“You let these kids on the catwalk?” Mr. Brimwell accused. His round face turned red like a tomato with anger, but that didn’t dissuade Claire.
“Why wouldn’t I? I’ve been taking people on the catwalk for years, and it’s never bothered you before. I’ve always ended tours there.”
They drew closer together and the heated argument became indecipherable amongst the growing babble of Mina’s classmates. Mr. West’s head seemed to be shaking in disbelief and he kept looking over at Mina skeptically. She didn’t blame him. She could hardly believe her own actions.
Mina blushed as he looked past Savannah and over the heads of the students, searching for something or someone. She saw Brody spot her among the crowd and start to move in her direction. She tensed. She couldn’t imagine him thanking her for such an embarrassing stunt, especially in front of twenty students with cell phones. She was likely to say something dumb and make a fool of herself.
Mina couldn’t look away as he maneuvered around the sympathetic girls to reach her. He was only feet away when Savannah cried his name and caught his attention. Brody and Mina both turned to find her running toward him, impossibly blond hair swinging behind her as she ran into his arms. “Are you okay?” she asked hesitantly, unsure of her reception. Mina hoped he’d blow her off, but to her surprise he cradled her in an enormous hug.
“Brody, I’m so sorry!” Savannah said when they’d pulled apart. Could she really be so oblivious to the audience around them? “I’m sorry about how I acted in the factory. You’re right, I do need to grow up and I promise to never embarrass you like that again.”
Her bottom lip actually trembled. “Savannah, what are you talking about? This wasn’t your fault.”
“No, not that. Our argument. I’ve done a lot of thinking and…”
“What argument?” Brody said, sounding frustrated. Mina heard stunned whispers throughout the crowd. “Savannah, I almost died. Can we talk about this some other time?”
“Wait…You don’t remember?”
“Truthfully this whole morning is kind of a haze. I’m really not feeling well… maybe I should just go home.”
Hope filled Savannah’s face, her trembles ceasing when she realized Brody didn’t remember their breakup. “You’re right, Brody. Let’s get you home.” She clutched his arm possessively and led him toward the bus and a panicked Mr. West.
“Brody, my boy, I hope your family doesn’t think it was negligence on my part. I got called away on an important phone call.” Mr. West placed his hand on Brody’s shoulder and gave a wary glance toward Mr. Brimwell. Turning toward the rest of the students, he called out in the tone that only a teacher can do. “All right students, lets load up.”
Mina filed behind Nan and Pri and waited to board the bus. She watched as unsteady Brody was led up the steps onto the bus with the help of Savannah.
“Well, I guess that was the shortest breakup in history,” Pri mumbled.
“Don’t be too sure about that,” Nan said, thoughtfully glancing at Brody.
Mina watched him take a window seat and stared balefully out it toward her direction. He seemed to be staring at her! Mia immediately looked at the ground, but when she looked back up she still had his gaze. It was a tad uncomfortable. “I mean, I don’t even know what he sees in her,” Pri continued on.
“Don’t worry, Pri. I have a feeling that the make-up is only temporary.”
As Mina boarded the bus, students began clapping and calling her name, reaching out to give her high fives and congratulate her on her heroic act. Except for one, who was still staring out the window. She felt like she was going to be sick; her guilt was making her a nervous wreck. Should she apologize to Brody? That would mean she would have to go up to him and actually speak to the world’s most handsome boy, who didn’t seem eager to talk to her. Definitely not. Maybe she could slip him a note? That wouldn’t do. What if his family sued hers? Yep, Mina was definitely going to puke.
Keeping her head down, Mina hastily made her way to the back of the bus and slid down as far as she could into her seat, in an attempt to hide. Nan slid in next to her.
“Kinda nice to be sitting next to a celebrity,” Nan laughed.