"H-h-how did you know that?!" the secretary stammered, eyes now fearful as well as shocked.
"Because you just told me," Jon replied; she'd always wanted to say that. "But seriously, it was kinda obvious. Your story is flawed and you've been missing from school since it started up again. Coach absolutely refused to say what happened to you; I thought something was up but I put it out of my mind until now." The PE teacher and football coach was Biff's dad.
She just stared at Jon for a moment, agape. "You're a lot smarter than I thought." Some of Biff's mannerisms were coming back, the gruff speech, the way he held his head up as if something stunk. "We can't talk here. I'm coming over to your house after my shift is over, in a couple of hours," Biff said, in a voice that made it plain he wasn't taking "no."
"Okay. I-" Jon started, but was interrupted by her mom, now dad, entering the lobby.
"Everything okay, dear?" he asked, and despite the situation Jon cracked a smile at his lilting tone.
She nodded. "Yeah, just talking to Buffy here. I'm coming. See you soon!" she said, smiling cheerfully and waving at "Buffy" as she walked away. It was all she could do not to crack up at Biff's scandalized response to her new nickname.
