“Leo and Angeline. The latest polling data, and I’ve got a story on Maxine’s security measures for the voting app and—”
“No. About what happened today. In the hall?”
“You mean with that girl and her phone? It was cool of Leo.” And nice to see that version of him—the one Cat knew—hadn’t completely disappeared under Tad’s thick, gross thumb. “But it’s not really a story.”
“Sure it is. Especially since Angeline was there and did nothing. From the things you’ve told me about her, I know you wouldn’t shy away from calling her out. The whole situation speaks to their character. The voters should know.”
Cat had gotten to know Emmie well enough not to be surprised by her strong opinions, but Cat had her own—especially when it came to her paper. “Well, I wasn’t there, but I’m not sure it’s accurate to say Angeline did nothing. It must have been a mutual decision to send Leo over since he’s a guy—and taller.”
“Even so, if that’s true it cuts into her whole girl-power thing, doesn’t it? Either way it’s a story.”
Seemed more like clickbait to Cat. Not to mention something that would only embarrass the girl further, which Cat thought Emmie should understand. “I’ll look into it.”
“Let me know if you need help.” Emmie headed toward the auditorium.
Cat hiked her backpack higher, but instead of going straight to the exit, she took a lap through the empty halls.
Emmie was smart and knew a lot about politics. Was it possible she was right? That this was a story? And Cat’s connections to Leo and Angeline were making her miss it?
The unexpected sound of a door closing led Cat farther down the hall to the alcove beyond the school’s grinding server room. There was an exit she’d never noticed before. She peeked through the small pane of glass to see Ravi. She pushed the door open.
“Hey,” she said.
Ravi tucked his sketchbook under his arm. “Hey, Cat. Come to pay your respects?”
Cat awkwardly slipped her thumbs through the loops of her backpack straps. “Uh, sure, okay.”
“You have no idea what I’m talking about.”
“Well, I . . .” She sighed. “No, I don’t.”
“Here, I’ll show you.” He led her down the narrow sidewalk that wound around the building to a dead end, where a low rock wall stretched along the whole far side of the school. Beyond it, scattered among the tall grass and weeds, were little signs. Some on rocks glued to sticks, some on paper, faded and wrinkled, some on wooden two-by-fours stuck in the ground.
WE’RE WITH YOU!
NEVER FORGET.
THANKS FOR WATCHING OVER US.
“What is this?” she said. “Like a graveyard?”
“A watch yard.” Ravi pointed to the roof of the school.
“I’m not sure what I’m looking at.”
Ravi filled the space beside her. He plucked his pencil out from behind his ear and used the tip to direct her gaze upward. “See, there, right at the edge?”
A grayish mop-like thing hung slightly over the side. Not moving.
Ravi’s bare leg brushed hers, and she felt her spine go rigid. “I heard they used a ladder and a fishing rod to nab the lawn chair, but they couldn’t reach him. Probably figured no one would ever know since this exit’s hardly used anymore. They blocked the path that once led to the parking lot a while back. So they just left him. All alone.”
“You mean, that’s . . .”
“Slothy.” He exhaled a long sigh. “Poor little dude. Kids couldn’t stand the thought so . . . the watch yard. Like graveyard but with less chance of ghosts.”
Signs and flowers and plants and stuffed walruses and octopuses and a giant bear lay strewn throughout the overgrowth. A memorial to a stuffed sloth.
Cat laughed. “I told Ms. Lute not to bother with StuCo. That this is what got Acedia engaged, and I was right.”
“Not so fast. This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever been witness to, but it’s not the only thing that’s gotten our school engaged. This election wouldn’t be anything without you. And The Shrieking Violet.”
Cat narrowed her eyes.
“Destroy any rakshasa with that look? Yikes.” Ravi shivered. “But I’m serious. The competition helped. Got everyone interested.”
The Shrieking Violet did what she couldn’t on her own. With lies. She could never be grateful.
Ravi sat on the rock wall and opened his sketchbook.
“Are you including this in your novel?” Cat asked.
“Yeah, I need inspiration for a scene honoring the rakshasa. Trying to finish this to send with my Emerson application.”
“Oh, you want to stay close for school?”
“Close enough to see my little sister on her birthday but not so close as to have to go to every one of my brother’s violin recitals.” He winced. “You?”
“Northwestern. Maybe. I don’t know.”
“Don’t know if you want it or if it’ll happen?”
“That second one.”
“You can only concentrate on the first. So want it, Cat. Do what you can, and then . . . see what comes.”
“You make it sound so easy. To not, like, obsess.”
“Eh, you haven’t seen me with my stack of Marvel comics. My parents being into books meant I was plenty indulged. Camp sucked in all ways but one. ’Cause all it took was my art teacher to say I had talent, help me get a couple of drawings into a kids’ magazine, and my parents were hooked. Now they think I’m going to be the next Stan Lee.”
Cat smiled weakly. “Hard when there are expectations.” Especially when they’re your own.
“But they come with all sorts of encouragement. My mom’s got the aunties asking me when my books will be made into movies. I just don’t want to disappoint them.”
“So you’re here, in the watch yard, searching for inspiration.”
He paused and looked straight at her. “And finding it.”
A tiny electric shock sparked through her, and suddenly Cat wished for her sister. Because not only would she know if Ravi was flirting, she’d be able to tell Cat how to flirt back.
21
When Angeline Hits the Sweet Spot
10 DAYS TO THE ELECTION