Chapter 14: Terms

The dean did not sit down, and she did not ask Hailey to.

"Miss Sundell, I heard enough through the door," she said. "Miss Whitlow, I would like a copy of that recording."

"Already sending it," Dani said, thumbs flying.

Hailey stood in the middle of the oak room with a paper cup in each hand, the cocoa going cold.

"It was a joke," she said. "I was imitating him. Abigail asked me to."

"I did not ask you to," I said.

"The Bridge has one rule about its seats," the dean said. "A student keeps hers by dealing honestly with the other students."

She turned over a page on her desk.

"Your place on this program is suspended, effective now, until the department has finished its review. Your things will be packed for you."

"My father gave this department a laboratory."

"Yes. He did." The dean's voice stayed perfectly polite. "We will thank him for it in writing."

Hailey looked at me.

She looked at Caleb.

For a second I thought she would try the tears again, but there was nobody left in the room for them to work on.

She set both cups on the dean's desk, very carefully.

Then she took out her phone and walked out with it already at her ear.

"Daddy," I heard her say in the hall, small and cracking. "Daddy, they're doing it again. Come get me."

The door closed behind her.

The dean exhaled.

"Miss Tennison, your review on Friday is withdrawn. A scholarship is not taken from a student because a donor dislikes her friends."

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