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“JEEZ LOUISE, THIS OUTFIT sucks!”
Grimacing at the fat girl staring at her in the mirror, Penny pulls at her makeshift buckskin skirt riding up in the back. The skirt seems shorter than normal, probably because she doesn’t wear them. For that matter, she hasn’t worn a freaking costume since the fifth grade.
One more thing she’s been dreading about this stupid dance—Spirit Day. Since Homecoming coincides with Halloween this year, the freshman committee voted unanimously to wear coordinating outfits. Everyone but her, that is. Didn’t they stop to think that the whole Wild West theme and dressing like Native Americans is highly insensitive?
Tossing her lip balm in her bag, she closes the pocket and sighs. Might as well get this over with. Opening the bathroom door, she looks both ways before heading for her locker. Since her journal was stolen, she’s been diligent about leaving her private possessions locked up as she participates in these stupid activities.
Entering the combination, she swings the door wide. She screeches. Like stray bullets, a flurry of unused tampons fly out, littering the floor around her. She throws her hands up to cover her face as her heart pummels against her chest.
As the last tampon falls, she scans the hall. These stupid pranks are getting to be too much. It had to have happened within the last hour. She’d put her books away after school. And now they have the combination to her locker?
“Screw them.”
Kneeling upon the floor, she quickly scoops up a handful of the sanitary items and shoves them into her backpack. She can’t let anyone know she’s been pranked. Again. The less fuel these bitches have, the better. And tampons? It’s so freaking cliché.
It could be worse. They could have been used.
“Penny? Is everything alright?”
Bolting upright, Penny inhales sharply as Mrs. Donovan stands next to her. Holy crap, this is worse than being caught by Hannah and her minions.
She stammers, “Yes, ma’am. I’m just cleaning up my mess.”
Mrs. Donovan arches an eyebrow. “Do you have a minute?”
Stuffing the rest of the tampons into a plastic baggie sitting at the bottom of her locker, Penny slowly stands. “Yes, ma’am.”
As they walk toward the counseling center, Mrs. Donovan gives her a warm smile. “I like your outfit. I’m proud of you for getting involved.”
Pulling on the skirt self-consciously, Penny sighs. “Thank you. I’m supposed to help decorate cars for the parade tonight, too.”
Mrs. Donovan places a hand on her shoulder. “This will only take a second.” They round the corner, and. Hannah and Addy are racing toward them, no doubt hoping to catch the action of the raining tampons prank.
Hannah’s eyes widen. “Er, hi, Mrs. Donovan. We came to find Penny. We’ve got the decorations ready for Justin’s truck.”
Mrs. Donovan arches an eyebrow. Darting a glance between the girls and Penny, she nods. “She’ll join you in a moment. Head out to the parking lot.”
Hannah’s cheeks flush crimson, and Penny smirks. The girl might be some high and mighty queen bee, but she still fears authority. “Sounds good. Penny, we’ll see you outside.”
Dread snakes down Penny’s neck as Hannah’s intended threat sits like a boulder at the bottom of her throat. Mrs. Donovan must be on that list of people she’s supposed to stay away from.
Like I had a choice.
As they enter the administration office, Penny follows Mrs. Donovan to the counseling room. She knows this place well. After her father’s death, she was ordered to attend grief sessions with the school psychologist, Ms. Eppley. The woman hadn’t been all bad, but her compassion only went so far. It didn’t help that Ms. Eppley is Erin Withers’—one of Christy’s minion’s—aunt.
Penny gazes at the clock. It’s four-thirty. Nobody is here. Everyone has either gone home for the day, or they’re getting ready for the parade. That’s a good thing.
“Please, sit.”
As Penny settles at the table, Mrs. Donovan takes the chair adjacent to hers. Penny stares at her, more than ready to get this over with. She can’t be in trouble. She’s at the top of her class. And she’s gotten involved. Hasn’t she done everything this woman wanted her to?
Except...
Penny wrings her hands beneath the table. Oh, crap! The Crusades paper. Had Mr. Lopez discovered it wasn’t Hannah’s work? Maybe this is why Mrs. Donovan wanted to see her.
Figures she’d get caught. Before this, she hadn’t cheated a day in her life. Biting her lip, Penny croaks, “Have I done something?”
Mrs. Donovan sighs. “Not at all. It’s been a while since we’ve spoken. I wanted to see how you’re doing.”
Guarding her psyche, Penny plasters a grin on her face so fake she’ll have to pry it off with a putty knife. “I’m fine. I’ve been busy with school and activities. It’s been a good year.” Blah, blah... all the bullshit every teacher or principal wants to hear.
Mrs. Donovan cocks her head. “You’re sure?” She takes one of Penny’s hands and squeezes. “Dear heart, we’ve known each other a long time. Right now, I’m coming to you not as your principal, but as a friend. I want you to know that you can talk to me. I do care.”
Curse Luke Donovan, the bane of my existence.
Clenching her jaw, Penny musters up every bit of positivity she hasn’t felt in years. “I appreciate that, ma’am. But I’m doing well.”
“I hear your mother is still ill.”
Rolling her eyes, Penny snorts. “I think we both know Miranda will never get better. I’m handling things as best I can.”
Mrs. Donovan nods. “With your brother gone, I worry. Joe and I are just down the street if you need us, especially if you don’t feel safe. That’s an open-door policy.”
OMG, I’m going to kill Luke!
Penny swallows her humiliation. The Donovan house is the absolute last place Penny would seek shelter. Captain Donovan hates her. More to the point, he hates all the Ramsays. When she and Colt stayed with them a few summers ago, Captain Donovan had made it very clear he wasn’t happy about the situation.
But Mrs. Donovan didn’t need to know that.
Nodding along like good little girls always did, Penny says, “T-thank you. But everything is fine.”
Pressing her lips together, Principal Donovan says, “I just wanted to be sure. Your grades are top-notch, of course, and your teachers seem pleased with your work. Are you handling the advanced courses?”
Yes, and everyone else’s.
Stifling the urge to admit to her sins, Penny swallows hard. “Of course. My favorite class is chemistry.”
Mrs. Donovan smiles. “Mrs. Leavy has wonderful things to say about you. And it seems you’re her star scholastic bowl student this year.”
Yeah, there is that. It’s the only thing Penny has taken pride in since starting high school. Most of the time—e.g.: this Homecoming stuff—she feels like a fish out of water. But she’s a wiz with useless trivia. Not that it will get her far.
Unless I get asked to compete on Jeopardy.
She clears her throat. “I’m having fun with it.” She stares at the clock. It’s nearly a quarter until five. With her luck, Hannah and her groupies will be finished by the time she gets out there.
One can only hope.
Sighing, Mrs. Donovan pats Penny’s knee and stands. “I’ve taken up enough of your time. I just wanted to chat.” Penny follows suit. Before she knows what’s happening, Mrs. Donovan pulls her in for a hug. “Come to me if you ever need to talk, okay? I will always be here for you.”
Penny nearly bursts into tears right there. Without reciprocating the hug, she closes her eyes and soaks it in. Why can’t her own flesh and blood be this kind and compassionate?
And why does she have to be Luke’s mom? Not that Penny can trust anyone, but at this moment, at least it feels like someone cares.