The Alliance Read Online Free Page B

“You are aware,” he said slowly, “that in addition to having thirty student signatures, you also need three staff members to approve of the new organization. And one of those must agree to be the faculty advisor.”
    I nodded. “I read the rules very carefully, sir. I don’t think it will be a problem.”
    Winston raised an eyebrow. He looked amused. “Oh, you don’t? Ms. Mendoza, when a student goes through the proper channels to form a new school-sponsored organization, the group becomes eligible for funding. That’s why we have such stringent requirements for starting a club. We can’t fund any group that is poorly organized or doesn’t have substantial support.”
    He took a manila folder from his desk and opened it up. “Any faculty member who signs the petition is putting their reputation on the line. Signing that document is the same thing as saying, ‘I believe Carmen Mendoza has the ability to create and run this organization.’ But I think you’ll have trouble finding someone to express
that
much faith in you. A few comments from your most recent report cards…” He squinted at what was inside the folder. “’Carmen’s grades are fine, but she shows little ability to follow through …’ And ‘Carmen has to be encouraged to complete projects on time …’”
    Winston closed the folder, put his fingers together like a steeple, and lifted them to his chin. “Now…do you really think you have the faculty’s confidence? It seems to me, Ms. Mendoza, that maybe you should be focusing your energy on learning to follow through on your current commitments instead of taking on a new project that, all signs are, you won’t be able to complete.”
    My ears burned. A hundred Spanish curse words danced on the tip of my tongue. It was all I could do not to lay into him. He sat there, so smug. It was his pretending like he was only thinking of my well-being that really ticked me off.
    I thought about showing him the death threat I found in my locker. It was still in the bottom of my messenger bag. Even though I’d promised to tell my parents if anything like that happened, I’d kept quiet. It was just one note. Probably someone trying to freak me out.
    But I would have loved to see how Winston would react to it. I’d been shoved, taunted, called names, and bullied in just about every way you can think. This was the first time someone had threatened my life. That was something he
couldn’t
ignore.
    But, no. He’d only accuse me of making it up. Which only made me angrier. He could call me a troublemaker all he wanted. I’d own that. But no one calls me a liar. If I gave him that chance, I’d say things I could never take back.
    â€œI guess we’ll just have to see, Mr. Winston,” I said, doing my best to smile. I probably looked sick. “May I go now?”
    He dismissed me with a nod. It wasn’t until I’d walked down the hall and around the corner that I began spitting out all the curse words I’d been holding in.
    He was wrong. I’d get
more
than three teachers to sign the petition. The teachers weren’t dumb. They knew this kind of bullying had to stop. If I had to, I’d get every teacher at Southside to sign it.
    Game on, Winston.

I
    decided that what Mrs. Carney was trying to tell me was that I just had to suck it up and ask the football team to sign. It made sense. They were some of the most popular guys in school. If they signed, a bunch of other people would sign too. And I was their teammate. We had each other’s backs. Even if I could just get a couple of them to sign, it was all I needed to get more to fall in line.
    After practice, I finished showering before everyone else so I could run back and get dressed. By the time the rest of the team came from the showers, I was ready for them. As they toweled off and started dressing,