Scattering Lilac Ashes

Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-One

Knock knock.

Lila opened her bleary eyes, blinking away as much sleep as she could.

"Yeah?" she yawned, sitting up and stretching her arms above her head.

Daniel sidled in, folding his school tie around his neck. "Morning."

His voice had a croaky quality to it – but Lila could tell that it wasn't because it was early in the morning.

"Morning," Lila said warily, rubbing her eyes to clear them. "What's up?"

"... It's a school day."

"Well, yeah. I know that. But my alarms haven't even gone off. You're up way too early."

He sighed, undoing his tie. "I know. I'm nervous."

"About the meeting with the Headmaster, I'm guessing."

"Yeah. I read all my notes, Asher's notes, suggestions, business plans, I even tried to look at Fair Trading legislation, but my brain's too small for that."

Lila's eyelids fluttered in surprise. "I didn't even know you knew what Fair Trading was."

"Googled it. Didn't get very far, though."

"It's a good thought," Lila yawned. "At least, I'd assume so. But I highly doubt you need any of that. This would just be more of a school activity, rather than a full business."

"I know," Daniel murmured, smacking himself in the face with the end of his tie. He pressed his lips together in frustration, undoing it yet again. "Just... want to be prepared."

"You'll be fine. I know I can't go in there with you, but I'll sit just outside his office, yeah?"

He gave her a meek smile. "Thanks, sis."

"You're welcome. Now get out."

He snorted, promptly leaving and closing the door behind him.

They sat on the bus together that morning, though Daniel looked paler than usual. She did ask if he was sick, but he insisted otherwise. From what Lila could recall, Daniel hadn't ever met the Headmaster before, let alone in circumstances that could toe the line of being expelled or heavily punished. She didn't need to wonder why he was so spooked.

They parted ways at the bus station, Lila watching him go for a few moments before heading to her locker. She wouldn't be surprised if she got caught up worrying about him all day, though she knew it wouldn't be helpful if she did that.

Though she'd fallen asleep relatively easily yesterday, her mind had been whirling, swept up with all facets of her discussions with Asher yesterday – about them, and about the morphine ring. These thoughts returned with a vengeance as she impatiently waited for Design to be over, the usual calm and quiet atmosphere now getting on her nerves.

Mr Dillon finally released them and she shot up, throwing her bag over her shoulder. She burst out of the classroom, her eyes already looking towards the direction of her English class. It seemed, though, that she should've taken more care to look elsewhere as she stumbled into a male student.

"S-Sorry," she mumbled before looking up into very familiar, delighted eyes.

"Someone's in a rush," Asher chuckled, lifting her bag from her shoulder.

"What're you doing here?" Lila asked, her heart racing from both the shock and the visceral reminder of what they'd talked about yesterday morning.

"I wanted to walk to class with you," he said simply, offering his arm for her to take. Lila smiled, curling her arm around his.