Holly's Heart Collection Two (26 page)

Marcia looked up from the manuscripts she was proofreading. “Hey, Holly. What’s up?”

That’s when I volunteered to interview Mr. Barnett for the April issue of
The Lift.

“Great idea.” Marcia picked up her pen and tapped it on the desk. “Thanks for the suggestion.” I turned to leave, but she continued, “Stop by Thursday after lunch, Holly. I’ll have some preliminary stuff for you on Mr. Barnett.”

“Okay, thanks,” I said.

She nodded, already preoccupied with her work, completely oblivious to what this article—and this interview—meant to me.

At lunch on Wednesday, talk of the leading roles for the school musical buzzed everywhere. In hot-lunch line, at the tables…It hovered in the air. The guys were split on their personal choices for Maria. It appeared to be a close contest between Amy-Liz…and me. But Miss Hess was notorious for being unpredictable. At this stage, it was anyone’s guess who’d be chosen for the female lead.

I sat in the cafeteria with Paula and Andie, at our usual spot next to the windows. Settling down with a bowl of chili smothered in cheese, I gazed out the window. Time and place disappeared as I daydreamed, staring at the mountains, the new foliage. Spring was here. New beginnings…

“Holly, you’re doing it again,” Andie’s voice careened into my private thoughts.

“What?” I turned away from the window and dipped my spoon into the cheesy chili.

“You know what.” She sounded exasperated.

“It’s called daydreaming,” Paula intervened. “Pure and simple, and there’s no crime in it.” She flashed her million-dollar smile.

“Thanks for your insight, Paula,” I laughed.

“So…what’s on your mind?” Andie was pushing.

I ignored her, sipping some milk.

“Oh, let me guess,” Andie said. “You’re dying for the part of Maria, right?”

It would’ve been so easy to agree with her, just to get her off my back. In fact, landing the role of Maria took only second place to what was really on my mind. The way I figured it, the girl getting the part of Maria would have the most time with Mr. Barnett.

“Maybe it’s a secret,” Paula offered, defending my right to privacy once again.

Andie snorted. “Could be, but if it is, Holly always breaks down and tells all. That’s how she is.” Her dark eyes danced with mischief.

It felt weird hearing her discuss my faults right under my nose.

Paula studied me with sympathetic eyes. She actually looked prettier these days without the inch-thick mascara. “At this age, we’re changeable,” Paula said. “Holly will tell us what’s on her mind when she wants to. It’s our job as friends to be here for her.”

Quickly, I changed the subject, before Andie had a chance for a comeback. Knowing her, she’d have one eventually. “Who do you think will get Captain von Trapp?” I asked.

Paula spoke up. “Danny’s taller than most of the ninth-grade boys, but he can’t act.”

“He can memorize fast,” I commented. “But you’re right, Jared’s the better actor and singer.”

Andie chimed in. “I could see Jared and Amy-Liz onstage together.”

“How can you
say
that?” I shot back. What a low blow! And from my best friend!

“Well, what do you want to hear?” she said. “I’d give anything to put myself in Maria’s shoes—next to Jared’s. How’s that?”

I shook my head, not letting her get to me with her dumb remarks. “Let’s just see who Miss Hess and Mr. Barnett pick for the part, okay?”

“Miss Hess seems fair enough, but I don’t know about Mr. Barnett, Andie replied. “He’s got his teacher’s pets picked out already. I noticed it right away.”

Gulp!
What had Andie noticed?

Paula pulled on her brunette locks. “I don’t think Mr. Barnett plays favorites. He’s just super nice.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Andie said without looking at me. She pushed her chair out and went to get more soda.

When Andie was out of earshot, Paula asked, “Do
you
think Mr. Barnett has favorites?”

I shrugged my shoulders, pretending not to care.

Jared came over and sat down. I breathed a sigh of relief as the conversation made a complete turn. Away from Mr. Barnett.

STRAIGHT-A TEACHER

Chapter 3

Thursday during choir I did my best to avoid eye contact with Mr. Barnett. He sat on Miss Hess’s desk, arms folded across his burgundy sweater, waiting for everyone to arrive.

