"Thanks," Madelyn replied.

Kennedy interjected, "These notes won't really help you. Like Mr. Newton says, practice more, and if you don't get it, just ask."

"Okay."

The bell for the next class rang.

But Madelyn had her own secret plans. She believed there was more than one way to reach her goal. What she was doing, she did for herself.

As soon as the first class ended, Madelyn sneaked away to the same spot she'd been visiting a lot lately. 'I can make it happen in a month...'

...

"Engaged? Wishful thinking," Zach muttered as he ripped the newspaper in his hand, tearing the picture of Ethan and Madelyn right down the middle.

"Where's Donna Jolie?" he asked.

Kevin replied, "She's doing what you told her. We should catch the news this afternoon. But Donna shelled out a lot to hire a hacker to trace our last phone call. She wants to figure out who's pulling the strings behind the scenes."

Zach removed his gold-rimmed glasses, leaned back, and crossed his left leg over the right o