Exposition

D+31 (Friday)

It was only the twenty-eighth count and it was already getting old running laps during their lunch hour. The day after the bathroom incident, Addie and Brienne were pulled out of English class and called into the Dean of Student's office. It had been reported to her that 'noises of a sexual nature' were heard coming from the old girls' bathroom and that the two of them were seen leaving that restroom. Addie was dumbstruck and Brienne outright denied it, challenging the Dean to produce evidence to the fact. The Dean bristled at the challenge before pronouncing a punishment of 100 laps around the field, community service for Brienne since it was her third time in the Dean's office, and forfeiture of the Diks Diks from the interclass tournament.

Brienne was not happy about the forfeiture at all. She couldn't have cared less about the laps and the community service but the forfeiture just seemed too unjust. Fumes of black energy poured out of her all day. And to make it worse she had to clean the sports field of trash right after the witnessing the Bush Babies win their third dodge ball match. Susan was about as gracious of the Dik Diks forfeiture from the tournament as a pig in shit but Brienne was confused by Lorraine Hull's condolence. Lorraine was captain of the Bush Babies and Brienne's ex.

When Addie called Brienne that evening, the other girl didn't pick up. She called and called again until she got through.

"Why are you ignoring my calls?" she asked, irritated.

"I'm not in the mood for phone sex."

Addie was offended. "That's not why I called."

Brienne sighed into the receiver. "Why did you call?"

"I – I just fell so bad about what happened," Addie began what would have been a long, self-loathing rant about how it was her fault that the Diks Diks were expelled from the interclass tournament.

Brienne cut her off. "You don't have to keep apologizing. It wasn't your fault. I didn't have to follow into the bathroom."

"But..."

"No buts. It's just a stupid tournament." Besides, Lorraine had approached her about a re-match of the opening game since such a match up would have been inevitable. That brought her to Lorraine's brother who had pulled Addie aside after assembly to talk.

"What did Kieran say to you?" Brienne didn't mean to sound possessive but Addie still hadn't told her what they were to each other.

"He told me to be wary of you," Addie replied.

Brienne grunted.

"He said," Addie continued, "That he doesn't want to see what happened with his sister happen to me."

Brienne tensed, walking ahead. "He's right, you should be wary of me."

"You don't have to tell me what happened between you and Lorraine but you should know that I'm not the kind of friend that can be easily put aside." She said it a little too forcefully and Brienne was a little taken back.

"So, just friends then?" she quipped to diffuse the tension.

Addie groaned. "You said you wouldn't pressure me."

"I know," Brienne said quickly.

"If you force me to make a decision, you might not like it," Addie continued earnestly.

"I know, I know" Brienne repeated.

"It's just that I've hurt before...by girls," Addie said carefully. "And Kieran seems to think that you will hurt me."

"Addie, I can't if I'll hurt you or not. At least, I don't intend on hurting you. Who's to say how we'll end up? I just know that I want you...and I think you want me, too." She paused to wait for an answer.

"I do," Addie whispered.

Brienne smiled. "Then the rest is just exposition."

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