Chapter Five — Blair

Blair watched Sandra from across the library. She looked amazing in a bright pink sweater. It wasn’t her usual color, but the black pants with small white skulls offset it nicely. When Cameron had suggested Blair ask Sandra to the Valentine’s Day dance, he’d known he wanted to, but didn’t know how. He wasn’t used to the sweaty palms and racing heart he had every time Sandra was near. Blair had finally pumped himself up enough to ask her…and then she had disappeared. She’d missed school the past few days, and time was running out. The dance was only a week away.

“Earth to Blair,” Julianna said, waving a hand in front of Blair’s face.

His focus slowly returned to her. She’d suggested they continue working on the project at her house, now that the research portion was finished, but he’d said he worked better at the library. Of course, this was a complete lie. Blair had been distracted every time Sandra came into view. And even when she was hidden and he wasn’t sure where she was, he spent the entire time keeping an eye out for her. Blair wasn’t certain if they’d made any progress on their project in the past week.

“If you aren’t planning on putting forth any effort, I might as well work on it at home, where I can be comfortable. And alone.” Julianna picked up her backpack from the floor and started shoving books back into it.

With an inward groan, Blair said, “I’m sorry. Please don’t go. You’re right, I haven’t been pulling my weight. What can I do to help?”

Julianna raised an eyebrow. “You really want to know?”

“Yes.”

Her gaze wandered across the library. When Blair turned, he saw Sandra placing books on a cart.

Julianna looked back at Blair, and her hand seemed to inch toward his. Oh, no. He’d seen that look before. But then she gave a quick shake of her head, and her hand retracted. Julianna’s eyes narrowed, and the soft desperation he’d seen disappeared, firm resolve taking its place.

“You need to ask Sandra out already so you can stop stalking her. Either that or we need to work someplace else. I can’t handle the lovesick thing you got going on.”

Blair balked. “Lovesick? You’re talking to the wrong guy. I don’t do love.”

“Maybe you didn’t,” she said. “But you certainly do now. So take care of it, would ya? I’d prefer not to do this entire project by myself.”

Blair’s gaze landed on Sandra again.

Ask her out.

If only he could.

“Anytime now,” Julianna said.

Blair’s head snapped up. “What?”

Julianna gave a pointed look in Sandra’s direction. “Go ask her out.”

“Now?” His voice came out small, but he was lucky he’d been able to speak at all. His stomach had tied itself in knots and he felt nauseous.

“Yes, now. Unless you want me to go get her for you.”

“No!” The word burst from Blair’s lips. Having his project partner play middleman? That would be the ultimate embarrassment. “I can ask her to the dance myself, thank you very much.”

Julianna gave him a curious look, her lips pursed. “You’re asking her to the Valentine’s dance?”

“You haven’t given me much choice,” Blair said. He didn’t think it worth mentioning that he’d already been planning on asking her, even before Julianna had decided to strong-arm him.

“I told you to ask her out, but I thought it would be on a normal date.” Julianna paused. “You know, because of her situation. She might still want to go, of course…”

It seemed like she knew more than she was saying, and that she thought Blair had the same information she did.

“Of course. That’s terrible what’s happened to her…” Blair trailed off, hoping Julianna would fill in the blanks.

“It was her choice, though,” Julianna said. “Not that I’m surprised. That girl is like a rebel without a cause.”

Blair’s brows furrowed at the comment. Even though he didn’t know what Julianna was referring to, it sounded like an insult.

“No offense,” she said quickly. “I’m sure she has her good qualities. Like…she’s really pretty.”

Julianna probably thought that was the sole reason Blair was interested in Sandra. Her looks. Did everyone think he was as shallow as that?

“Back to her choice,” Blair prompted. “Why do you think she made it?”

Julianna waved a hand, as if the answer didn’t matter. “Why does anyone drop out of school? Could be laziness, defiance…nothing good.” She must have misread the shock Blair felt because she said, “But to each their own. Like I said, I’m sure she has some good qualities. Somewhere.”

Sandra dropped out of school?

That couldn’t be right.

It would explain why he hadn’t seen her the past few days, but it didn’t seem like the type of thing she would do. Besides, wouldn’t he have heard something about it by now if that was true?

“Are you sure she dropped out?” he asked.

“You didn’t know,” Julianna said slowly, a shadow of guilt passing across her face.

Her reaction seemed genuine.

Blair’s gaze followed the pink sweatshirt that disappeared around the corner of one of the aisles. All nervousness vanished with it.

“I’ll be back.”

He jumped from his seat and walked toward where he had last seen Sandra. He turned the same corner she had and found her crouched down, placing a book on the bottom shelf. “I’ve just heard a very interesting rumor about you.”

