Bruce and Shelley walked side by side to Calvin's classroom.

     "Again, what are you going to say?" said Bruce.

     Shelley sighed. She spoke in a bored, monotone voice. "'Mr. Leblanc, I'm truly sorry for what happened in rehearsals. There's no reason administration has to get involved. It would be more efficient if we move past it without informing outside parties.' How's that?"

     Bruce smiled like a proud older brother. "That's a girl. Just remember, if you need me, I'll be right outside."

     Shelley was nervous. It was only at Bruce's insistence that she decided to apologize to Calvin verbally. If she could have things her way, she'd do it via letter, but Bruce said it was unwise to leave a paper trail.

     They arrived at Calvin's classroom door, expecting to see a bundle of students outside, waiting to be let in.

     Instead, the hall was empty. There was a piece of paper taped to the outside of the door, directing freshman English students to another classroom.

     Bruce got close to the sign. "Looks like Mr. Leblanc's not in. You've earned yourself an extra day, Hepburn."

     Shelley was relieved, even if this only postponed the inevitable. She stood next to Bruce in front of the door. Through the door window, she saw Marlo speaking to Roger and Cookie.

     Bruce walked backwards. "Come on. I'll walk you to class."

     It might have been a hunch or perhaps her female intuition in bloom, but she sensed danger within. "Wait. Something's going on in there."

     "That's no business of ours. Now let's move. You're going to be late."

     Shelley observed Marlo pacing the classroom as Cookie bit her thumbnail and Roger rubbed his temples. Whatever they were discussing wasn't good.

     Curiosity got the best of her, and she crouched down and pressed her ear to the door.

     Bruce walked over, irritated. "Hepburn, let's go."

     "Ssh."

     He sighed. After checking both sides of the hall, Bruce joined her in the eavesdropping.

     Words were easy to make out through the hollow door. Shelley almost didn't need her ear pressed against it.

     Roger was loud. "You can't cancel the play. It will only cause panic where there isn't any."

     Marlo's voice was louder. "Isn't any? He kissed an underage student. Even if the student was old enough to consent, he's on very thin ice until the matter gets resolved."

     "So you suspended him?"

     "I was just following protocol."

     "I've known Cal since we were kids. The guy doesn't even jaywalk, let alone put his hands on teenage girls," said Roger.

     Shelley heard her name over and over. Her heart beat so fast, she pressed her hand against her chest in Pledge-of-Allegiance fashion to keep it from bursting out of her skin.

     "Then why did word get to me that he's been romantically involved with a sophomore student from the play?"

     Oh, no.

     Bruce looked at Shelley with an open mouth.

     "Unless that 'sophomore student from the play' is an English teacher named Genevieve Millen, I doubt that's true," said Roger.

     Shelley pulled her face back in surprise, peeling her ear away from the door. Even her heart rate slowed. Mr. Leblanc...and Miss Millen?

     "Look, I don't think Calvin initiated the intimate contact with the student, but either way, he failed to report it. Do you see what that implies?" said Marlo.

     Cookie's voice was soft, but clear. "But you don't have any proof. How do you know the student who brought it to your attention is telling the truth?"

     "It was one of the Cassle boys. I can't be calling a rich man's son a liar."

     Shelley's innocent world, filled with good-natured people, was destroyed in an instant. A single tear formed on her left eye. Douglas, why?

     Bruce growled just loud enough for Shelley to hear. "That little rat."

     "I'm going to bring this Shelley Stone in before I get parents involved. Calvin hasn't said anything, either, and I'm sure he won't throughout his suspension. Let's see if this can blow over without making so much noise," said Marlo.

     Shelley covered her pouting mouth with her hand. She backed away from the door in disbelief.

     Bruce stood straight and approached her with caution.

     She didn't want his comfort or his compassion. She didn't think she deserved it. Her reckless actions got her favorite teacher suspended, and it was just a matter of time before she got called into Marlo's office, too.

     The weight of the world rested on her shoulders. Both her eyes held tears, but that was the least of her worries. She walked to the door, reaching for the doorknob.

     Bruce grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back gently. "I know what you're thinking. Don't you dare."

     She pushed herself against his hands, but she was unable to move a single step. "I have to tell them the truth. It was all me."

     "That's what Douglas wants."

     "I don't care."

     "Ssh."

     Shelley's emotions caught up with her. She wept quietly, and once again, Bruce's warm body was her only consolation.

     He brought her to his side and moved them away from the classroom. They found refuge next to a row of lockers in the empty hall.

     She buried her face in Bruce's chest, trying to muffle the sounds of her crying. "Why did he do that? I never did anything to him."

     Bruce rubbed her back with one of his large hands. "He's trash. I know."

     Shelley was in embarrassing pain, the kind that would make her cringe even years after it was all over. "And now Mr. Leblanc is in trouble and it's all my fault."

     She wiped her runny nose on her sweater sleeve. "I'm going to be in so much trouble with daddy. He's going to be so disappointed."

     Bruce held her tight in his arms. "That scumbag's going to pay for this."

     "All Douglas did was tell the truth. And so will I."

     She walked to the classroom once more, ready to take her punishment.

     Bruce grabbed her forearm and pulled her back. "You'll do no such thing."

     "I have to."

     Bruce didn't let go. His violent look was back. "No. Douglas got away with something like this once. I won't let him get away with it again, not with you."

     As much as her heart filled with foam at Bruce's protectiveness, she was without hope. "There's nothing we can do about it now."

     "Yes we can," said Bruce "We can fix this. Just let me think of something."

     Shelley bit her lip as she watched him think.

     Bruce nodded to himself as an idea formed. "Okay, I know what we have to do."

     "You do?"

     "Yes, but in order for it to work, we have to tell a few white lies. Are you going to be okay with that?"

     It should have been an immediate 'yes', but Shelley wasn't one to fight dirty, especially to cover up for something she did wrong.

     She thought about her father, her future, and her reputation. "Yes. I'll do it."

     "Alright," said Bruce "here's what we have to do."