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He recognized her as one of the students on the tribunal.
    "I'm Sarah Waterbury," she said. "I believed you. I think it's rotten they decided that way - give them a little power and they think they're the Supreme Court. You look like you're taking it pretty hard."
    "Well, those are the breaks." Frank sighed as he walked past her to the door. "I'm sure you'd feel the same way."
    Sarah laughed. "No, not at all. You don't know this school, Frank. This whole thing is usually just a show — makes the students feel important. The administration never takes these recommendations seriously. Besides, they're too afraid to expel students because of what their parents might do — the rich ones would stop donating money to the school!"
    "No kidding," Frank said. "So you think they'll let me stay?"
    "You'll get a lecture from Mr. Castigan, a slap on the wrists, and they'll send you off to class and have something to gossip about at the faculty dinner."
    She cocked her head slightly, and the ends of her mouth curled up in a quirky smile. There was something about this girl, Frank thought. She had a kind of strength and sense of humor that he found attractive. If he weren't going out with Callie, he'd want to get to know her better. And from the look in her eyes, he could tell she was thinking the same thing about him.
    Come on, now, Frank, he said to himself. Don't lead her on. "Thanks, Sarah, that really makes me feel a lot better," he said. Then he looked at his watch. "Whoops! I'm going to be late for math. See you!"
    "Wait!" she said. "You've got five whole minutes. I'll walk with you. I have to go to physics."
    Together they strolled through campus. Frank tried to walk at a brisk pace, but Sarah wanted to chat.
    "Aren't you in my English class with Mr. Osborn?" she asked. "Yes."
    "Are you prepared for that Shakespeare test Monday?"
    "Ha!" Frank said. "It took me three days just to get through Henry the Fifth. Now I have to figure out what all the words mean!"
    Sarah laughed. "It's not so bad as you think. Why don't you come over to study with me tomorrow?"
    That definitely sounded like a line. Frank could see Callie's disapproving eyes. But he was so lost in the course, and Mr. Osborn didn't do anything to make it less confusing.
    "Maybe I will, Sarah," he said as they entered the building, "If you're right and they don't kick me out."
    "Great!" Sarah said with a broad smile. "My room is Van Cott twenty-one. I'll be starting at ten in the morning. 'Bye!" She gave him a quick wave and skipped up the first-floor stairs.
    "You have reached the residence of Fenton and Laura Hardy. We can't take your call right now, but at the sound of the tone, pi — "
    Frank slammed the phone down in frustration. No one was picking up on his and Joe's private line or his parents' phone. He'd been trying to call ever since he had gotten back from his last class. Where could they be?
    "Parents out painting the town red, eh?" Brad said from his corner of the room. "I know what that feels like. At least I know mine are home tonight; they have to entertain you for dinner. Cheer up, the car should be arriving soon. The food'll be great, even if we do have to sit and discuss our futures for two hours."
    Honk! Honk! Brad looked out the window at the limo. "Okay, let's go!" he said, running out of the room. Frank followed and locked the door behind him.
    In front of the dorm was a shiny black stretch limo. A man wearing a uniform stood holding the back door open. Brad was already in the backseat. "Frank, this is Oscar," he called out. "Oscar, Frank. Now let's get out of here before someone steals a hubcap!"
    As they drove through the quiet countryside, Frank tried to watch the TV in the backseat, but Brad kept flipping from channel to channel.
    Before long the rural calm gave way to honking taxicabs and stop-and-go traffic. Oscar drove them over a brightly lit bridge and into New York City. Frank looked out the window at block after block of apartment buildings