Thin As Water

15.

"Come here Ms. Larson. Leave your lines on the front desk."

Lil watched as Tina stood up slowly, picking up 2 sheets of paper that were covered with neat writing. Lil glanced at the top paper and nodded slightly as she saw I will not engage in playing pranks, especially if they could be considered dangerous covering the page.

Tina and Lil entered the side room, but rather than sitting down, Tina locked eyes with Lil. The two stood face to face, neither wavering, both hardly daring to breathe. Lil finally broke the silence.

"Well?"

"Well what?" Tina spoke in a low quiet voice, not quite sullen, but close.

"Do you have anything to say?" Lil spoke slightly louder than Tina.

Tina straightened her shoulders. "No."

"Why did you get involved?"

"Because you threatened me."

Lil's voice grew colder. "That was no threat. That was a warning that you didn't take seriously."

"Whatever." Tina stared down at the ground.

"Do you admit you went about things the wrong way?"

"Just stop it! Ok Lilian? Stop it?" Tina suddenly burst out.

"What?" Lil took a step back.

"This whole time, you've been trying to be Hazel. News flash Lil, you aren't her. Her, I respected. You? You're the little girl who made me faint by giving Grace a nosebleed. You're the girl who dragged us all outside and out of bounds and got us in trouble and nearly got Daisy killed. You're no head girl."

Lil felt a rush of anger again. It was that same rush she'd felt with Alissa; a thirst to prove herself. An itch to force this girl to bend over for the cane. To make her beg for forgiveness. But, as with Alissa, she stopped herself. I can't abuse my power. Not again.

"Christina, are you truly still upset about those things? They were two years ago and I've done my best to make up for it."

Tina let out a breath. "Yeah, it's whatever."

Lil nodded.

"But the thing is, you think we're friends or something."

"Christina. I can accept if you don't want to be friends, but that doesn't mean we have to be enemies, does it?" Lil tilted her head and looked into Tina's eyes.

"It's not like that Lil. Katherine is my cousin. Alissa and Alivia and all of them, they're all friends. It's my chance at real, close friends."

"We were your friends." 

Tina shook her head. "You guys were fine, but we're nearly in high school now.  You're going your own way, and I'm going a different way."

"And Lia? Grace? Daisy?"

"Lia is doing her own thing. Grace? She's on my side."

"There are no sides." Lil put in.

"There are. As for Daisy, well." Tina paused and a smile grew on her face.

"What about Daisy?" Lil raised an eyebrow.

"Oh come on Lilian, you've seen her. She's spending time around Tatum Morris."

"So?"

Tina smirked. "Come on. You don't like Tatum. She's edgy and she's into girls."

Lil shrugged. "And if she is? What does that have to do with Daisy?"