My lips parted in shock then closed into a smile. She really meant it; I could read it in her eyes, in the hope etched in the features on her face.

“That’s true,” I said. “We’re usually discouraged from challenging certain people’s way of thinking.” I wouldn’t come out and say Tanner’s name. Not to his VP, no matter how cool she appeared to be.

She nodded. “I’d like to try to be a buffer to that. I want you to know that you’re free to come talk to me about whatever you want.” She waved her hands across her desk. “Strictly confidential.”

I chuckled. “Shouldn’t that be the counselor’s job?”

“Mrs. Kellermen is wonderful at her job,” she said. “But I would understand if students wanted someone…” She cringed like she couldn’t bring herself to say the word.

“Younger?” I filled in for her. Kellermen had been here since before the dawn of time, and her methods of “counseling” were about that old, too.

“Yes,” she agreed. And she was much younger, maybe only ten or fifteen years older than me. “So, here I am.”

“That’s…” I sighed. “Nice.” It was refreshing, but I highly doubted Tanner would let it fly if he found out. I hated that she was in this position at all. That she felt like she had to wait to call these meetings until he was off campus.

“Great.” She raised her perfectly trimmed eyebrows, waiting patiently. “Anything you want to talk about? School? Work? Boys?”

I created a sex-advice blog.

I’m crushing on a hacker friend even though I’ve sworn off boys.

I’m haunted by the past.

“No,” I said. “I’m good.” Her shoulders dropped a little. “But,” I said, hurrying, “I really do appreciate the sentiment. And I know several people who will take advantage of it. I’m one of the lucky ones. My parents and I get along and can talk about everything. Not everyone has that. We’ve needed someone like you around here for a long time now.”

“Well,” she said, “I’m glad you think so. And you know I’ll be here if you ever want to talk to a non-parent, non-peer person.”

“Thanks,” I said, and I meant it. I stood, realizing she was giving me the go-ahead to get out of here. “See you around,” I said, and she smiled before I closed the door behind me.

Once I made it out of the secretary’s office and into the hallway, I breathed. The relief was so sudden I felt dizzy. It had been paranoid fear causing me to think that either of them knew about the website, but it hadn’t stopped me from feeling it.

The comments had tripled since I started posting almost every other day.