Thin As Water

21.

Of all the stupid things to misplace. 

Lil grumbled as she rifled through another cabinet. Her reorganizing earlier had served its purpose in calming her down, but now she was backed into a corner. There wasn't a single pen to be found. Not even a pencil.

With a long sigh, Lil abandoned her search and left the room, locking the door on the way out. Guess I'll just fill this out in my room. She glanced at the form in her hand. To the unwitting onlooker, Lil was calm, almost too calm. However, her mind was in quite a jumble.

Had she been justified in using the cane? The headmistress would have, no doubt. And it wasn't as though she had overstepped in severity either. The strokes would have stung, and there would be some marks, but the pain would fade overnight. She'd used a light cane, and there was nothing that would bruise. So it's ok then. Lil shook her head. Tina's warning was still ringing in her ears. What does she think she can do?

Lil did her best to push off her paranoia as she opened the door to her dorm room.

"Hey Lil, is everything ok?"

"Yeah, why?" Lil looked over at Daisy.

"You said you had to deal with Tina after class, but you've been gone for ages."

Lil glanced at the clock. "It's only 3:50."

"Only? What did you do to her that took 50 minutes?"

Lil smiled tightly. "I couldn't find her until 3:30."

Daisy raised an eyebrow. "She didn't show?"

"She thought she could get out of it by trying out for cheerleading."

Daisy shook her head. "Some people." She noticed the piece of paper in Lil's hand. "What do you have?"

"The form, I couldn't find a pen in there."

Lil sat at her desk and began writing. Daisy came and looked over her shoulder.

"Hey! Student privacy." Lil laughed as she covered the form with her arm.

"Did that say cane? You caned her?" Daisy stared at Lil.

Lil grew more serious. "Yes."

Daisy shivered. "Glad to not be her."

Lil was about to respond when her pager beeped. She picked it up and glanced at it, then frowned in confusion.

"What is it?" Daisy asked curiously.

"It's...you."

"Me?"

"Yes. Please have Daisy VanderArt report to the office immediately." Lil glanced at her friend. "Why?"

Daisy shrugged. "No idea. I haven't done anything, I swear!"

Lil smiled. "I know. Here, give me a moment and I'll walk down with you." She quickly finished the form and the two girls walked down the hall together.

"Do you know anything about this, Lil?"

Lil shook her head. "Your guess is as good as mine. Your father wants to talk to you, maybe?"

"I doubt he'd summon me to the office just to talk to me, but it's possible, I guess."

"Well, I'm right there with you, no matter what it is."

Daisy smiled softly. "Thanks, Lil."

The secretary glanced up as the girls walked in. "Ms. VanderArt, go ahead and head in there. You may as well go with, Ms. VanGrayson."

Lil nodded and walked over to the door, motioning for a nervous Daisy to follow. However, as the door swung open, Lil stepped back in surprise.

Christina!

AN: I know it's short, but dramatic tension is fun, isn't it?

Please leave a comment!