Thin As Water

17.

TW: Allusion to child abuse, and angst in general. I kinda just let the characters run and dark James showed up. Sorry.

"Hey Hazel." Daisy grinned at her friend as she swung open the door. Noticing the look on Hazel's face, she frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Daisy rolled her eyes. "Sure. What is it?"

"Lilian stopped by earlier."

Daisy raised an eyebrow. "Did she tell you what happened?"

Hazel nodded seriously. "Yeah. She did."

Daisy sat on the edge of Hazel's bed. "What'd she say? She didn't tell me anything."

"She said Tina was trying to make her mad. She told her that you'd pick Tate over her."

"I would never do that! I'm not picking!" Daisy huffed.

"I know that, Dai. And so does Lil, but I could tell it upset her."

"This is my fault. I should never have worked with Tate in english." Daisy dropped her head in her hand and looked glumly out the window.

"It isn't your fault. Lil's jealous."

Daisy looked at Hazel with surprise. "She said she's not. I asked."

"And Lil says she's fine, and Lil says she's not hiding anything. We both know that's not true, Daisy."

"So what am I supposed to do, just drop Tatum? That's-" Daisy cut herself off, staring at the ground.

That's something we call a double standard, Lil.

Hazel put an arm around her friend. "She was being irrational when she did that. She won't hurt you again, that's something I know."

Daisy nodded slowly. "What do I do?"

"Be yourself. Be friends with who you want."

"I meant about Lil. Something's hurting her. I want to know what it is."

Hazel sighed. "You can't help everyone, Dai."

"I want to."

Hazel laughed. "I know. You're amazing."

Daisy smiled. "You too."

Hazel's smile slowly faded. "If Lil truly isn't jealous..."

"What?"

"Nothing." Hazel forced the smile back. "You should head back now, it's almost dinner."

Daisy looked suspiciously at her friend, then nodded. "Ok." She pulled Hazel into a quick hug and then left.

"That was interesting." Raven noted as she walked out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her long hair.

"How much did you hear?" Hazel raised an eyebrow.

"Enough to be very curious. Are you going to finish your statement?"

"What?"

"If Lil truly isn't jealous, then what?"

Hazel sighed and looked at Raven, her eyes bright with emotion.

"Oh."

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

Lil was wandering down the hall when she was suddenly grabbed by her collar and pulled into a room. "Ow! Hey!"

"Who did you tell?" James hissed, only a few inches from her face. 

"No one! Let me go!"

"Are you absolutely certain, young lady?" James squeezed her shoulders tighter and Lil winced.

"Yes! I promise!"

James let out a breath and let go. Lil stumbled backwards.

"Did something happen?"

"I've a letter from Dad."

Lil's eyes sparkled. "You do? May I see it?"

"He enclosed one for you." James handed a folded sheet of paper to Lil.

November 8,
My dear Lily,
How are you? I hope you are doing well and that you have not had any problems so far with your head girl duties. I know you are doing an excellent job, I always knew you would. Things have not been very interesting so far in my deployment, there's no active danger so we're simply taking turns in watchtowers and occasionally patrolling the city. I have some good news. I may be able to return home somewhat sooner than expected. No plans are certain yet, but I know I will be home by the 20th of December at very latest. I can't wait to see you for Christmas, my Tigerlily.

Love and hugs,
Dad

Lil smiled and refolded the letter.

"Did he mention to you his plans to come home early?" James raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. Is that a problem?"

"He sent the letters direct to school. He usually sends them home."

"So?"

"So," James glared, "that means he probably didn't send one to mother, which means that he doesn't want her to know that he may come early, which means he suspects something."

"Or," Lil countered, "he wants to surprise her."

"Mother hates surprises." 

"And Dad loves them. This isn't a big deal, Jamie."

James scowled. "You don't know what is and isn't a big deal, Lilian. If Dad finds out, it's bad news."

Lil frowned. "Why is that such a terrible thing? He'd get us away from her."

James suddenly moved forward, pushing Lil up against the wall. "Don't you dare say things like that. I'll whip you myself if I hear something like that again."

"Jamie." Lil whispered, trying to make herself smaller.

James raised a hand, and Lil flinched away. Her brother's green eyes glimmered with anger for a moment, then he lowered his hand and turned his back.

"Blood is thicker than water, Lilian. You would do well to remember that."

James swept out of the dark room. Lil let herself slide down the wall, wrapping her arms around her knees to try to control her shaking.

Blood is thicker than water.

AN: Sorry for the long break, it took a bit to get readjusted to university. I've got a pretty good idea of how the rest of the book is going to shape up, so I hope to finish it before the end of the year. 

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