Chapter 26

• I strolled down the hall, a stolen hall pass clutched tightly in my hand. So far, I had only been stopped twice: first by the assistant principal, who shot me a disapproving glance when I cheerfully presented my pass, and again by my art teacher, who appeared to be on her way to scrub the vibrant yellow, orange, and red paint from her hands. It looked like she had been bringing a sunset to life on canvas.
• I made my way to the main doors where the guards were scanning the students, then moved to the secondary doors near the cafeteria and gymnasium. Feeling a bit deflated, I decided to check the locker banks. Perhaps Xavier was busy doing something guard-like. Crushing on someone as kind as Xavier shouldn't feel so embarrassing. And let's be real—he was undeniably attractive. My thoughts spiraled in every direction, but I managed to pull myself back to the moment before I walked right past the principal's office. I took the stairs adjacent to it, climbing to the second floor while keeping my senses alert. There was nothing. I couldn't find Xavier anywhere.
• I descended back to the main floor through the stairwell on the opposite side of the principal's office. As I opened the door to step into the hall, I abruptly collided with the security guard who had come to retrieve Xavier that one day. He grasped my arms, his hands large enough to encircle my biceps completely. I quickly met his gaze, and despite a fleeting moment of apprehension, he released me.