A Spirit Between Us (bxb)

Chapter 28 - Mom.

"Let's go." Archie spun on his heel and started marching down the hallway, his footsteps echoing in determination.

Lyla hurried after him, confusion etched across her face. "Go where?" she called, practically jogging to keep up with his long strides.

"To tell my mom." Archie said without looking back, his voice firm like he'd just solved world hunger.

"What?" Lyla stopped dead in her tracks, blinking as if he'd just sprouted a second head. "Archie, we still have two more classes. We can't just skip!"

"Who said anything about skipping?" he shot over his shoulder, not breaking stride.

Lyla narrowed her eyes at his retreating back. If Finn were here, he would've just sighed and let Archie do whatever he wanted. But no. Archie wasn't that lucky. He was stuck with her, and she pressed like a faulty car horn.

"What are you talking about? Is your mom even here?" Lyla demanded, jogging to catch up again.

"Yes." Archie said, his tone clipped.

"Wait, your mom works here?" Lyla's confusion deepened, her brain trying to piece the puzzle together.

"Obviously."

Lyla frowned, trying to piece it together. "Seriously? But there aren't any teachers with the last name Hollow—"

"She's not a teacher," Archie interrupted, glancing at her with mild exasperation. "Her name's Katherine."

Lyla's mouth opened, then shut. She blinked, the pieces clicking into place. "Katherine," she repeated slowly, her voice growing louder as realization dawned. "As in Principal Katherine? As in your mom is the freaking principal?!"

Archie's expression darkened, his brows drawing into a stormy line. "Yeah, and?"

Lyla stared at him, slack-jawed. "And?! And?!"

"Why are you yelling?" Archie deadpanned, raising an eyebrow. "It's not that big a deal."

"Not that big a—" Lyla sputtered, her hands flailing in the air. "this is insane! You didn't think to mention this before? Everyone loves your mom! She's like a school celebrity. I mean, she actually remembers people's names. And their birthdays. And she bakes cookies during finals week! Why wouldn't you tell the entire school?"

Archie shrugged. "I didn't think it mattered."

"It does matter!" Lyla insisted, throwing her hands up. "You're telling me the answer to our problems might've been a quick chat with the most approachable authority figure in the universe, and we've just been running around like idiots this whole time?"

"You're being dramatic. She doesn't have the answers. She can just help." Archie muttered, continuing down the hallway.

"Dramatic?" Lyla scoffed, falling into step beside him. "Your mom's basically a saint. People leave her meetings crying tears of joy. And you're her kid? How does that even happen? You're the human equivalent of a raincloud."

Archie shot her a flat look. "Are you done?"

"No, I'm not done. I feel betrayed. You've been holding out on me, Arch." She narrowed her eyes, pointing an accusatory finger at him. "I bet you don't even have to call her Principal Katherine like the rest of us mere mortals, do you?"

"Obviously not. I call her Mom." he said dryly, then smirked faintly at her expression. "Now come on. The sooner we talk to her, the sooner we can figure this out."

Lyla grumbled under her breath but followed him anyway, muttering something about how unfair life was when you had an all-star mom as your secret ace in the hole.