Fake heiress Real heroine

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

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With that, Harriet stomped off, her ponytail beaming behind her. A few boys tried to drag Quindyn away, waving their superhero toys in her face. But she just stored her ground.

“Wait,” she said, her mind racing. “Where’s the teacher’s office

Launch had emptied the halls, leaving only a few stragglers shuffling toward the stairs

The teacher’s other was halfway down the hallway Quinlyn saw the nameplate and noticed the eene silence

seemed like no one was there,

The closed curtains only added to her confusion, but she was sure Mandy had come this way.

She didn’t want to knock, so she quietly dragged a chair from the next classroom, stood on it, and squinted through a crack in the curtain

The room was dim, but she could just make out shapes shifting in the shadows. Eugene was the first to catch her eye–tall and already stripped of his suit jacket. His white shirt was dusted with chalk, and he was working on unbuttoning it

She figured he was just changing out of his dirty clothes, but then she noticed Mandy standing by the desk, and something

felt off.

It reminded her of back home, where the old bachelors would sometimes strip down in front of girls without thinking twice. The older women would catch them and call them “creeps”

And it wasn’t just Mandy in the room. There were a few other girls with ponytails, all standing there quietly with their heads down.

over to the door. She

revealing Eugene. He looked a little caught off guard, but he quickly grinned. “Hey, Quinlyn. What’s

button was off and only one side was tucked in. She looked past him and said, “Tin here for Mandy”

he shifted to the side, blocking her view

right. Mandy’s staying late for extra help. She’s been having a tough time with her schoolwork” he explained, his voice

her head, but Quinlyn took a step back, wrinkling her nose. “Mr. Lambert,” she said, her voice wavering a

He looked down at her, one eyebrow

shrugged. “It just stinks,” she said, scrunching her nose again. She was always extra sensitive to smells,

fuss. He waved dismissively. “Alright, I’ll wash my hands. You go get something to eat,” he said, walking

step into a teacher’s office, and anyone inside would definitely wait for his permission

hurried over to Mandy. “Are you getting extra help, or are you snitching on us?”

Chapter 23

just shook her head, her eyes

on. “Are you scared: Is there something

table and Quinlyn saw nothing to be afraid of. But the silence from Mandy

She didn’t want Mandy to be here when Eugene returned, so she took Mandy’s hand and began

surprised by how strong Quinlyn was. In just a few seconds,

the realized no one was following her. “If you don’t leave now, I’ll tell

she said, her voice firm.

At their age, fitting in was everything, and the thought of being called out

returned from the restroom, he found the office empty. “They’re getting bold,” he muttered, running

falling on the ruler and marbles still on the

back for some medicine. Spotting Eugene, he

quietly moved the stuff on the table to a lower shelf and walked over, smiling These kids are the future,” he said

pills, and turned to Eugene. Teachers like you are rare,” he said, impressed “I’m having lunch with the principal. You should join us–it could be a great

teacher was already pulling him along. “Let’s go. We don’t