Restless chatter filled the room as students, eager for tryouts, jostled and hooted back and forth. Today, auditions were being held for the abbey nuns, Sister Berthe and Sister Sophia, Franz the butler, and some of the older von Trapp children. I blocked out the noise, imagining my upcoming interview with Mr. Barnett. I, with my notebook and pen, poised to ask thoughtful, intelligent questions.
Just the two of us.

“Earth to Holly,” Andie whispered.

I jumped. “Huh?”

“You look dazed, girl,” she said. “I think we better have a talk.”

My cheeks grew warm as the lingering vision slowly faded. “About what?”

Andie’s finger poked my enflamed cheek. “About that.”

The din of chatter subsided as Mr. Barnett stood, notebook in hand. He cleared his throat. “Okay, students. This is home stretch.” Here, he scanned the room with his eyes. Once again they found mine, if only for an instant.

Heart thudding, I wondered how I’d ever find the courage to arrange my interview with him. After all, I would have to speak to him to set it up.

I stared at Miss Hess sitting at the piano. She listened intently as Mr. Barnett made announcements. Was she grading him mentally? Isn’t that what supervising teachers had to do—grade their student teachers based on performance and progress? I couldn’t imagine Mr. Barnett getting less than straight
A
’s.

The pink floral pattern in Miss Hess’s below-the-knee skirt caught my attention. I stared at the shimmery oranges and swirling pinks. What was it like, spending each school day, every day, from now until the end of school with someone like Mr. Barnett? I envied Miss Hess.

After class, I took my sweet time gathering my things, hoping the classroom would clear out in a hurry. I didn’t want Paula or Andie to know about the interview I was planning. So far, at least, my secret was safe.

“Hurry, Holly,” Andie called over her shoulder, rushing for the door with Paula. “We’ll save you a seat at lunch.”

Lunch or not, I had to talk to Mr. Barnett about the interview. But now Danny was in my way—discussing props and stage management with him. Glancing over at the piano, I noticed that Miss Hess had already left for lunch, too. Fabulous timing! Now if only I could get Danny to disappear.

Eavesdropping on Danny’s conversation with Mr. Barnett made me jittery. I shuffled my feet and self-consciously watched the clock on the wall. Its second hand jerked rhythmically, reminding me of how little time I had left for lunch.

Shifting my books, I gave up and headed out the door.

Danny caught up to me in the hall. “Holly, I’m finished,” he said. “Thanks for waiting around.”

Oh no,
I thought.
He thinks I waited for him!

“Can we eat together?” He followed me down the hall to my locker.

“I, uh…Andie and Paula…I think…are saving me a place.”

“I don’t mind sitting with your friends. If it’s okay with you.”

Of course it wasn’t, but I nodded my consent anyway. It was the only decent thing to do after the way I’d treated him on the phone.

Andie’s eyes nearly popped when Danny and I showed up together at lunch. I shot her a warning with my eyes. She caught the secret message—every bit of it. Andie knew better than to make some dumb remark about Danny and me.

We spent most of lunch discussing Mr. Barnett. Danny got it going. “What do you think of our new student teacher?”

“He knows theater, that’s for sure,” Paula said. “Did you see how he marked off the floor in the music room when Billy auditioned for the butler? I tell you, he’s good.”

“He wants me to be stage manager,” Danny said.

“No fair. You know what you’re gonna be before us,” Andie teased, pretending to pout.

How childish,
I thought, watching Andie mope. But deep inside, I was secretly relieved to know Danny was out of the running for the male lead.

“What do you think of Mr. Barnett?” Andie asked me. She leaned forward on the table, balancing herself on her elbows, her impish eyes flashing. She seemed to suspect something, and I resented her for asking me right in front of everyone. It was another one of her childish, more immature traits.

“Mr. Barnett?” I said casually, willing my pulse to slow. “I agree with Paula. He seems to know his stuff.”

“That’s it?” Andie said.

