Dance With Me

Chapter Five - Marie's POV

Where is Mabel? She's late for class. And everyone else is in class, if I can judge by the empty hallways.

Maybe she was stuffed in a locker again. I know how claustrophobic she is. Or maybe they locked her out of school. The doors have locks that can be activated during classes to prevent any men (predators) from entering the school. Perhaps she got sick and went home. She seemed fine earlier. Maybe she bumped into someone and had a panic attack.

"Class, may I have your attention please? It's time for attendance."

I don't pay attention besides saying my name and eagerly waiting for Mabel's name to be called.

"Mabel Pollock?"

Nothing.

"Mabel Pollock?"

Nothing.

"Was Mabel absent this morning and they accidentally marked her name?" Mrs. Hopkins asks me.

I shake my head. "No. We went outside after first class to watch the sun rise and then we had a pleasant chat with Claire, then she ran inside without me and I haven't seen her since."

"Neither have I," Claire pipes up.

Lilac raises her hand.

"Yes?"

"Um... I saw her with Miranda about ten minutes before class... Miranda took her down the hall but Claire told me to come to class. She was looking in her locker, though, so she didn't see Mabel," Lilac explains in one breath.

Claire nods as if remembering. "If I had known about it surely I would have inquired the situation." She smiles. "But a lady needs her make up, as you know," she adds.

Mrs. Hopkins nods. "Of course." She turns to Miranda. "Do you know where she is?" she asks.

Miranda hesitates, like she's thinking of possible consequences. "Yes," she breathes guiltily. "Yes I do."

"Well come then! We're wasting time."

Mrs. Hopkins leaves with Miranda. I follow them about twenty feet away. We continually move south, towards the old part of school nobody uses anymore. Well, except the Chem. Club which uses poisonous stuff. Miranda stops at the hidden janitors' closet and turns the lock. I hide behind a garbage bin and peek out to see Mabel, shaking and scared, emerge gingerly from the closet. What.

The.

Heck.

I stand. "You locked her in there!" I accuse Miranda. What is wrong with her? "How dare you!"

Miranda laughs. "How dare you of accusing me of hurting one of my dearest friends."

Mrs. Hopkins turns to Miranda after studying me. "You'll have detention for a week, and you," she turns to me, "you'll have detention tonight for following us."

I shrug. "At least I got to help," I say. I rush over and hug Mabel tightly. She wraps her arms around me.

"I'm sorry," she says into my hair. "I'm so sorry."

"For?" I ask again. She apologized on the bench, too, earlier.

"For everything. I get it."

"Get what?"

"I... Nothing. I gotta go freshen up. Meet you in class?"

"Okay..."

---

We manage to survive the rest of the day. Luckily since our school is rich, we get nice food. For lunch today was lobster tails and wild rice. Mmm.

My body aches from ballet, my toes blistered and sore. I sit down next to Mabel on the bench and wait for the limousine.

"Thanks," Mabel says quietly.

"For what?" I ask. I've asked that a lot lately. Mabel is a vague person.

"For sticking up for me. I... I can't do it myself."

I blush. Oh. "Oh."

The limo pulls up and we slip in silently. 'Fur Elise' plays quietly in the background. I lean back in my seat and sigh. I watch as Mabel brings her knees to her chest. She's small, smaller than most of the girls at school.

Lilac slides in with us. "Hey, Mum said that you guys would take me home tonight since she can't. That okay?"

I've never really noticed it, but she has a Spanish accent. Well, as far as I know, Alexandria is Spanish. Her family moved here from Spain before I was born.

I nod and smile. The Pollocks and the Skylarks are great family friends. Since Lilac is related to me, technically she counts.

"Thanks," Lilac says.

"Mmhmm," Mr. Pollock murmurs.

The drive is silent. When we arrive at my flat, Lilac exits first and I follow.

"Bye Marie," Mabel mumbles.

"See ya, Mabes," I reply.