Page 13 of For Your Own Good

The gift was supposed to be his idea of a joke, but she didn’t think it was very funny. She hated the wordsnitand hated the way he said it. Even if that stupid little ball with the smiley face on it turned out to be helpful.

She holds it with both hands, kneading it between her fingers, trying to work out all her anger and frustration.

It’s Teddy’s fault she feels this way. Not that it’s always his fault, but today it is. All she wants is what’s best for Zach. Maybe Teddy can see that or maybe he can’t, but he’s choosing to do what’s best for himself.

She kneads the stress ball harder, wondering if anyone ever breaks these things. And, if so, what the substance inside is. Something gooey andmessy, no doubt. Maybe once her stress is gone, she’ll google it. Until then, she’ll keep on kneading.

ZACH SHOWS UPright after last period, and by then Sonia feels a bit more relaxed. A good thing, because it isn’t Zach’s fault that Teddy is such an ass.

“Sit down, sit down,” she says, motioning to one of the student desks. She sits in one right next to him.

“I’m really sorry about this,” he says, setting his backpack down on the floor. “I made a lot of notes for the article, and I know the memorial is coming up quick. Do you think someone else—”

“Stop right there.” Sonia holds up her hand, cutting him off. “I think I’ve come up with a solution.”

Zach’s eyes light up. He’s a good-looking kid with the kind of charisma people are attracted to. It’s part of what makes him so popular. “Really?” he says.

“Do you think you can get the article done by next Monday?”

He thinks about it for a millisecond. “Yeah. I mean, yes, I think I can do that. But what about the editing?”

Sonia points to herself. “I’ll do it.”

“You? But I couldn’t ask you to—”

“Oh, please. I don’t mind. What I do mind is not having your article about the annual memorial in theBugle. You know how important that day is.”

Zach nods, his brown hair flopping over one eye. “I know.”

Everyone does.

“So, then, we’re all good,” she says.

“Thank you. Really, thank you so much, Mrs.B.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

He smiles.

She sends a text to Courtney, letting her know everything will be okay.

I talked to Zach. We’ll get his article.

You’re amazing!Courtney replies.

Sonia smiles and puts the stress ball back in the top drawer. She doesn’t need to use it now that everything has been fixed.

Because of her.

9

ZACH WALKS AWAYfrom Mrs.B feeling a little bit more relaxed. Normally, Zach would never ask for an extension on an assignment, not even for an extracurricular like theBugle, but he had no choice. There wasn’t a chance in hell he’d be able to get both done by Friday.

Crutcher is who he should write a paper about. Volumes could be written about that asshole, and not just by Zach. He’d heard about Crutcher before ever setting foot into his class. Everything people had said was true, and then some.

He steps outside the school, into the crisp fall air, and gets into his car. It’s German, it’s expensive, and it’s obnoxious. It’s also required driving at Belmont, at least according to his dad.

Never underestimate the power of a good first impression.