Lucy Rose

Chapter 6

November was wet.

Very, very wet.

The days were shorter, the temperatures were lower and the rain put a damper on everyone's spirits.

"I'm sorry, you can't go outside," Lucy cooed.

The baby dragon huffed smoke in protest.

"Pain in the arses this lot is," Rory groaned, trying to herd the newborns away from the doors.

Unfortunately for the dragons, rain meant that they had to stay inside. Their wings were underdeveloped at their age...paper thin...and if they were to get them wet, they'd surely tear.

"We've only got fifteen minutes until our lunch is up," Lucy said, checking her watch.

"We have divination," Rory groaned, "I hate divination."

"Oi!" Lucy scowled, "Inigo's class is great."

"Yeah, yeah," Rory sighed, "Inigo is a great teacher, I just hate divination, doesn't make any bloody sense."

"You just need to pay attention and take better notes," Lucy said, "instead of sleeping."

"Oi! I need my beauty rest." Rory said.

"Obviously," Lucy grinned.

"Lucy Evans! Take that back right now!" Rory shrieked.

Lucy laughed and sprung to her feet, running around the nursery as Rory chased her, a dozen of dragons in pursuit.

"Look what you've done," Rory groaned as they watched the young dragons run circles around them, "you've gone and got them all riled up."

"We should go," Rory said a couple minutes later when they had calmed the dragons down, "I already have detention for skiving off Transfiguration yesterday, I don't need two."

"Yeah, ok," Lucy nodded, grabbing her bag, "go tell John we're leaving, yeah?"

Rory nodded, disappearing behind the office door.

She came out a minute later with the nursery director.

"Thanks girls," he smiled at them, "enjoy class and stay dry, there's umbrellas in the entrance if you need them."

"Thanks," they chorused, walking out into the rain.

"It's so gross out," Rory groaned, "my hair is going to frizz."

Lucy laughed, holding her umbrella over her head.

"You can't tell him that I told you.." Rory started.

Lucy looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Eric's going to ask you out after class today!" Rory squealed. "Isn't that exciting! Will he be your first boyfriend? Lucy?"

Lucy didn't respond. She was frozen where she stood, unable to process what Rory was saying.

"Lucy?"

"I don't feel good," Lucy said finally, "I'm going to go home, can you just tell Inigo? Please?"

"Yeah, of course," Rory's excitement turned into concern, "do you want me to walk you home."

"No," Lucy said quickly, "no need, besides, you'll be late. I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"

"Yeah, ok," Rory gave a weak smile, "feel better."

"Thanks," Lucy couldn't smile back.

She was running.

Umbrella abandoned in the mud, she was running through the rain as fast as her legs could carry her.