Page 142 of One More Chapter

“When it affects my students, I think itismy business.”

“Explain to me howanyof the kids are affected by Pen’s writing?” Sam shoots.

“No one even knew about it until a few weeks ago,” Aaron says, crossing his arms.

“And when itdoesget out that one of our district’s teachers publishes trash romance?” Amanda starts, but is cut off by Juliet.

“Their opinionsaren’tgoing to matter, because she does her job well above the standard.Unlikesomeone who refuses to implement district behavior plans, and has given next to no effort on co-teaching this year.”

“And I’d rethink that word ‘trash,’” Lucy chimes in. “Pen is on several bestseller lists, and is about to sign a new publishing contract.”

The folded arms and the daggers in the eyes of our tribe could murder.

Amanda scoffs, her reply coming in the flapping over opening and closing lips, when Nathan enters.

“What are we discussing? Penelope’s books? Congratulations on the newest. I look forward to reading it. My Claire has given it nothing but high praise.”

“You’re okay with this?!” Amanda gapes.

He nods. “She writes on her own time, and the last time I checked, romance books aren’t illegal. The last I heard, several teachers in your building bartend on the weekend. I don’t refute their opportunities to make extra money either.”

In a completely un-Nathan-like gesture, he pats Pen on the shoulder, then joins me at the helm. Amanda scowls and moves to the back of the room, and as Nate calls the meeting to order, Penelope gives thanks to her circle of people. Nate looks to me and levels me with his gaze.

“Are you ready for this?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Before he can begin, I seek her out in the crowd. She looks confident. Bold. And where I once saw fire in her eyes, I nowsee wheels turning. Still, she smiles at me, her nod all the encouragement I need. Even still, as Nate opens his mouth to let the cat out of the bag, the bees start roaming my veins like Indy 500 drivers.

“This meeting has two purposes. Firstly, I would like to congratulate Anthony Ellis, who will be taking over as the assistant principal at River Valley this year into next, when I take over full-time as your principal.”

The bees are vibrating with nerves, until I hear the applause. The cheering. The congratulations. If there are grumbling faces out there, I don’t see them. For once in my life, I let the positive lift me, outweighing the negative that I know comes with everyday life. The same happens when Nathan announces that we’re looking for people to join our permanent behavior committee. As I show my presentation about how streamlined we have made it, I see a lot of nodding, and hear positive chatter throughout the library. I’ve learned that there are always going to be people who don’t accept change. The only thing I can do is keep moving forward.

Pen comes up to me afterward, her hand gently squeezing my bicep as I’m fielding a few stray congratulatory handshakes.

“Hey. This is cause for celebration. Can the gang come over tonight?”

I beam down at her and nod, which she returns before bounding back over to the group.

Two hours later, we’re all seated around the giant kitchen table. I built it intending it for a big family, and that’s exactly what I have here.

“Okay people, champagne all around! We have alotto celebrate,” Penelope says, dishing out the plastic glasses she snagged at the store on the way home.

“Nathan and Anthony’s new jobs…” she starts.

“Your newbook!” Lucy adds.

“Mr. and Mrs. Russo making it a full school day without running home,” Juliet winks.

“Full disclosure, we left during lunch,” Aaron nods.

“Guys,” I gasp. “I am yourbossnow.”

“So am I,” Nathan says, shaking his head with a look of anguish as he tugs at his collar.

“Baby, we haveliterallyhooked up in your office before,” Claire says, laying her left hand over his chest. Pen and I clock it at the same time.

“Excuse me?”

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