In the Woods When First We Met

88. Distraction

On Wednesday when lunch time came, the younger student's teacher came to the door and asked for Diana. When Diana came back, she explained to the girls, "He says Minnie May's got a bad fever and so I have to walk her home. I'll be back before lunch is over."

She got up to go. Anne watched her nervously. She was sitting with the group again, but her membership in the group was still on shaky ground, and Diana was sort of her link to the group- she didn't want Diana to leave her.

But Diana said, "Anne, why don't you come with me? We can talk on the way."

Anne, with relief, got up quickly and joined her. They went to the cloakroom for their coats and hats and then went to the other room to collect Minnie May.

Gilbert watched her, not knowing where she was going, but he didn't have any worries seeing her leave- she wasn't alone, and Billy wouldn't want Diana to know what he'd done.

Billy was watching them leave, too, though- and he'd be watching for their return.

"Why did you bring your slate with you?" Diana asked as they started walking.

"No reason," Anne said. She clutched the slate tighter as they entered the woods. She didn't really think that anything would happen to her while she wasn't alone- there was safety in numbers, she thought- but why risk it. It was lunch time so Billy would be free to roam if he so chose, and she didn't know if Diana and Minnie May would be terribly effective fighters if it came to that. Gilbert had told her she could defend herself with that slate...he had personal experience in how hard she could hit with it.

When they approached the school again, this time without Minnie May, Billy wondered if there was a way for him to get her separated from Diana.

He didn't have to wait long.

Diana said, "I'm going to go and check to see if Minnie May's other mitten is still in their room. I can't believe she didn't notice she only had one." She rolled her eyes. "You go on back in, you don't want to have to face those little monsters again. I'll only be a moment- oh, and I ought to have checked with the teacher to make sure there isn't any work she'll need to make up." Without waiting for Anne, she went in.

Anne was about to follow her anyway, but then decided she'd use the privy while Diana was busy.

On her way back from it, Billy startled her and her slate flew out of her hands. He quickly reached down and picked it up. She stopped short, her breath hitching. The only thing she had to protect herself against him was now in his hands.

"Anne," he said. She hated his voice.

What, no Fido? She thought.

"Don't come near me," she said quickly.

"Please," he said. "I just want to ask you something."

"I don't care what you want, leave me alone!"

Anne began to back away from him, but almost slipped on the snow and stumbled.

As she nearly fell over, Billy reached toward her, but she recoiled from his arms, saying sharply, "Don't touch me," as she tried to get her balance back.

He pulled away quickly.

He held her slate out to her. She needed the slate- it was all she had to protect herself- and here he was, offering it back, but she could not make herself put her arm out to him, remembering the way he had grabbed her arm and caused the sprain that day. So she stayed where she was.