Because of a Girl by Janice Kay Johnson

Author:Janice Kay Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin (UK) Ltd
Published: 2016-07-02T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

MS. GUZMAN WAS COOL, but Emily wished an art class wasn’t one of the requirements for graduation. Or that the school offered art history as an alternative for students who really, really were never going to create a piece of art even a parent would want to display.

Sighing, she went to her seat to dump her stuff and talk to Madison and Destiny until the bell rang.

The minute it did, Ms. Guzman clapped her hands and beamed at them. “As promised, I fired your ceramic pieces this weekend.”

At least she hadn’t said your “sculptures” or your “art.” Ms. Guzman lectured them about glazing. Each table already held a selection of colors in small cups, and enough brushes for everyone. Emily listened carefully, but she knew she’d do it wrong anyway. Too much glaze or not enough. Or it would all run together. Although what did it matter if her “piece” didn’t look like a cat anyway? Or maybe hers had broken. Ms. Guzman said a couple of them had. Only she called those people up, and told the rest of them to get started.

The art room had bunches of small cubbies along one wall, where students left unfinished projects. They’d all written their name in marker on pieces of masking tape stuck to the front of the cubbies. There was a crush as everyone tried to go at the same time. Some of the kids were excited to see how their sculptures had come out. Emily hung back until there was an opening.

Wow. Her cat didn’t actually look that bad. It was almost graceful, with the tail curled just right. Now if she didn’t mess up the glazing.

There was something behind her piece. It looked like a note—maybe from Ms. Guzman? Emily reached for it. There was a snap, and something pinched the tip of her finger before she snatched her hand away and jumped back.

“What was that?” Diego asked, trying to see past her.

Her heart racing so hard she could hear it pound, Emily somehow knew to grab the piece of paper and shove it in her jean pocket. Just in time, because Ms. Guzman was there, too.

“Emily?”

She couldn’t look away from the mousetrap that sat behind her curled cat. “It almost got me.”

There were all kinds of exclamations. Ms. Guzman was horrified that someone would pull a “prank” that could have left her injured. She appropriated the mousetrap and declared her intention of taking it to Mrs. Percy, the vice principal in charge of discipline. By that time, everyone was quiet. She looked from face to face, her expression fierce.

“Whoever did this will be punished. If you know anything, or hear anything, I expect you to come to me immediately.” Every word dropped like a rock. “Do you understand?”

Everyone nodded or murmured, “Yes, Ms. Guzman.”

“Then please get to work.” She gave Emily a quick hug. “You’re sure you’re all right?”

She nodded and managed to smile. “Sure.”

“Your cat is darling.”

“At least you can tell it is a cat.

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