Blair’s words come back to me. A good teacher would never give that assignment. But Mr. Bartley wasn’t just a good teacher. He was my ideal teacher—challenging. Creative. Encouraging. Enthusiastic. Funny. Interesting. Supportive. I compared all my other teachers to him. He was my Zeus and now he’s Ares. No, that’s not right. A mere man I made into an icon, built a monument for. Not only has he come tumbling down, but I’m the one who threw the ropes and pulled. Why do I feel guilty? He’s wrong, not us.

Who is the real Mr. Bartley? Trying to answer that question is like trying to grasp a cloud. Impossible.

My phone pings. I’m tagged in another comment on Jesse’s Instagram post.

@LOGANMARCHNY HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO MR. BARTLEY?

It’s from an RHS junior.

I take a screenshot and text it to Blair.

Five minutes later, she responds.

BLAIR: Open his post.

I find this:

BlairinToGo So much respect for Cade and Logan. Did you read the article? Because if you did, you’ll see that they did NOT attack Mr. Bartley. They spoke up for morality. I’m with them. Why not be courageous and join them?

ME: You are amazing.

BLAIR: YOU.

I refresh Instagram to see if anyone responds.

I scroll down.

And down.

And down.

It’s gone. Blair’s comment is gone.

ME: He deleted your comment!

BLAIR: (sends me a gif of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman deflecting bullets, sparks flying everywhere) YOU!

ME: Ha! Right.

BLAIR: You’re my hero. Tell Cade I think he’s a hero, too. Keep your head up.

ME: (sends gif from The Sound of Music of Baron von Trapp ripping a Nazi flag in half)

BLAIR: Oh yeah. Go tear ’em down! Love you.

ME: Love you more.

Setting my phone aside, I stare at the ceiling. I don’t want to go to school tomorrow. I bolt up. I have always wanted to go to school, and I resent Mr. Bartley and Principal McNeil for taking that away from me. How am I ever going to face all those haters? I reach for my phone and call Cade. Once again, it goes straight to voicemail.

I need a distraction, some entertainment. I Google “Movies where Nazis get their asses kicked.” I spend the next hour on YouTube watching clips from Captain America: The First Avenger, Inglourious Basterds, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and X-Men: First Class. Watching history be rewritten temporarily improves my mood.

But reality kicks in, dragging me into a pit of despair. Replaying the Wonder Woman gif Blair texted me doesn’t help.

Tuesday turned into Wednesday a few hours ago. In a few more, Cade and I are supposed to walk into school. I don’t want to go.