When Eleanor got up the morning after her stand against Wilson, she found her father waiting for her in the main room of the house.

“Dad? Is everything all right?” Stupid question. If everything were all right, he’d be at work already.

“We need to talk about the scene you made in school yesterday.”

“The scene I made? Did you see what Wilson—”

“Yes! The scene YOU made. I’ve seen the tape, and all the boy did was sit next to you—”

“And drape an unwanted arm around my shoulders.”

“Eleanor, this persecution of the Cartier boy has to stop.”

Persecution? Eleanor was struck speechless, but at that moment, from behind her, Mandy said, “Wow, Dad. I knew you cared more a...

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