Haley clasped her hands to her chest, her eyes going all wistful. "How did it feel to have Derek punch someone in the face for you. It sounds so romantic...like he was your knight in shining armor."
Yeah. It felt exactly like that. Luckily she didn't have to answer--she had a feeling Cody would interpret anything she said as an endorsement of punching people in the name of chivalry even if she have him the requisite "use words, not violence" spiel--because the intercom on her wall buzzed. The school secretary's voice crackled through a second later.
"Ms. Maciejczyk?" Doris always used Layla's full name, and she always pronounced it correctly just to prove that she could.
She also always spoke as if she were representing nobility and not a high school principal from a middle of nowhere town. The woman could make an announcement about the busses running late sound like a proclamation worthy of the national news.
Layla reached forward and jammed her finger into the button on the intercom. "Yes?"
"Mr. Svenson has requested your presence as soon as you're available."
"I'll be right down." Layla released the button and waved her hands at the kids as if she were shooing a squirrel off her porch. The girls scattered to find their friends, but Cody lingered behind.
He fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, suddenly shy now that the girls were gone. "Ms. M., he really likes you. I can tell."
Layla sighed and ruffled his brown hair, and he tolerated it with only a slight cringe. This was why she loved her job. Her kids were the best. "Don't worry about me. Just be on time tomorrow morning. You're always the last one here. I will do something to embarrass you in front of everyone if you're late again."
On her way to Gary's office, Layla prepared herself for the battle she'd wanted since Brody had so considerately dropped the bomb on her that her football-loving school board had been seriously considering becoming a caricature of themselves by taking her department's funds and handing it over to him.
She'd tried to confront Gary about it already at least once a day, but he always seemed to be out of the building or in a "meeting" with his door shut. He also hadn't returned her calls or the notes she'd left for him.
Layla knocked on the open door to his office, not waiting for him to respond before going in. She stopped in front of his desk, her arms folded across her chest. He looked up from his paperwork, his mouth lifting briefly in a weary smile.
"You've been avoiding me," Layla said.
He motioned for her to sit. She started tapping her foot instead.
"Yes, I suppose I have." He sighed. "I wanted to be able to tell you something you'd actually like to hear. You don't understand the intricacies of what's going on here--"
"Brody told me the board is considering cutting music. Is it true?"
"Please, sit down." He raised his eyebrows at her tone and waited for her to comply.
Because he was her boss, and because he'd been very good to her at at time when she needed it most, she did as she was told. She didn't think he would actually fire her for her foot tapping, but it was better not to risk it.
Gary sat a little straighter behind his desk. "He shouldn't have said anything to you. It was wrong, and I've already addressed it."
Derek had already addressed it, too. She wondered what Brody hated more, being scolded by his boss, or being punched in his stupid face. "So it is true? You can't let them cut music. I know the district needs money...I know how tight the budget is, but you have to fight them."
"Layla--"
"I don't care about me. Fire me. Cut my salary." Layla fought the urge to yell. "You have to think about the kids. You have to--"
"Enough." Gary held up his hand.
The stern tone of his voice stopped her tirade, the words bubbling in her throat, a pot about to boil over. Gary was always patient. With her, the staff, the students. She'd never seen him lose his temper, never heard him raise his voice.
Admittedly, she wasn't always the easiest person to deal with, so if he was going to raise his voice to anyone, it should be her. She didn't ever want to be the one to push him that far. She respected him too much despite everything.
"You know I fight for you. I fight for all of you. I'm one man, and I can only do so much...especially when the board gets an idea." He ran a hand through his thinning hair.
Layla met his eyes. "And did they? Get an idea?"
Gary sighed again. "It's not as bad as all that. You have to understand, they think Matthew Conley is the key to solving some of our financial problems. Poor kid just wants to play football."
Some of her anger deflated. Gary was right. An awful lot of politics surrounded a single teenager just doing something he liked to do. She knew Matthew, or Mattie as he asked her to call him. She talked to him in the halls, all the time. He'd been in band until high school. He was a sweet boy. Always modest. Always polite.
"You know his family has connections. There are people--more than you'd care to know about--who think his success will bring talent scouts, donors...hell they've practically got the kid earning us a whole new stadium. He's only a freshman...he can do a lot in four years."
"That's too much pressure on one kid. His family may crave power, but that doesn't mean he does." Far from it. From what she knew of Mattie, he hated being the center of attention.
Gary came around from behind his desk and shut his office door. He sat in the chair next to her. "I know that, and you know that, but the important people who know that might not care. His uncle the Senator has big plans. He's made big promises to the board. And they're just stupid enough to believe him. I wish Matthew nothing but success, but one boy and all the promises in the world are not going to dig us out of the hole we're in."
He patted her hand when he saw the expression on her face. "It's going to be okay. I've been in bigger holes than the one we're in now. We just need to learn to be comfortable with less. You know the mantra."
"Yeah..." She'd been making herself comfortable with less for her entire career. "Just tell me Brody is full of shit. That you haven't made any decisions yet."
"Oh, he's full of shit, alright." Gary's eye's hardened. "I'm on your side, Layla. I know how important music is...drama, art, science, math...sports...all of it. It's all important to me. I'd never sacrifice one for the other without a fight."
She nodded.
"But I'm going to give you your chance to fight, too. The proceeds of the Homecoming Fundraiser are going to be yours. It won't be nearly enough, but it's something. Plus it sends a message."
Layla smiled. Looked like Gabi's mom had already worked her sex magic. Layla would have to stop by and give her a kiss. And probably be force fed a few pastelillos while she was at it.
Gary raised his eyebrows as if reading her mind. "Oh, I know you and Gabriella Ortiz are friends. And I know you know Esmeralda and I are seeing each other. She may have spoken on your behalf, but I was going to make sure the proceeds were yours anyway."
Spoken. So that's what he was calling it. "Well, either way, I appreciate it."
"That's not all. I want you to prepare a short speech to give after the halftime show at the homecoming game. Take a few minutes to tell the community why what you do matters. Invite them to the fundraiser."
She nodded again. She felt more comfortable using music to speak for her in public than actual words, but she would do it. She'd do anything to defend the best interests of all the Codys, Madisons, and Addisons that walked through her doors.
"Wait..." Gary said as she stood to leave. "Are you really seeing that rock star?"
Layla glared at him. "That's the question of the day."
"Calm down," Gary grumbled. "It's okay for you and Esme to be in cahoots, but I can't ask a simple question. So sue me for wanting to see one of my own have a chance at some well-deserved happiness."
She tried and failed to smooth the edge from her voice. "You and everyone else can ask all you want. There's nothing to tell."
"That's your story, and you're sticking to it. Just tell me the truth about one thing..." Gary opened the door for her, his eyes lighting up behind his glasses. "How did if feel to see Brody finally get what he deserved?"