"I'm not interested in a war either. I just want to get to the end of the school year without wanting to tear my hair out." She quirks a faint smile. "I happen to like my hair."

Erin can't help the impressed look. "It makes sense she'd land a Whitney. She was always someone who aimed pretty high.... Shame she won't use that same drive in the court room. But if I know her it could be a political move. Rumor has it there are a few charities she wants nothing more than to see succeed. I'm pretty sure if that's true she'd use that social grace my Dad thought was so admirable to get just what she wants. Not a bad thing for someone who isn't even twenty-four yet. The average person in our.... potential income bracket only gets that kind of goal by the time their thirty usually."

Erin looks very frosty about that for just a moment. "Last year things changed. The board of directors let it be known that anyone suspected of doing that to boost grades would be dismissed. I hated hearing people complain.... Then we got our new Headmistress. Doctor Phillipa Pierce. I swear she is the scariest person I have ever seen running a school... I'm almost convinced she's telepathic."