Danny stopped eating his spaghetti, which featured chunks of yellow-green mystery meat mixed with off-white worms, er, noodles.

I forced my gaze away from the worms of the week and focused on Danny’s eyes, which were so close I could see gold flecks in them. It was as though he—and Paula and Andie—were waiting to pounce on my secret.

“What’s there to say?” I responded. “I think Miss Hess should have a student teacher every year for the spring musical.” I reached for my napkin.

If my friends only knew…

Danny excused himself from the table. “Nice having lunch with you, Holly.” He turned beet red, no doubt realizing he’d eaten with all three of us.

“Any time at all,” Andie piped up.

“See you, Danny,” Paula said, smiling and waving.

It was a strained moment, all right. But the second Danny was out of sight, we burst out laughing. It wasn’t fair to make fun of him, but Danny had it coming. He’d literally set himself up by acting like a love-sick toad.

I hurried off to the girls’ rest room to wash my hands and check my hair. My plan was to intercept Mr. Barnett somehow. I needed to set up the interview with him. Not because I had a pressing editorial deadline, but because it was part of my plan. Besides, I was dying to talk to him. One mature soul to another.

I dried my hands, glancing at my watch. Time was running out! Hurrying into the hall, I scoped out the area for signs of Andie or Paula. Danny too. No way did I want them spying on me.

All clear. I dashed upstairs, heading for the music room. Tiptoeing up to the door, I peeked in the window.

Yes! He was there. Taking a deep breath, I knocked.

“Come in,” he called.

Trembling, I turned the doorknob and let myself in.

“Oh, hello there, Holly,” he said, looking up from his desk. He remembered my name! I nearly hyperventilated on the spot.

“Is something wrong?” A slight frown played across his brow.

“Oh, nothing’s wrong,” I said, trying to regain my composure. “I just wanted to talk to you about—”

Suddenly Miss Hess breezed into the room. “Andrew,” she called. “I need to see you in the teacher’s lounge.” A flirtatious smile played across her lips as she turned and left as quickly as she’d come.

Andrew?

“I’m very sorry, Holly,” he apologized, standing up. “Can we talk later?”

I wanted to ask when but only nodded, standing there in a daze, watching the most wonderful guy in the world disappear through the choir room door.

I sighed. “His name is Andrew,” I whispered reverently. In a fog, I stared at his cluttered desk, piled with papers and the open notebook. Suddenly the image of Mr. Barnett’s precious notebook leaped out at me. There were students’ names listed beside names of characters.

I froze, trying not to entertain the thought of snooping. Yet I was tempted. Tempted with one of my greatest weaknesses.

Think how easy it would be to take one quick look. One secret look. No one will ever have to know….

It was the Garden of Eden all over again—Eve listening to the voice of the tempter. And just like Eve, I inched forward and reached for the forbidden fruit.

STRAIGHT-A TEACHER

Chapter 4

I scanned the list. There was Danny Myers as stage manager, Stan Patterson, my stepbrother, as Rolf Gruber. Andie was listed beside Mother Abbess. I could almost hear her singing “Climb Every Mountain. I couldn’t picture her, however, as the Reverend Mother of Nonnberg Abbey!

Laughing out loud, I ran my finger halfway down the list, searching for my name.

Br-ring! Br-ring!
The fire alarm rang out. Startled, I ran out of the choir room. I couldn’t see or smell any evidence of fire or smoke. Quickly, I headed for the nearest exit, slipping in line with other students. I was disappointed about not finding my name. Now I’d have to wait, like everyone else, till tomorrow morning.

Andie fell in line with me outside. “Probably just another silly drill,” she said. “We’ve had twenty-five of them already this year.”

“Not even close,” I said, wondering why she had to exaggerate like that. Another sign of her lack of maturity.

Suddenly I spotted Mr. Barnett. He was hurrying out of the building with Miss Hess and several other teachers. I watched the way he walked, the way he interacted with them. I watched Miss Hess, too. She seemed quite attentive to Mr. Barnett. Was it her way of being a good supervisory teacher, or was there more to it?