“Should we wait?” she asked. “Give the students a chance to adjust their grades. It’s only the second month of the school year. There is time to—”

“Make the calls,” he cut her off, no room for argument in his tone.

Grades? Fourteen?

His job was on the line? People were failing classes? And he wouldn’t even give them a chance to get them up before he called in the big guns?

Damn. No wonder he was wound tighter than ever.

His birthright. Awards. Grants. That’s all the man cared about.

It sure as shit wasn’t giving his students the chance to redeem themselves before he brought in the parents.

I always knew he was an asshole.

Why was he so concerned with maintaining his long line of principal tradition when he was so clearly annoyed by us? Or maybe he did it on purpose because he loved the drama that came with his position.

Fuck that.

It wouldn’t be me.

I’d worked my ass off every year to make sure I’d never be stuck in a job I didn’t love. The boot camps, the tournaments, the certifications…it was all leading to, hopefully, an acceptance letter from MIT in March.

Five and a half months.

That’s all I had to get through before I heard from MIT. My dream school. I wouldn’t feel at home anywhere else.

Then I’d say goodbye to this place and Tanner’s drama, forever.

“Yes, sir,” Mrs. Stone finally said.

“I will not be forced to retire. I will not be beaten,” he said. “I will win. And Wilmont will continue to be the academy all others strive to be.”

I stopped my eye roll mid-motion because he bounded back through his door.

“Anything?”

“Nothing,” I said, clicking away, my eyes sharp on his screen as if I’d been searching the whole time.

“So, it’s as you said, then.” He sighed, glaring down at the laptop.

“Possible,” I said, shutting the screen and scooting out of the chair.

“Thank you for checking, Winters.” He held his arm out toward the door. “You’re doing an excellent job on the academy’s website. Keep up the good work. And I do hope more people join your club.”

The club you forced me to host?

I didn’t.

Not that I would mind teaching a few people how to do some simple coding tricks, but I liked the solo time with Amber. Even though she only wanted friendship. Plus, I’d used the time to prep for the TOC, too. Running through practice sessions and simulations after I’d completed the website work. As long as Amber and I weren’t playing CTF, that was.