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teach there that long.
    Well, I've really rambled on. Hope I didn't bore you. Teaching at a suburban high school isn't nearly as glamorous as being a big-city film student. Write back soon, if you have time, and tell me more about yourself. You saw the “Five things I can't live without” in my ad. What are yours?
    —Beau
    “Wow, Frank Welling is hung over every day?” Mads said. He was the art teacher Dan had described. “No wonder he's so cranky in the mornings.”
    “This is amazing,” Holly said. She and Mads huddled around Lina's computer that evening, reading the secret thoughts of their teacher. “It's a gold mine of inside information!”
    “I can't believe he calls Mr. Alvarado ‘Rod,’” Mads said. The principal's real name was John Alvarado, and he did spout a lot of educational jargon. “That is so funny. Rod. Rod Alvarado. He is very stiff.” She drew herself up straight and imitated his voice. “‘It's critical that the facilitators of this proactive mission triangulate their methodologies.’”
    Holly and Lina laughed. “Who's this ‘Camille’ he mentions?” Holly asked.
    “It must be Mademoiselle Barker,” Lina said. The pretty young French teacher. Lina hadn't realized that she and Dan were such good friends. She'd often wondered if there wasn't something—a flirtation at least—between them.
    “What's the deal with her, anyway?” Mads said.
    “They can't be dating, or he wouldn't be writing to Larissa,” Holly said.
    Lina took comfort in that. But she still had her suspicions.
    “I've got to write him back again,” Lina said. “What should I say?”
    “Ask him if any of his students have crushes ‘on him,” Mads said.
    “No!” Lina said.
    “That way you'll know if he's on to you,” Mads said.
    “No,” Lina repeated.
    “Ask him what he thinks of Goth girls,” Holly said, thinking of Lina's friend and rival, Ramona.
    “Too obvious,” Lina said. “I don't want him to realize that I know him.”
    “All right then, keep it simple,” Holly said. “Tell him your favorite foods and colors and all that, and ask his. And see where that takes you.”
    “Good idea.” Lina started composing her reply.
    Dear Beau,
    You're right—film school is a lot more glamorous than high school. How could it not be? I'd die if I had to go through high school again.
    “That's good,” Holly said. “Piper says that all the time.” Piper was Holly's older sister, who was away at college.
    “What about the five things you can't live without?” Mads said. “Let's see, there's gummi worms, peanut butter, your day-of-the-week underwear—”
    “Mads! I'm not going to tell him about that.” She did love gummi worms and peanut butter and her day-of-the week underwear, with a different pastel color for each day. She also loved Frosted Teddy Grahams and her old Raggedy Ann doll, but she wasn't about to tell
him
that. Larissa wouldn't like those things. Larissa was too sophisticated.
    The five things I can't live without are my Chanel no. 5 perfume, my red nail polish, my
Encyclopedia of Film,
my dark glasses, and a pair of high heels.
    “Wow, that's glam,” Mads said.
    “You should add peanut butter,” Holly said. “He said he loves Nutter Butters. It gives you something in common.”
    “Okay.” Lina changed the high heels to peanut butter. It added a nice touch of humility.
    I can tell from the way you talk about your school that you are a good teacher. I'll bet the students really appreciate you. You're a good writer, too. Have you ever thought of writing a novel? I think I'd like to try it myself someday.
    What are you doing now? Are you at home, grading papers? Are you out somewhere, seeing friends? I'm just curious. I'm writing to you on my laptop at a cafe, watching all the people come and go. I can see the lights of the Bay Bridge twinkling in the distance. This really is a beautiful city. Good night, Beau. Write back soon.
    —Lara
    “Wow, Lina, that's beautiful,” Mads