“Did you drop this?”

  The young man held out a phone, encased in purple. The screen itself was cracked. Uh oh.

  “Yes, thank you.” How had that happened?

  Sean traded the student’s schedule for his phone. “If you need help with your schedule, I suggest you go see Mr. Blackbourne.”

  “Mr. Blackbourne?”

  “He’s in the main office. Go past the front desk, to the hall on the right. Go down that hallway and it’ll be a door on the right. You can’t miss it.”

  He was sure Owen must be back there. If not, he’d send him there. Sean wasn’t helpful with class questions, but he was sure Owen would know.

  “Sure,” the kid said, and he side-stepped away to head toward the front office.

  Sean smirked. Kids. He pictured Owen in school, being like this kid, lost and trying to figure things out, hoping to get classes that were different than what they’d given him.

  And then suddenly his phone vibrated in his hands. He checked through the cracked screen. Dr. Roberts was calling.

  Great. Was he getting called backed to the hospital already?

  Sean answered. “Who broke what?” he asked before giving the doctor a chance to even say hello.

  “I just needed to know what magic wand you used on Mr. Marshall.”

  It took Sean a few moments to register what he was talking about. “The old grump who wouldn’t get the surgery?”

  “That’s the one. He’s actually under right now. On an operating table in the next hospital over when they had an opening. Last I heard, he had talked to you and then suddenly he was signed up for the next available spot.”

  Sean grinned to himself. “I guess I just have a way with... old men needing surgery.”

  “I just called to let you know. And to say... good job.”

  Sean’s heart warmed. They’d been so busy and they didn’t often have time for things like thank yous and to be as supportive, so it was nice to hear it from him. “Thanks.”

  “Good luck out there at the school.”

  “I might need it.”

  8

  It was another hour of Sean monitoring the hallway and redirecting lost students when he spotted her.

  There, in the hallway, was a young woman in a blue skirt and white blouse. With the way she held her paperwork and notebook, and how she was dressed up more than the other students, she seemed more like a teacher’s assistant.

  And when he caught a look at her face, his breath caught in his chest.

  Please be an assistant, he pleaded with the universe. She was absolutely divine. Clever green eyes, a delicate blush, an adorable nose. Angelic.

  Who was she? He felt himself blushing, because he was staring. Love at first sight? Lovestruck? He didn’t know why he felt such a pull to her. It was instant, all at once and overwhelming.

  And she looked lost, checking her surroundings as if looking for someone but also looking at her paperwork, appearing... sad. Disappointed? It was hard to tell. He wanted to run to her instantly and help her.

  But he remained with his hands behind his back, simply watching. Waiting. Waiting to see what happened and where she would go.

  Suddenly, the girl bumped into a man. Sean recognized Mr. McCoy, the vice-principal. Tweed suit, mustache, typical vice-principal style.

  Only he was frowning. Severely. And seemed to be lecturing her.

  And her head sunk down. She blushed. He spoke with a frown at her and it was clear this wasn’t good at all.

  Sean approached slowly, trying to overhear what was going on.

  “I don’t think so,” Mr. McCoy was saying as he ripped the sheet of paper out of her hands. How rude.

  “Choir and typing. How typical,” he sneered at her.

  Her head bowed, avoiding looking at him. Her face flushed with color.

  It was clear to Sean now that this was a student, and she was clearly disappointed in her given class schedule a moment ago. Mr. McCoy giving her a hard time about her options seemed absolutely ridiculous. And how dare he say something disparaging about a class his own school was providing? Did he have no dignity in his school and their curriculums at all?

  Mr. McCoy continued, “I’ll keep this. You tell your parents your clothes aren’t appropriate. Go home and change and then come back.”

  That was it. Sean wasn’t going to let even the vice-principal bully anyone. Owen could lecture him later about how they were supposed to be getting on their good side. He simply couldn’t take this.

  “Mr. McCoy,” he called out, trying to hide his disgust with a friendly smile.

  They turned to look at him. He smiled as politely as he could.

