“You go above and beyond to help these kids in every possible way, Joe. I see how you’ve made a huge difference in our students’ lives. So I’m going to ask you to bend a bit here. I don’t want this molehill to turn into a mountain. Let’s take care of it now.”

Joe scrubs his hands over his face. “What do you have in mind?”

“Let them do the alternative assignment on the refugee shelter and immigration laws. It’s a brilliant idea, wouldn’t you agree?”

Joe nods.

“Make the same offer to the rest of your students.”

“What? Why? No one else has an issue with my assignment. You don’t have an issue with this assignment. I’ve done what you asked. You said to challenge my students in a creative way. I’ve done that. But to offer an alternative to everyone?”

“You’ve exceeded my expectations. But by offering everyone the same opportunity, you’re treating everyone equally. If no one else takes you up on the offer, then it’ll send Logan and Cade a clear message. You understand?” Arthur leans forward.

Joe nods again.

“You win, they win, and this will be over.”

“Okay.”

“Call them back in.”

Chapter 17: Logan

As Cade and I step out of Principal McNeil’s office, we’re greeted by the astonished faces of Mason, Kerrianne, and Spencer. Kerrianne’s been an office assistant since we were freshman, so it’s no surprise she’s in Miss Wather’s chair. Mason and Spencer flank her sides. What I’d love to know is what they’re doing on the computer. Mason does his chin lift/nod. I nod back, relieved no one asks why we’re here. Cade and I take our seats.

I pull my phone from my pocket. As I scroll through Instagram, Kerrianne whisper-shouts, “They’re the Olsen twins. Hey, Spence, which one do you think is Mary-Kate and which one’s Ashley?”

“Cade’s definitely Ash. He’s shorter.”

“So mature,” I mutter under my breath. (What I don’t say is that Cade and I are the same height: five feet, ten inches.)

“I take it back,” Spencer says. “Logan’s the evil twin.” Being quite the comedian, he begins reciting twin jokes from his cell phone. Kerrianne lets out an obnoxious snort.

With his voice low, Cade says, “Wow, maybe he should audition for SNL?”

“Or clown school,” I whisper back. “But I think he’d scare small children.” When Cade’s smile reaches the Dimple Zone, I have a hard time appreciating it. I glance at Principal McNeil’s closed door. Why is it taking so long? What is there to discuss? We nailed our presentation. It has to go our way.