Battle of Fear and Trust

Lunchroom tables

Lucy and I walk into the dormitory of Saint Finbar's school for girls. Once again, it was the beginning of another term, and it always seems so cold when summer is over. At least I don't have to worry about the Witch hurting my family, except for Lucy, but I already decided it was best to limit the time I spend with her at school.

She'll be safer that way. I turn to her, watching as she plays with the sleeve of her jacket. She was nervous about talking to a friend. It had something to do with a magic book she looked at during her voyage. Lucy told me she saw her friend say some mean things about her to an older girl. Although from what she told me it sounds as though her friend was intimidated by the older girl.

"Lucy!" I look over to see Lucy's friend on the other side of the room. Lucy tries to smile but looks down at the floor instead.

"I'm sure you'll be fine Lu, just remember when you talk to her that she knows nothing about Narnia. You'll need to be subtle with what you saw in that book." At least I think she said it was something she saw. The past few days I've been drowning out everything to do with the Other World. Another reason why I should stay away from her. "And you know sometimes people say things they don't mean when they're intimidated by someone else," I add with a smile.

"I'll remember that Susan." Lucy says giving me a hug "I'll see you in the dining hall for lunch," she adds before running off to her friend. My heart sinks as I watch them disappear through the hall that leads to their part of the dormitory. It might be harder than I thought to limit my time with her here. Especially when I have to do it without an explanation. But I can't let the Witch hurt her.

I turn my gaze and look at my fellow classmates, who are all in a group talking about the summer holiday and laughing with the others like there is no one else in the room. It's nice to see friends reunite on the first day back from holiday, but it's not as rewarding as reuniting with your own friends. I smile, it will be fun to tell Nancy and Bonnie all about New York and show them my new outfits.

I quickly leave and make my way to my room. Maybe this term I can focus more on my friendships and schoolwork. It is a good way to keep her away from Lucy. I walk into my room to see Bonnie and Nancy talking in whispers, apparently not noticing as I enter the room.

"Susan!" Nancy says once she looks up and I give her a smile as wraps her arms around me. "We missed you so much." She lets go to allow Bonnie to come in. Yes, it is definitely a good idea to focus on something that has nothing to do with that other place or the Witch.

"You have to tell us everything," Bonnie says as we sit on my bed.

"Did you go to any of their museums?"

"Did you get a chance to see a Broadway show?"

"Was it strange seeing people drive on the opposite side of the road?"

"It was a wonderful trip." I interrupt their endless questions, "I did go to many of their museums, but I didn't see any shows. I spent a lot of my time in different clothing shops and meeting my father's colleagues and their families," I take one of my suitcases and open my outfits. I watch as my friends examine the clothes.

"Those are lovely, they must have cost a fortune," Bonnie says, holding up one of the blouses.

"How were you able to afford those?" Nancy asks though the tone of her voice was more shocking than I thought. As though she never thought I would be able to afford nice clothes.

"The Dean of University wife. She doesn't have any daughters of her own and insisted on buying me all the finer things New York has to offer," I told her.

"So, she uses you as her own personal doll," Nancy laughs, my arms tense up and my mouth hangs open as Nancy's words replay in my head.

*ring*