  “I was just looking for you, Mr. McCoy.” He started to come up with some lie to call him away and then instead of that, changed his direction. He turned to her, and suddenly wanted to make sure he walked away with her, not with McCoy. He used his forefinger to push away a lock of hair that fell in his eyes. “I’m sorry. Am I interrupting?”

  “No,” Mr. McCoy said. “She’s going home to change before she’s allowed to register.”

  She lowered her head further, hiding her trembling lip, clearly embarrassed.

  Sean studied her outfit. “And what appears to be the problem?”

  “Her skirt is too short.”

  His lips pursed. Was it now? “I believe the rule book states that a skirt must be as long as a lady’s fingertips when she has her hands pressed to her sides.” He motioned to her with a finger, hoping she’d play along. “Miss, would you put your hands to your sides, please?”

  She instantly moved, standing tall with hands pressed to her body. The hem of the skirt waved a good inch below her fingertips.

  “It appears she’s within regulation,” Sean said.

  “I don’t think it is appropriate for her to wear it,” Mr. McCoy said. He clenched his teeth, not bothering to hide the fact that he didn’t like Sean undermining his authority here at all.

  “Maybe not, but that’s not our judgment to make,” Sean said and then saw he still had the girl’s paper. “Is that her registration?”

  “Yes, but...”

  He happened to catch the name on her paperwork. Sang Sorenson. Oh, what a lovely name. “I don’t see why we have to put the counselors through twice the work. They have enough to do today.” Was that even a good excuse? And why did he suddenly seem to talk with some authority over the vice-principal?

  “You know you can’t just walk in and take over how I handle these students, Dr. Green. She’s not one of your boys,” Mr. McCoy barked at him, his fists clenched to his sides.

  Sean tried to remain calm, though he wanted to call him all sorts of things for bullying a girl about her skirt. “I believe we were brought in to assist in any way we can. I think we have enough to worry about with kids who have actually broken the rules than one girl who hasn’t.” He reached for the paper Mr. McCoy had crumpled and passed it back to the girl. He smiled at her warmly. “I’ll show you where to turn that in. You were just heading that way, weren’t you?”

  Sang nodded and avoided looking at Mr. McCoy.

  That was when he spotted Kota, hiding among other students.

  And he mouthed simply, “Gentle.”

  Gentle.

  Dr. Green suddenly realized this was the one.

  The one the other boys had been looking for.

  9

  Gentle.

  Treat her gently.

  Sean quickly considered his options, but it was clear he had to bring her to Owen. He had to know about this.

  “I should apologize for Mr. McCoy’s behavior,” Sean said to her, keeping a gentle hand on her arm in hopes she wouldn’t turn around. Mr. McCoy was still glaring at them from a distance. “I think he means well.”

  “He’s pretty intimidating,” she said.

  He laughed to try to lighten the mood. “I think that, too. But usually intimidating people feel the same way about us. I think a psychologist would say... well, something boring to young students, I’m sure.”

  “Something about the worst we see in others is what we actually see in ourselves?”

  He smiled, surprised about how she was able to quote nearly exactly what he was going to say. She was clever. “Well said.”

  “I hope it doesn’t mean Mr. McCoy dislikes my skirt because he doesn’t look good in skirts.”

  Sean rocked his head back in surprise at her joke. It had caught him off-guard. He laughed. “Now every time I see him, I’ll be thinking of him in a skirt.”

  Who was this girl? Funny. Clever.

  Gentle...

  She smiled then. Her eyes lit up, genuine and interested.

  She had such a way to make one feel... wanted. It was hard to pinpoint exactly. How could Mr. McCoy be cross at someone like this?

  At any rate, now that he’d done the damage, it was time to help her. And the only one who could help her was Owen.

  They stopped outside the main office. Crowds were starting to ease and most students were just taking a tour of the halls or lingering to chat.

  At the door, realizing she still looked a little harried and maybe a bit unsure, he reached out to her.

  He wanted to convince her that Mr. McCoy was wrong, that her clothes were fine. But how?

