Crackerjack II

Chpt. 12: Under Suspicion

Kristen wrung her hands as Lorrie walked ahead. She'd never been good at acting innocent, even when she was. 

"Relax, Kristen." Lorrie rubbed her arm. "They just need to know what happened in there. You're the only one that can tell them, that's all."

Kristen could barely summon a smile. It's not like she was guilty of actually burning down the building. Just her dragon. The one she'd bonded with. It was all him. Not her. 

Why was she so nervous?

She blew out a breath and wiped her hands on her skirt. That was how nervous she was: she'd let Lorrie talk her into wearing a skirt. She fiddled with it as she followed the doctor into a giant building. 

She was left in the hallway as Laron went to tell them she'd arrived. Kristen leaned against the wall and tried to slow her heart. She closed her eyes. There was nothing she did that was against the—

Oh, wait. 

She'd definitely broken rules. First, she was in the stables, where she wasn't supposed to be. Then, she'd run into a burning building for no explainable reason. Of course, there was the little pickle about how she didn't die of smoke inhalation or escaped without a single burn. Finally, there was the dragon. 

"Little stressed?"

Kristen startled. Java was shuffling across the marble with a smile. She swallowed and desperately tried to stop her racing heart from giving the wrong impression.

He waved. "That's alright. It's what happens every time a recruit sees me." He grinned youthfully. "It's like I hold power, or something."

Kristen laughed despite herself. "I'm sorry. I'm just...nervous."

Java sighed as he sat on a bench across from her. "We know you didn't start the fire. So don't think we're here to interrogate you. We're just wondering what happened. Every little bit helps."

Kristen smiled awkwardly and stared at the floor. It was a very interesting floor. Honest. Very...white.

"I heard you were out of commission for a time."

Kristen raised her eyebrows. That was one way of putting it. "Yessir. Lorrie doesn't know exactly what happened. But it went away."

"Yes, the body has an incredible way of fixing itself, given the right circumstances."

She nodded and returned to the floor. It was really amazing with the...dirt...and stuff. Look at that! It was white...marble. Interesting.

"If you're worried about your dragon, there is no need."

She looked up.

"He is with a good friend of mine. She'll look after him."

Kristen offered a genuine smile. "Thanks, uh, sir. I haven't been able t' see him."

Java laughed. "Well, you have been rather out of it." He slapped his knees and pushed off the bench. 

"Just remember that you're the one helping us." He patted her shoulder. "I'll be in there keeping things civil. Don't worry."

Kristen nodded, feeling a little better. The knowledge that her dragon wasn't being blamed eased the tenseness.

Inside, Kristen licked her lips again, running her hands up and down her thighs. She would feel so much more comfortable in pants, right now.

"Why did you run into a burning building?"

Oh, they weren't gonna ease her into this. Okay. She could do this. Deep breaths. Think this through. What was a truth she could give without giving the real reason?