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I blink, trying to process this. She’s losing hope. I can’t let that happen—I need at least one adult at the school on my side.

“Okay…okay, we can make this work. I’ll figure something out.”

She chuckles. “You’re going to be a great theater director someday, I can already tell. Unflagging belief and resilience will get you far.”

“Thank you. I will come up with something. Don’t cancel the meeting with Principal Holloway.”

“No, of course I won’t do that. If anyone can figure out a solution, it’s you.”

I sigh deeply and head out toward the parking lot. Nothing is going the way I hoped with the musical, but Miss Sahni is right about one thing: I am determined.

Unfortunately, I’m also out of ideas.

To my surprise, Nathan is also walking toward the door, and I’m grateful to see him. I come up beside him and nudge his shoulder. “Hey, boyfriend,” I whisper.

He jumps and looks around us. “Hey. Is Paul here?”

“No. Or, at least, I haven’t seen him.” I push open the double doors to the parking lot. “Were you leaving your locker just now? I never realized ours are in the same hallway.”

“Yeah, it seems you were completely oblivious to me before you told Paul we were dating. No wonder he didn’t believe you.”

I scowl. Nathan squints at the sudden sunlight and scans the area.

“Who are you looking for?”

“Lucas. He rides with me to the store some days, but I guess he already left. I can’t keep track of him. He’s been weird the last few days.”

“What do you mean weird?”

“Just…distant. I think he’s got his mind elsewhere.” He raises an eyebrow at me.

“He’s totally into Hoshiko, isn’t he?”

Nathan laughs. “Yep. He thinks he’s keeping it under wraps, but it’s obvious.”

“Well, I don’t think you have a lot of room to judge in that department.”

“Touché.”

We grin at each other. I glance out at the parking lot for Dad’s car, but I don’t see it. I know I should walk out there to wait for him. It’s not like I won’t see Nathan again in5.8minutes at the store, but it’s nice talking to him without anyone else around—particularly Sophia.

I lean against the tall partition wall that separates the main sidewalk from the yard. A few girls from choir walk out the front doors and wave at me, but their eyes linger on Nathan.

“I think people are starting to notice us together. Hope you’re okay with that.” I nod at their backs.

“Yeah, sure,” he says. “Rumors about us will be a big upgrade from what people are saying about me now.”

I straighten in alarm. “What’s that?”

“Nothing. No one even knows I go to the school. Including you.”

I laugh and jostle his arm. “I don’t think that’s my fault. Maybe if you actually got involved, that wouldn’t be the case.”

He shrugs. “Except I don’t care about these people. No offense, I know you’re into this stuff, but in ten years, am I going to remember any of their names? Will I care about being on the junior varsity blah blah team? Not in the least.”

“You’ll remember Lucas. And Anthony and John.”

“Of course, but that won’t be because we had bio together.”