“Yes, Sam.”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For calling you a B.”

She snorts a laugh and says, “Well, then, Sam, I’m sorry too.”

“For what?”

“For calling you and Luis a couple of F-in’ little S-heads on several occasions. So we’re even.”

I’m laughing now too. I hold my hand out for her to shake. “Yeah, we’re even, Ms. Cassidy. As long as you promise to clean up that mouth of yours.”

We shake. She reaches for her bag. “Krispy Kreme? I happen to have a jelly doughnut. Perfect for today. You think McClean might want one? For his piehole?”

“Nah. I think he might pass.” I bite into the doughnut.

“Sam?” Cassidy says, sounding serious now. “I’m sorry Mr. McClean said that about Luis.”

“It’s okay, Ms. Cassidy.”

“No, Sam, it’s not.”

“I know.”