  He reached out for the collar of her shirt. He buttoned it up to the top and then smoothed down the fabric of the collar. “And so you know,” he said, trying to recall something he’d heard Gabriel... or maybe someone else, say about how to dress. “If you wear a short skirt, you should keep your top modest. As a lady, it will make you look more elegant.” He tried not to give off a cheesy grin. He wanted to appear confident. Instead, he felt like he was fumbling, maybe even lecturing her as to what to wear.

  Gabriel should be here for this part, but she did look nice in her skirt and top.

  She didn’t say anything but she smiled and blushed.

  It was a gentle moment. He hoped they’d run into each other more.

  And maybe he would, given it was clear Kota was interested in her. For whatever reason.

  “Shall we go in?” he asked. He held open the door for her.

  “Thank you,” she said. “I don’t mean to keep you.”

  “It’s fine,” he said. “I was headed in this direction anyway.

  The inner office was filled with students who were in line waiting to get their approved classes into the computers. Why they didn’t do this all in one step was beyond Sean’s comprehension.

  Or even better, have an all-new system where they could register online. This system was completely archaic.

  “Why don’t you come with me?” Sean said. “I’ll let you cut through this line.”

  She seemed nervous but she followed him as Sean went through a doorway and into a hall.

  Now was the moment, Sean thought. He needed to get to Owen. To let him know that this wasn’t some normal student. There was no time to message him.

  He guided her to the inner office, gave it a gentle knock to alert Owen they were coming in before opening the door.

  The room had filled in since he’d been in it this morning. Owen seemed to have accepted the layout Sean had put together and had placed paperwork and files and everything they might need where they should go.

  Owen let him lay out the office, but Owen organized it. Seemed to be the way of things.

  Owen, as it was, seemed troubled. He snapped as he looked up at them.

  “Dr. Green,” he said. “You don’t have to knock. This is your office, too.”

  “Sorry,” Sean said, smiling at him and taking a seat at the second desk. He was trying to get an angle to where she didn’t see what he was doing. He continued, “Old habit when I see a shut door. Never want to surprise anyone. Besides, the offices here are so small. If anyone were standing behind the door, I’d hit them.” He was going to have to get used to the knock as a signal to alert when they had someone with them. New job, new protocols.

  And then suddenly Sang turned to Owen as he focused on her.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Now was his chance. “Oh, this is Miss Sang Sorenson.” He motioned to Sang. “Miss Sang, this is Mr. Blackbourne.”

  She dipped her head in a nod. “Hello,” she said softly.

  And at that moment, Sean motioned to Owen. Gentle, he mouthed. And signed Kota’s name.

  It was all he could do.

  Owen would have to figure it out.

  Sean had no idea why they needed to be gentle, but he trusted Kota.

  And for Kota to be neglecting anything within the Academy, it had to be a very big reason.

  Next Up—Meeting Sang: OWEN, free for newsletter subscribers.

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  Also by C. L. Stone

  Charleston's Leading Ladies

  Evelyn

  Celeste

  Meeting Sang - The Academy Ghost Bird Series

  Kota

  Victor

  Silas

  Nathan

  Gabriel

  Luke

  North

  Sean

  North Shore

  Melody

  The Academy

  Ghost Bird: The Academy Omnibus Part 1

  The Academy - The Bird and the Beetle

  Ghost Bird: The Academy Omnibus Part 2

  Scarab Beetle: The Academy Omnibus Part 1

  The Academy - Bonus Materials

  The Academy - Touch of Mischief

  The Academy - Sound of Snowfall

  Cheat Sheets Remastered

  The Ghost Bird Series

  The Academy - Introductions

  The Academy - First Days

  The Academy - Friends vs. Family

  The Academy - Forgiveness and Permission

  The Academy - Drop of Doubt

  The Academy - Push and Shove

  The Academy - House of Korba

  The Academy - The Other Side of Envy

  The Academy - The Healing Power of Sugar

  The Academy - First Kiss

  The Academy - Black and Green

  The Academy - Love's Cruel Redemption

  Unsung Requiem

  Her Song in His Heart

  The Scarab Beetle Series

  The Academy - Thief

  The Academy - Liar

  The Academy - Fake

  The Academy - Accessory

  The Academy - Hoax

  The Academy - Tempest

 

 

  C. L. Stone, Sean

 

 

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