Chapter 30
Someone answered the last door Jo thumped on. We both stared at the person before shock turned into recognition.
"Mrs. Rios," I said. "It's you."
Her mouth popped open as she backed away. "L - Leigh. What are you doing...here?"
I frowned. Was this how teachers acted outside of school? Was the absence of a whiteboard behind them that scary? Or had Ms. Hansen told her why she'd run out of the library after sucking on my hair?
"Um, we're..." I gestured at Jo.
"We just wanted to know if you'd like to sign a petition to put a recycling center in town," Jo said in her most polite voice and handed over the clipboard.
"Oh," Mrs. Rios said and swallowed. She studied the sheets of signatures as if she wasn't really seeing them.
"And to make sure you're feeling better," I added. "Both you and Ms. Hansen were sick yesterday. And the day before. I left both of you voicemails. Didn't you get them?"