Thin As Water

7.

Lil closed the door behind Madi and turned to her younger friend. "I'd ask you to sit down, but I have a feeling that you'd rather not."

Skie gave a sheepish grin. "Yeah, I'll stand for now."

Lil smiled back. "Fair enough." She pulled out a bar stool and sat down at the counter, and Skie casually leaned against it on her elbows. Lil suddenly remembered something.

"Earlier, you mentioned last year."

Skie shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "Yeah, it just made me think of it a bit."

"Hazel felt quite badly about that, I think. She never spoke of it beyond the fact that she used the cane, and the only reason I know is because it came up in head girl training."

Skie nodded. "She did feel bad, but it's ok. I mean, it wasn't her fault, and she was acting under orders anyway, so..." She trailed off.

Lil cleared her throat. "Did she, uh, hurt you?"

Skie shook her head rapidly. "No...no. Not, it wasn't like that."

Lil nodded. "Good."

"I mean, like, I wasn't traumatized or anything and I was fine in a few days, it's just cause Raven kinda had to hold me down a bit."

"Ah right. Witness rule."

"Yeah."

An awkward silence descended over the two girls. Lil took a deep breath and let it out slowly. 

"So why did you want to see me?"

Lil snapped back to the present. "Right. Hazel mentioned to me that she mentioned to you the possibility of being head girl next year."

"Yeah, she did mention that."

"What do you think?"

Skie tilted her head. "What I think is that it's crazy that you would suggest Head Girl to a girl who stole $150 last year and got suspended and caned for it."

"Hazel caned me once."

Skie stared at Lilian. "What?! Why?"

Lil looked up at the ceiling in recollection. "Daisy and I got in a fight about something stupid. It was a really bad fight, one of our friends got hit in the crossfire and got a bloody nose. In the end, Hazel and my brother had to pull us apart. Hazel was furious, I've never heard her lecture that long before and I did some pretty stupid things first year, like the creek incident."

"Creek incident?"

"I got everyone to go out to the creek in the woods behind the school. Daisy slipped and twisted her ankle. Hazel and I got in a screaming match, I honestly should've gotten the cane for that too. And when I got home-" 

Lil cut herself off. Skie was looking at her curiously, but Lil realized that now was the time to stop.

"So as you see, I'm certainly not perfect. And I know that Hazel got in her share of trouble as well. But I think if you stay out of trouble this year, well, as much as possible, you have a pretty good chance, especially if Hazel and I both give our recommendations."

Skie nodded slowly. "You really think that I'd be good at it?"

"I do. You've changed a lot since last year."

Skie rolled her eyes. "You just paddled me for something that I got in trouble for four times last year. Emphasis on "got in trouble for" because Hazel let a lot slide."

Lil laughed. "Well, there's always room to improve oneself, is there not?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daisy VanderArt prided herself on noticing things. She could be a bit of a wallflower, and that was exactly how she liked it. And she certainly had noticed the way Lilian had been acting the last few days. 

But what was going on? Lil was much snappier than normal, not in a mean way, but in a "cross me and you'll regret it" way. Daisy wasn't quite sure why, but she had her guesses.

"Hazel, I'm worried."

Hazel sighed. "Who isn't? I told you, I don't know anything about what's going on with her. Until we hear something straight from her or get some evidence, there's nothing that we can do. You know her mom is strict, but so is your father."

"I'm not afraid of my father."

Hazel looked at her friend. "Look, Daisy. I've tried getting Lil to open up for two years. She doesn't. If you can figure out a way, go for it."

"I was hoping you'd have some advice." 

Hazel stood up. "She's wearing a mask. Just like everyone. I have to go, see you soon."

Daisy stared blankly at the door as Hazel left. She had her suspicions about Hazel as well, but she could really only focus on one person at a time.

Now to find a way.

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