Crackerjack II

Chpt. 9: Taking A Step Back

Kristen dragged herself through the next day's sessions, stumbling through the motions. She barely made it through Spencer's training. She skipped lunch to crawl into bed. Even with that, the words in the library's books blurred together, and it wasn't an hour until Kristen's head fell into the pages.

Drea walked by and shook her head.

Kristen slept for three hours before Drea returned and shook her shoulder. Kristen's head popped off the table at the same time her hands gripped the book and brought it up as if reading.

Drea giggled. "Studying hard?"

Kristen sighed in relief. "Oh. I thought you were Sylvia. Yeah, no. I'm just..."

"It's pretty clear what you were doing." Drea shook her head. "Go get some real sleep. Forget friends. Anyone who saw you right now would run the other way."

Kristen made a face. "Thanks."

She followed Drea's advice, though, and slept through dinner.

The next morning, she was more alert. A little groggy, but not about to drop into a snooze. She did better in training, and Spencer even made a comment in passing about her improvement. Kristen dove into Sylvia's session, knowing Drea had been serious about not letting her back in. She hid throughout the library, trying to postpone the exodus, but Drea eventually caught up with her.

After being dragged out, Kristen stood on the steps. She wasn't sure what to do. There was really only one place she could go besides her hut.

William was in the stalls, mucking. His bent back was to her. He was humming something under his breath.

"Hey."

"Cripes!" The shovel dropped from his hands as he whirled to face her.

She grinned. "Sorry."

He leaned on the bars. "Good grief, Kristen. Scared me so bad, thought I might get my sight back for a second!"

She grinned wider. "I've been told I look frightful."

He laughed. "I'd have to agree. Nearly gave me a heart attack. What're you doing here? Don't you have a busy schedule?"

She shrugged. "Drea kicked me outta the library."

He cocked his head. "Heard she was gonna start charging you tenancy."

Kristen frowned. "How'd you hear that?"

William bent and drifted his fingers along the floor. "I don't have much else to do."

"You sayin' you've been stalkin' me?"

He wrapped his hands around the shovel. "Wouldn't be able to if I tried. You move too fast for me to keep an eye on you."

She broke into a reluctant smile. "I've been pushin' myself."

He frowned. "Don't go overboard. Dangerous things happen when you get tired."

Kristen rolled her eyes and came to stand at the gate. "So I've been told. And told. And told."

William grinned. "Sounds like you've got some pretty wise friends, there."

She sighed. "I don't have friends."

William stuck his lip out. "I'm hurt."

"I said 'friends.' Plural."

He laughed. "Maybe I should introduce you to some of my friends. I see 'em all the time. They'd probably like somebody else to bug 'em."

Kristen hesitated and eyed him. "What kind of friends?"

"Wanna find out?"

Kristen pestered William with questions as they left the med tent, but he was silent on the subject. He'd avoid the darts by pointing out a building and explaining its purpose or asking Kristen questions of his own.