Back in the car, Delh’s haughty expression had fallen away, reced by irritation. “I’m so annoyed What’s up with the Gilbert family? They juste up and demand Mirabe switch schools as if they own the ce!”


    Shawn turned to look at his fuming wife and couldn’t help butugh. The way you tossed that check was super cool.”


    Delh shot him a <b>re</b>, her voice tinged with exasperation. “Is the check toss really the point? They’re using Mira of bullying Summer, Mira is so sweet–natured. How could she possibly bully anyone? This is just absurd!”


    Through the time they’d spent together, Delh hade to understand her daughter’s temperament pretty well. Even when Emmitt misunderstood her, she couldn’t be bothered to engage, her indifference being such that she <b>was </b>more likely to be bullied than to bully


    others.


    Shawn was silent for a couple of seconds before he spoke, “I think Summer must have said something at home; otherwise, the Gilberts wouldn’t havee after us today.”


    Delh frowned, “But to say our girl bullied Summer, I just don’t believe it.”


    Shawn crossed his arms, “Why don’t we just ask Mira when she gets out of her examter? That’ll clear things up.”


    “Right,” Delh sighed, her thoughts drifting back to Mandy’s expression when she whipped out that check. Turning to her husband, she said with a tinge of frustration, “Shawn, do you think we’ve been too low–profile?”


    Shawn stroked his chin, eyeing the Santana emblem on the steering wheel, and for the first time, he found himself agreeing with his wife, “I think so, too.”


    Being smacked with a check in public? That was just unbelievable.


    An hourter, thepetition ended.


    Mirabe handed in her paper and walked out of the exam room with her usual nonchnt grace. Unlike the other students who looked stressed post–exam, her ease suggested the test had been predictably simple for her.


    After a quick stop in the restroom, Mirabe emerged to see a tall, lean young man standing against a wall in the hallway. He was looking down, allowing only his profile to be seen.


    Mirabe barely nced at him before looking away, but as she passed by, he finally raised his head and called out to her in a cool voice. “Mirabe.”


    Her stride paused, and she turned, getting a clear view of the boy’s handsome, expressionless face. With a slightly raised eyebrow, she asked, “And you are?”


    The boy wasn’t upset by herck of recognition. He smiled slightly, his deep eyes lighting with a fierce resolve “You’re strong. A worthy opponent for me”


    “But I won’t lose to you in thispetition again,” he said confidently, then formed and wathed


    away.


    Watching his retreating figure, Mirabe was momentarily dumbfounded, touching her one Had she just been challenged?


    After a brief dy in the restroom, Mirabe exited the main doors to find most of the other students and parents had already left. She was one of thest to depart


    Delh and Shawn, who had been waiting, hurried over to her, “Mira, why are you out sote today? Were the questions difficult?” Delh asked with concern, recalling that her daughter was usually among the first to finish.