She stands. “C’mere. I think we both could use a hug.” Setting her head on my shoulder, Logan asks, “Are you sorry we talked to the reporter?”

“Not at all. You?”

She pulls back, drops her arms. “Definitely not.”

“Good.”

“I spoke with Lissa Chen. She thinks Principal McNeil should know about what happened with Mr. Lane. I don’t want to tell him. It’ll just make him hate me even more.”

“But—”

“Are you hungry? Dad and I kind of went overboard. Comfort food.”

“Yeah. I could use some of that.”

Chapter 42: Blair, Logan, Cade

Video chat:

BLAIR: (on her phone at Glenslope High School, onstage in the auditorium for Grease rehearsal) How are you holding up?

LOGAN: (on her laptop, in her bedroom, sitting with Cade propped up on her bed) We’ve had better days.

BLAIR: (a face fills the screen) This is Liam. He’s playing Danny.

LIAM: (waves) Hi. Blair’s told half the school about Mr. Barfley and that messed-up assignment. Just wanted to say that I have so much respect for you.

LOGAN AND CADE: Thanks.

BLAIR: (her face joins Liam’s) We’re really sorry the two of you had such a horrible day.

CADE: (shrugs)

LOGAN: Nothing we can do about it, so…(trails off)

BLAIR: We’ll be right back, okay?

LOGAN AND CADE: Okay.

BLAIR: (the camera sweeps all over the place, giving Cade and Logan a floor-to-ceiling view of the auditorium, including a couple dozen feet, rows of empty seats, and bright lights above. Blair’s face reappears) Hi, sorry about that. I’m giving you to Mrs. Rajurkar.

LOGAN AND CADE: (glance at one another, confused)

MRS. RAJURKAR: (on Blair’s phone, smiling, eyes on the stage, she nods) Ready! (she flips the camera, the entire stage is filled with GHS theater students holding white pieces of paper) One. Two. Three.

GHS THEATER STUDENTS: (they flip the papers, reveal handwritten #WeSupportU signs, and shout) WE SUPPORT YOU, LOGAN AND CADE! (whoops and shouts, fists pump the air)

BLAIR: (grins, skips forward to her phone, takes it from Mrs. Rajurkar, turns camera to face her) Love you.

LOGAN: (leans into Cade, misty-eyed) That was…amazing.

BLAIR: Aww. I’ll text you a photo so you two can look at it anytime.

CADE: (smiles) Thank you.

LOGAN: (brushes away a tear) Thank you. Love you.

Chapter 43: Logan

“He said what?” Cade’s expression mirrors my shock. He sinks onto the edge of my bed as I slip into my desk chair, setting my laptop onto my desk.

Through my phone’s speaker, Bethany Beshett says, “The New York education commissioner said that the assignment, and I quote, ‘seems to be a topic worthy of analysis. Looking at both sides of the debate fosters critical thinking skills. Students can gain a lot from different perspectives. Of course, a teacher has a responsibility to give grade-appropriate background information and material when presenting any new topic.’ ”