The Boy with the Blind Eyes

THIRTY SEVEN

Tamsin awoke the next morning with a pounding headache and a dry mouth. She picked up the phone on her nightstand that automatically called downstairs. Glancing over at Lina, who was drooling soundly on her pillow, Tamsin tied back her hair. The phone picked up. 'Can I have a pitcher of coffee and two plates of eggs with extra bacon sent up to my room?' She rasped into the phone. Noticing Lina stir a little, she lowered her voice. 'Oh, and a plate of brownies?'

'You sure can, honey.' The voice paused and chuckled haughtily a moment later. 'Hungover?'

'Not exactly.' She wished she had it that easy. Putting the phone back down into its cradle, she got out of bed, made the bed, and tidied up the dorm. Lina woke up just a few minutes later, yawning stiffly. When she noticed Tamsin opening curtains, dusting windows and folding clothes, a frown appeared on her face.

'Tamsin?' She asked tentatively, rubbing her panda eyes. 'Are you okay?'

She nodded in response. 'I ordered us food.' Pausing, she managed a slight smile. 'I got you brownies, too.'

Lina's face softened, her eyes smiling mischievously. 'You always could make me smile, Tamsin. But really. How are you?' Her face returned to its worried state.

Tamsin sighed and dropped onto a nearby chair. 'Honestly? I'm a wreck. I barely slept at all last night.'

'I know.' Lina bit her lip. 'At least she's in their custody now. She's their problem now,' she said firmly, probably trying to reassure Tamsin. It wasn't working. She was just as disturbed as she had been last night. Still shell-shocked. Still terrified. And most of all, still incredibly miserable.

'I don't know how,' Tamsin said, 'considering you— 'She swallowed the bile rising in her throat, 'considering you stabbed her pretty hard.'

'I barely clipped her shoulder,' Lina shrugged, a little too casual. But Tamsin was finished with questioning her friends. She didn't have the energy to do it anymore. She dropped the matter quickly, along with the duster when there came a knock at the door. Lina called for them to come in. A Latino woman in her early thirties wheeled in a cart. She was dressed in a checked grey dress, plain white shoes, her hair twisted into a neat bun at the nape of her neck. Her olive skin was free of makeup, and she gave the girls a friendly smile.

'Where would you like the cart?' She asked in a heavy, Hispanic accent.

'Over by the window, please,' Lina instructed.

The lady moved it next to the window beside Tamsin. Before she left, she sighed deeply. 'I offer my deepest condolences,' she said wistfully. 'I heard about last night's incident.'

'Thank you,' Tamsin whispered. Instinctively, she reached for her bruised neck, which was still tender. The paramedics had assured her last night that she was perfectly alright and there was no permanent damage.

'Yes, thank you.' Lina shot a pointed look at the door, and the Latino lady left them quietly.

Tamsin gave her a look. 'That was rude.'

'That was necessary. We need some serious R&R. Starting with the brownies,' she came over and bit into one, mouth curving into a blissed out smile. 'Mm.'

'Good?'

'Better.' She held out her hand. 'Have a taste.'

As Tamsin bit into the chocolatey, gooey heaven, she couldn't help but smile a little. Lina was right. They needed a day full of brownies, movies, and maybe popcorn. It would help them recover from the shock of last night's...unpleasantness.