“Boys?” Ms. Silverthorn calls up the stairs, maybe worried that she has left two of her gay students alone and out of sight too long. She might be liberal, but there are limits.

We head down, and she tries not to laugh at our outfits. “I would have made Ernie go back and get you your own clothes, but he was already such an emotional mess by that point. I figured I’d drive you over after everyone has left for class and let you change yourselves.”

“Don’t you have to teach?” I ask.

“I got a substitute after I agreed to be your advocate.”

“Advocate?”

Chaz seems to know what this means, but I don’t. He looks grim. “That’s what they offer students in big trouble.” He sinks onto her sofa.

“Elder Frohmeyer wants you in his office at ten to discuss what happens next. It’s not entirely up to him, but he is the one who makes the recommendation.”

“We didn’t do anything.” I’m so mad, I could Gale warning the room myself.

She hesitates before replying. “In a school like this, sometimes just being the wrong person is as bad as doing the wrong thing.”

Chaz leans forward. “What can you do … as advocate?”

“I already talked Elder Frohmeyer out of calling your family last night, Chaz. I convinced him that since you were physically fine, there was no urgency. And since we were still sorting out what happened, that it would be better to wait. I also reminded him that your family … they’re going to have some strong feelings about … the accusations made.”

“That I’m gay. Just say it.”

“That you’re gay. And that you were kissing a classmate on campus.” She chooses her words carefully. “I understand why you wanted to. A lot of people kissed their dates last night. But I’m not the principal.”

He sags again. His eyes close. “Thanks for trying …” he murmurs.

My turn. “So what else does an advocate do?” If buying us a single night is as good as it gets, well, that ain’t much.

“He may recommend expulsion, but I will have a chance to plead your case. Then it goes to the Student Life Committee, which makes it official. But I can also make a pitch to them.”

“Does that usually work?”

“It’s my first year, and no one has tested this yet since I arrived. But in theory, it can, or why else make it a rule?”

Chaz sits up. “It never matters. When Frohmeyer makes up his mind …”

“Well, Elder Frohmeyer never had Anisha Silverthorn to contend with.” Still, doubt reads large in her eyes. She glances at the clock on the wall. “School has started, so let’s go get you changed. We don’t want to be late for this.”