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snagged a ball and hit it over the net. “Okay?”
    “Sure.”
    “Good.”
    After class, I found Mrs. Pembroke sitting behind the office counter, prim and proper, a smile on her face. She reminded me of the ever-happy grandma. World War III could break out and she’d find something to smile about. “Hello again, Mr. Weatherby.”
    I smiled, letting that famous Weatherby charm that got my dad elected time after time shine through. “Call me Jason, okay? I’m not my dad yet.”
    She chuckled. “Very well. What can I do for you today, Jason?”
    “I’m looking for a copy of the student charter for a project.”
    She stood, bustling to a file cabinet. “Yes. Of course. Looking up the student policies and rules, I take it?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    She came back holding a sheaf of papers stapled together and handed them to me. “There you go, and good luck.”
    I stuffed them in my bag. “Thanks.” I hesitated. “So how is the fund-raising going for the new wing?”
    Her eyes brightened. “Very well. It looks like it will be a success.”
    I nodded. “My dad told me he’s working some things up for it. That’s cool, huh?”
    “It certainly is.”
    “How much has been raised so far?”
    She shrugged. “I haven’t looked at the list lately, actually.”
    I smiled. “Oh yeah. The list. That reminds me. My dad wanted me to get a copy of that for him. He’s so excited that people are supporting the cause that he wants to send each and every one an official thank-you letter from his office. He was going to send a staffer over to get it, but since I’m already here, he asked me.”
    She furrowed her brow. “Hmm. I’m not allowed to hand out financial information like that, Jason. Even if it is for your father.”
    I took a breath. “Dang. My mom is going to be upset now.”
    “Your mother?”
    I nodded. “She was going to host a cocktail party for the donors. She wants to invite Lambert staff, too.” I smiled again. “You know, just to show support for Lambert.” I paused, as if thinking. “What if you sealed it in an envelope? My parents were really looking forward to this.”
    She sighed. “I suppose I could do that. And I know all the donors would love to be recognized for what they’ve done. Okay.” She turned to her computer, clicked into a program, and in a moment leaned over and took a freshly printed list from the machine. She pulled an envelope from a drawer, then folded the list, put it inside the envelope, and sealed it. “There you go.”
    I slid it next to the charter in my bag. “Thanks, Mrs. Pembroke. I appreciate it.”
    * * *
    Unlike the study hall, the library was the place to find the dweebs, and it was a discreet location because nobody who was anybody ever went there. Elvis sat at a long table, his book bag open and a quantum physics magazine in his hands. Brooke sat at another table, staring at me as I walked in. I nodded to her, and she stood as I approached. “Thanks for coming.”
    She smiled. “How’s your face?”
    “Funny.”
    “I think so.”
    I led her to Elvis. “Hey.”
    He looked up, closing his mag and glancing at Brooke. “Hi.”
    I sat across the table from him, and Brooke took a seat next to Elvis, introducing herself. A moment passed, and Brooke shrugged. “So why are we here?”
    I cleared my throat, looking over my shoulder. “The Chamber needs to be put in its place.”
    Brooke looked at me. “Soooo … you want to be put in your place? You’re a member of the Chamber.”
    I shrugged. “This school isn’t what it should be.”
    “Then why are you in it?” She smirked.
    “For the same reason you did what you did. Probably for the same reason half the people in the Youth Leadership Group are in it. Our parents. The pressure. The bullshit.”
    She flinched, and her jaw muscles worked as she clenched her teeth. Her eyes flicked to Elvis. “That was not fair, Jason. He made me do it—”
    Elvis interrupted. “Whoa. Back up. Made you do