“If you think for one second that I’m letting those punk-ass idiots get away with this, then you’re loony!” Mom yells. I sit in the backseat next to Mateo, who keeps his head down. Mom came back a few minutes after the varsity team and Logan left. The fact that we were just hanging out in the parking lot immediately aroused her suspicions, and we couldn’t wipe the dirt off our clothes fast enough. 

“We’re going to the principal right now. I’ve got a bill to drop off and a hell of a lot to say!” The car accelerates with her anger. The seatbelts lock tightly against our chests when Mom brakes at a stoplight. Mateo looks at me with wide-eyed concern—perhaps somewhat for our lives if Mom continues to drive like this, but mostly because I know he doesn’t want this story to get back to Krake. 

“Mom, please. We’re fine!” I beg, tugging at my seatbelt. 

“Fine? You’re not fine. Something’s going on here. First, a visit to the doctor.” She hits the accelerator and the car peels out. “You could have had broken ribs! And now—what happened in that parking lot?” She glares at me through the rearview mirror.

“Nothing. Please drop it.” Sweat trickles down my face. “I promise. We’re okay.”

“And what about your parents, Mateo? Will you be lying to them like my son is lying to me now?” Mom doesn’t hold back.

“Mrs. Rothe—”

“I told you I’m not a missus,” Mom snaps.

“Miss Rothe—” Mat’s voice cracks.

“And I don’t go by my asshole ex-husband’s name. It’s Miss Gardner.” Her hands tighten around the steering wheel, and she takes a sharp right turn, heading straight to the high school. My only hope is that everyone’s gone by now. It’s after six in the evening.

“Lo siento,” Mateo says. The color rushes away from his face and he bounces a knee. “I’m sorry, Miss Gardner. My parents will be upset, yes.” Mat looks at me for help.

“Mom, you don’t understand. It’s like being a tattletale. This will only make things worse. You want me to get hurt more? Because that’s what will happen if you make a big scene about this.”

She opens her mouth wide and forces a laugh that sounds creepy and demonic. “Oh, really! No, I don’t give two shits about what people think of tattletales. If something is wrong, you do something about it.” I open my mouth, but she catches my eyes in the rearview mirror. “PERIOD!”

Mom pulls up outside the school, and I pray we don’t run into Coach Krake. How awful would he make our lives? And even if I just quit, Mateo won’t. This could really put him in jeopardy. We follow behind Mom, and she pulls on the main office door from the entry hallway.

Locked. Thank God! The lights are off, and Mom peers through the window.

“Guess everyone’s gone home for the day,” I say with too much cheer.

She looks around for any sign of life. “Where’s this wrestling room? I want to see if anyone’s there.”

I reach for her arm. “Mom, please. Just trust me on this. I know you think you’re doing the right thing, but Mateo’s our JV captain. He’s got a lot more riding on this than me.” 

Mom shakes her head. She opens her mouth to answer, but another voice interrupts.

“Can I help you?” The door opens after all, and my heart pounds. Please don’t let it be some authority who will make this worse, and let Mom just be quiet!

We turn to face the man who opened the door. Then he says, “Hey, Aiden and Mateo. What are you doing here so late?” Then he catches my Mom’s eyes. “You must be Aiden’s mother. I can see the resemblance. A handsome young man and—if you don’t mind me saying—a very pretty mother.” Mom blushes, and I’m grateful for the distraction. He offers his hand. “I’m Lloyd Samuels. I teach English here.”

“Oh.” Mom shakes his hand, and her face reddens more. “Nice to meet you. I’m Miss Gardner. Susan. Call me Susan.”

“Can I help you with something? I was here late grading essays. If I take them home, they don’t get done,” Mr. Samuels says. For a man who spends so much time reading and grading, he’s in great shape. Mom’s eyes lock on his thick biceps, and my face burns—is she checking out my teacher? 

Oh my God, was I checking out my teacher? Were my mother and I checking out the exact same person?

Mom looks at me, and I beg her with my eyes to keep quiet. “Um,” she starts. “Well, I was looking for the principal.”

Mr. Samuels glances over his shoulder. “I’m sorry. It looks like they’ve all gone home for the day. Is there anything I can help you with?” Mr. Samuels turns from Mom to Mateo and me. “Oh, boys. You look a little rough. Did something happen?”

We both shake our heads. 

“Well, Aiden got hurt in practice. They both had a rough practice today,” Mom says. I breathe a small sigh of relief. If that’s all she says, then maybe we’ll be okay.

“Wrestling.” Mr. Samuels rolls his eyes. 

“I don’t much care for it,” Mom says.

“Well, don’t tell Coach Krake, but I don’t either,” Mr. Samuels adds. 

“Really?” Mom asks. “Why not?”

Oh, please, God! Let us go home.

“I don’t want to talk down something that’s brought this school a lot of recognition,” Mr. Samuels says. “Mateo, everyone says you’re the next star.”

“No, please. Tell me more. Is it safe for my son?” Mom asks. “I have some serious concerns.”

“Well, for starters, I don’t like any fighting that is just about fighting. There’s no self-defense to it. It’s just about roughing each other up.”

“Uh-huh,” Mom says, her head nodding too enthusiastically. “What else?”

Mr. Samuels folds his arms. “As I said, I don’t want to talk about it negatively. At least not here.” If he weren’t so dark-skinned, I’d have sworn he was blushing. “But what about over dinner sometime? Care to grab a bite to eat and we can talk more? For the sake of Aiden, of course.”

Is my English teacher asking my mother out on a date? 

“I’d love to. When are you free?” Mom asks. Her eyes sparkle, and she holds back a smile. My stomach flips. I’d groan, but I feel completely paralyzed. 

My mother absolutely cannot go out on a date with my English teacher! That’s just—weird! Gross! 

Mat looks like he’s holding back a laugh. My mouth opens wide to say something, and then he puts his hands over his mouth. He’s covering a smile—I know it! I’d smack him if I could move, but this stupid conversation has me in complete shock.

This is sure one heck of a weird day.