Don't Stand So Close To Me

14 - Hell On Wheels

Eddie happily listens to Hellfire make guesses about what might happen in tonight's session. Eddie says very little but occasionally gives them a clue or a misleading look to work them into an excitable mood. The same as any Friday, except Clara was missing. He checks his watch, and lunch is nearly over.

Honestly, what kind of girl stuff was taking all this time? Was Clara giving her a warning talk? Shit, coming from Clara, that might scare Lyra off completely. He chewed his thumbnail nervously, half listening to the table now.

Don't panic, Eddie, what if...what if it's a surprise for him, and it's like a little secret thing. Yeah, that could be it. He smiles, leans back in his chair, and immerses himself back into the conversation.

Eddie smells them before he sees them. The pungent aroma of paint thinner fills the air, "Jesus! What kind of girl stuff have you been up to exactly?"

"Oh, you know, the usual." Clara laughs awkwardly, "Make-up, nail polish, that kind of thing."

Eddie looks at Clara with a silent huff of a laugh and smiles, indicating he isn't buying any of it. He looks at Lyra, moving around and silently poking at her salad.

He scans her over. Everything generally seems the same. Her hair is a little wind-swept. Then he starts to notice the black smudges on her hands.

"Hey, is everything ok, Lyra?" He asks with a small laugh because it is apparent something weird is going on. Eddie didn't much like being out of the loop regarding his friends.

She lifts her head to him, gives a small smile, and nods but says nothing. Eddie can see more smudges on her face. Much fainter here. He probably wouldn't have noticed them if he hadn't been looking at her most of the morning. The surrounding skin was pinker, like whatever it was she's tried to scrub off.

Eddie is sure there is deceptiveness afoot here, but he decides not to address it in front of everyone. He did have all day to ask, after all.

Eventually, the bell rings for the end of lunch, and it's time to head to class. Eddie takes Lyra's arm and receives one of those dazzling smiles in return, but as they turn towards class, he gets a pat on the arm.

"Do you think I could have your English notes? I'm feeling a bit woozy from the fumes. I think I should see the nurse," Lyra asks, looking up at him hopefully.

"Sure, I guess. Don't you want me to come with you?" Eddie asks, tucking her hair behind her ear, a look of mild confusion on his face.

"No, I-" Lyra starts.

"I think you really need to be attending all your classes at this point, Eddie", Clara interrupts, "Lyra will feel better after, and we'll see her in Drama, right?" Clara says, pulling Eddie toward class and leaving Lyra behind.

Eddie looks over his shoulder at Lyra as he's marched down the hallway and finally focuses on Clara.

"What the hell is going on, Clara?" Eddie says, using his strength to stop moving and causing Clara to do the same.

"Eddie, I would love to tell you, but I've been sworn to secrecy." Clara turns to him, folding her arms, "Lyra asked me not to say anything to you. I said that's stupid, he'll hate that, but she said something about it being your day."

"Well, you were right about that. I do hate whatever it is that's going on. Why does she smell of paint thinner and has little cuts and smears on her fingers?" He throws his hands in the air, a little frustrated, "Besides, I've been your friend for years. You've known her for half a year. Your allegiance is to me, not Lyra," Eddie says firmly.

"Alright! Fine! But you have to swear to play along like you don't know until she tells you, and she is planning on telling you, just not now," Clara says, a little exasperated.