My Dear Sweet Murder-A Murder Most Unladylike Fanfic

Lavinia

I giggled at George, who'd whispered something funny to me. I froze. Did I really just giggle? And to George? No. I think it was just my imagination.

  We both looked at Kitty, who was sitting by herself. Her fists clenched together suddenly and her body was rigid. Her lips trembled as she...well, I have no idea what she was doing, but all I knew was that she was having some sort of fight with herself. George cocked his head at me. Is she alright? he seemed to be asking. I gave a shrug. Kitty had been absolutely shocked when Beanie left her-I knew there was something about her relationship with her best friend. That's when George asked her, "Kitty, what's your preference about love?"

I didn't say sexuality because I don't think they said it in the 1900's.

  Kitty looked over to us. "That," she snapped. "Is none of your business."

  "Hey, watch it," I growled. George looked at me pointedly. "Wait, you're gay?" I asked, taken by surprise. 

  Kitty darted looks from side to side before tears leaked in her eyes. "I already told you, that's none of your business!" she yelled angrily. 

  "You like Beanie, don't you?" pressed on George. I didn't know a thing about comforting people, but all I knew was: do not say a thing to Kitty about her love life. Hazel had asked all of us once, and even though at that time Daisy had told us that she liked Amina, Kitty said she was straight. There was nothing wrong with being gay to me.

  Kitty stormed off. "Kitty! Oi! Daisy's not going to be very happy!" called George. 

  "I DON'T CARE!" she screamed back. "GO TO BLAZES YOU....YOU...." Kitty seemed unable to find a word that could strongly describe what George had done. I had never heard Kitty swear before though. 

  "Go then, if you don't care you chump," I said loudly. 

  "I was going to anyways," said Kitty over her shoulder and at the same time, emitting a loud mad laugh that didn't sound like her.

  Once she was gone, George and I looked at each other. "She'll come back," I said quickly. George nodded. He started telling stupid jokes again. I felt the heat come back into my cheeks as I laughed even more stupidly. We smiled at each other, though I felt a pain in my heart as I realised Kitty was still gone.

  "You know," said George. "I was beaten at school." 

  "What?" I gasped, all the worry about Kitty disappearing. "Why?" 

  He smiled nervously. "Because of my religion. I couldn't go to chapel either." I studied him closely. I had become more calm when I was around him and he made me feel like something no one else could have done. 

  "Did they stop?" 

  "Yes, but that was only because my father sent a letter asking them," George responded. I knew about how hard it was to George to fit in, with his Indian background and the fact that he was born in London didn't really help much. 

  "That's horrible," I finally said. George nodded. 

  "That is. Alex used to cry at the sight of my bruises, but he couldn't help much." George was opening his heart out to me, and I didn't know what to do. I imagined George at school, with bruises while Alexander cried at his side. George was such a confident person. I really did love him.

  While I was still in my thoughts, George brushed a lock of hair behind my ear. I blushed. Hearing George's story made me think about how I acted sometimes. Of course, I still wanted to be the protective friend everyone had, but I also wanted people to think of me as the kind Lavinia Temple my father wanted me to be. If I was kind to everyone and protected people, I would still have enemies. I had to choose one. But I didn't want to. Maybe there was a way for me to be the princess in a story and the beast in the other. (I don't think they had Beauty and the Beast and even if they had, I don't think they would mention it though.) George had influenced me. It was time to change part of myself.