Sandra yelped. She looked up, and when she saw who it was, she closed her eyes, relief passing over her features. “Blair, what the heck? You can’t sneak up on people like that.” He held out a hand and she grabbed it, pulling herself up. She used her hands to dust off her pants, even though they weren’t visibly dirty. “You done studying for the night?”

So, she had noticed Blair. The thought warmed him, but then he remembered why he’d come over to talk to her.

“Not quite,” he said. “Like I said, I heard a rumor about you, and I wondered if you could shed some light on the truth behind it.”

Sandra’s gaze dropped, and she shifted side to side, like she was uncomfortable. “Yeah?”

Blair stayed quiet for a moment, watching her squirm. He could tell she already knew what he was talking about. “So…is it true?”

She finally raised her head, and she looked so vulnerable in that moment. But then her features hardened, and she folded her arms. Sandra was in full defense mode. “So what if it is?”

He stared. There had to be an explanation. Sandra wouldn’t drop out four months before graduation. He didn’t know her as well as he would like to, but he knew enough to know she wasn’t dumb.

“You dropped out of school?” he asked slowly.

Sandra’s rigid features faltered for a brief second before they stiffened again. “In a manner of speaking.” She paused, like she wasn’t sure she should say more, then she added, “Thanks to your mom.”

“My—” Blair’s mind whirled, trying to figure out what Sandra was talking about. Then it all came flooding back.

The test.

Accusations of cheating.

Sandra upset, crying as she left the office.

“I know you know what I’m talking about,” she said. “You were there.”

Blair saw the chances of Sandra agreeing to go to the dance with him—or out on a date ever—disappearing faster than pizza on video game night. Once again, his mother was going to ruin another potential relationship.

“Really? You’re going to let my mom win?” he asked. He wasn’t sure if this was the best tactic to use, but he had to make sure Sandra knew he didn’t agree with how his mom had handled the situation.

“I’m not letting her win,” Sandra said. “I’m taking back my life—my choices. I’m doing things on my own terms now.” Her features softened. “I didn’t cheat. I had the top score in the class. And it wasn’t enough.” She paused. “It’s never enough.” The last part came out as a whisper.

“But dropping out of school right before graduation?” he asked, his voice as soft as hers. “Think about what that will mean.”

Sandra hesitated, and for a moment, Blair thought he’d gotten through to her. But then she shrugged. “Good thing I have a job, isn’t it?”

So much for the dance.

* * * * *

“Mom,” Blair bellowed as soon as he walked through the front door.

She appeared at the top of the stairs, now barefoot and wearing sweats. She hated the business suits she had to wear each day to school. Blair felt like he lived with Jekyll and Hyde.

“You didn’t listen to me, and now you need to fix it.”

His mom released a weary sigh. “Specifics, Blair. I can’t read between the lines.”

“Sandra. She dropped out of school because of you.”

His mom descended the stairs slowly. She studied him, like she was trying to figure out if he was serious. Blair knew the feeling—he’d experienced it himself. “Sandra…” She said it like she was trying to place the name.

“The girl you accused of cheating on her test last week, Mom.” His tone was crisp and impatient, but he didn’t care.

“I know who she is,” his mom said, equally impatient. “I was running through her file in my mind.” She placed a finger under her chin. “She doesn’t have anything in her background that would suggest she’d be at risk of not finishing school. Her parents are good, hardworking people. They aren’t well off by any means, but she comes from a stable home.”

Blair paced across the front room, attempting to calm himself before he spoke again. “People aren’t files.”

His mom looked at him, surprise etched in her features. “Is that what you think? That I see my students as nothing more than records in my office?”

He hesitated, not knowing how to answer the question. Blair hadn’t thought much about it; he’d rather separate his mom from the woman who was principal at the school. It had become increasingly difficult over the past year to do that, however.

Blair’s silence was answer enough.

His mom turned to leave, but Blair couldn’t let her go before he’d said his piece.

“You accused her of cheating, and it didn’t matter what she said. You didn’t believe her. Sandra has decided that if that’s what life is about, she might as well take control of it. She’s done leaving it in the hands of others.”

His mom paused and turned back, her voice soft. “Sandra’s smart. I know that. And I can’t see any reason why she’d cheat. But do you realize how many students tell me they didn’t do what they were accused of? Every single one of them. I don’t have the luxury of believing them. I have to believe the teacher’s word over hers. That’s how the system works.”

Blair crossed his arms. “Well, you should have believed this one. She’s not coming back to school. Because of you.”

“I…” A mixture of emotions crossed her face. The one Blair hadn’t expected to see was sadness. “I’ll talk to her,” she said. “I won’t be able to change her grade, but I’ll at least talk to her—see what I can do.”

“I don’t know if that will be enough.”

His mom’s shoulders slumped. “It will have to be.”