Secret of the School Suitor by Jessica Anderson, David Ouro Page B

we can help,” she said.
    â€œYou could get into some serious trouble,” Javier said.
    Divya shrugged. “I almost missed a day of school this morning. I’m not too worried.” Other than staying home sick a few days whenshe came down with the flu, she hadn’t missed much school. Besides, teachers didn’t take attendance until after morning assembly. If she made it to class before then, she’d never get into any trouble.
    Divya should’ve reported to the cafeteria with Javier, but she tiptoed – or at least tried to tiptoe the best her ankles would allow – after Bus Driver McCool. He walked so fast that she could barely see him in the distance. Good thing he wore that grubby old lime green shirt so it was easy to keep track of him.
    â€œDon’t get caught, Divya,” Javier called out as he walked in the opposite direction.
    â€œShh! I don’t plan to,” she said. “But don’t jinx me.”

Busted!
    Bus Driver McCool climbed up the stairs swiftly. Divya had a hard time keeping up with him, but she kept an eye on that shirt.
    She suspected he was going to spend some time with Coach Shorts since they seemed to like to spend so much time together. Divya once saw them eating at the Burger Trough when she ate there with her dad not that long ago. Talk about weird! To see her bus driver and her coach together outside of school. They were even holding hands!
    Instead of walking down the long hallway to the gymnasium, Bus Driver McCool took a left to the brightly lit main office. What kind of business did the bus driver need to take care of in the school office?
    Divya dipped down low by a red brick wallnear the open door.
    â€œI’m not sure if you saw the ‘no parking’ sign or not,” Mr. Sleuth said. “And in case you didn’t know, the sign means ‘no parking.’” The school secretary laughed at his own joke.
    From what Divya could see by the wall, Bus Driver McCool didn’t find the comment funny. “I don’t plan on staying here for very long. That’s what the flashers flashing on the bus means, in case you didn’t know.”
    He said something else but Divya couldn’t hear. Mr. Sleuth folded his gangly arms across his chest. “You have a bone to eat? You parked in a no parking zone to tell me that?”
    Bus Driver McCool spoke up much louder. “No! Not a bone to eat. I have a bone to pick with you!”
    The two of them went back and forth. Divya really wished she could hear what they were saying. She could only make out bits of the conversation, something about Mr. Sleuth was making things extra challenging.
    Divya inched forward to get a better listen, but then she stumbled and caught herself againstthe glass window of the office.

    Mr. Sleuth walked over to see what had happened.
    Busted!
    Divya had to think of an excuse for being there. Fast!
    â€œIs there something I can help you with, Divya, or are you just testing gravity in the office?” Mr. Sleuth asked.
    Divya laughed like his joke was a lot funnier than it actually was and then she tried to think of something clever to say in return. “Duck! I thought I saw a duck coming for me,” she said.
    Mr. Sleuth chuckled. “I’ll have to remember that.”
    Bus Driver McCool looked at Divya with his eyebrows squished together in concern. He probably thought she had come to rat on him for his bad driving this morning! She wanted to explain that she was just here to help him, but she had to keep her mission to herself. That was the point of spying, after all.
    Divya needed to think quickly.
    â€œI’m here to see the nurse to get a bandage.I’m getting a blister,” she said, pointing at her ankle brace. Maybe Bus Driver McCool would remember the way she was fixing her sock when he nearly missed picking her up earlier. He’d think that she was telling the truth rather than trying to get him in