Finally the door swung open, and the students streamed out. She caught Blake as he came through the door. “Blake.”
“Hey, Emily. Surprise.” He flung his arms out in front of him. “I’m here.”
She grinned. “And it’s a good surprise. My mom told me this morning what Austin found. That’s awesome.”
She paused for a moment to send dagger-filled glares at a couple of kids walking past them, staring at Blake.
“I can’t believe he figured all that out.”
“Austin is a wiz at computers.” She tugged his arm. “Come on, Angela is going to meet us in the lunchroom.”
Blake looked so relieved. She’d been worried about him. He’d withdrawn so much in just a few days and hardly said anything at work yesterday. But now he could put this behind him. They walked into the lunchroom and Angela waved to them.
They hurried over to join her.
“Blake, I’m so glad to see you here at school. Emily told me what Austin found. So Mrs. Grimshaw couldn’t still keep accusing you.”
Blake grinned at Angela and sat down beside her, taking her hand. “Hi.”
Angela squeezed Blake’s hand and the now-familiar dopey smile settled on her face.
Emily plopped down across from them, smothering a grin. She took out an apple from her backpack and bit into it, then paused when she saw Jeanie and Kade headed their direction.
“Watch out. Here comes trouble.” She nodded toward the duo approaching them.
“Well, that was a short suspension. I thought that cheaters usually got a week’s suspension.” Jeanie tossed her curls over her shoulder. “Why are you back so soon?”
“Because we proved he didn’t cheat. But you knew that already, didn’t you?” She glared at Jeanie and Kade.
A quick look of panic crossed Jeanie’s face. “What do you mean you proved he didn’t do it?”
“I bet you’ll find out.” Blake gave Jeanie a knowing look. “I bet both of you find out.”
“How—” Kade started to ask but stopped when the computer teacher walked up to them.
“Jeanie. Kade. You need to come with me to Mrs. Grimshaw’s office.”
A look of total panic—not just a hint—settled on Jeanie’s face. “I don’t understand…”
“Come with me. Now. Both of you.”
Jeanie sent Blake one more lingering look filled with alarm and trailed behind the teacher out of the lunchroom.
Emily sat back in her chair. “So, it looks like they might have found out who did that to you.” She grinned at Blake and Angela.
“It looks that way, doesn’t it?” Blake smiled back at her.
Relief blazed through her. Blake had been vindicated. Their lives could get back to normal. Maybe things could all settle down now.
Angela looked at Blake with adoring eyes. Blake had his love-struck goofy expression back. Looks like life was already back to normal for those two.
Chapter 20
The next morning Emily hurried up to Angela and Blake, who were standing at Blake’s locker. “Hey, did you hear the news?”
“About Jeanie and Kade?” Blake grinned. “We did. Two-week suspension for both of them. And no afterschool activities for the rest of the semester. That should keep them away from us for a while.”
“Jeanie is going to be so mad when she gets back to school.” Angela’s forehead creased. “I’m a bit worried about how she might retaliate.”
