After Phoebe is gone, you have no time to do anything but run down to dinner. When you get there, is waiting for you with a smile.
"Hey, ," she says. "Glad you made it. How was inspection?"
"Got a few demerits," you say. "Nothing major."
She sighs with relief. "That's good. I heard one of the boys was caught with some porn magazines, and Miss Stoller's got him scouring the pots and pans for the next month. Personally, I think Phoebe tipped her off. What a bitch."
You consider 's words as you take your place in line. Phoebe helped you out, sure, but what if she's trying to set you up for a bigger fall? You really have no way of knowing whether she's sincere about her attraction to you, it might all be a trap. She was, after all, Miss Stoller's little helper - maybe she hates the boys just as much.
The one person you can trust implicitly is , but of course she has her own problems with Phoebe. Still, she's the best source of information you have. "Listen, ," you say as the two of you sit down. "There's something I need to ask you about, but not in such a public place. Can you meet me somehow after dinner?"
thinks for a moment. "Well, Miss Stoller will probably confine all the boys to their rooms right after dinner. Don't worry, she won't be able to do it all the time, but she'll find some excuse to do it the first night. So we need a legitimate reason for you to leave your room."
"Well, I'll need a shower eventually."
"She'll lead you in like cattle and count you on the way out. We've got to distract her somehow... Wait! I've got it. She'll already be distracted making sure you all get back to your rooms. All I need to do is sneak into your room while she's busy. She might do a search of the room, but I know where I can hide. I'll talk to you then."
* * * * *
's predictions are right on the money. Miss Stoller does indeed herd all the boys into the shower at the same time, and then counts you on the way back out, ensuring that each of you goes alone to your rooms to "finish cleaning up". Apparently, she managed to find a way to assign demerits to everyone.
Back in your room, Miss Stoller checks the closet, under the bed, and up in the rafters (fortunately, you hid the porn stash inside your mattress just before dinner) and rifles through your desk drawers before giving up and leaving you alone. You wonder whether 's been held up somehow.
"Psst!"
You look around, but can't tell where the noise is coming from.
"Psst! ! Out here!"
The voice is coming from the window. You slide it open and peek outside, to find out on the ledge!
"Holy shit!" you exclaim quietly, helping her inside. ", that's a fifty foot drop out there! What the hell are you doing?"
"Relax," she says. "The ledges are wide enough, and we use them all the time to pass between rooms. Miss Stoller's never thought of checking them - she's afraid of heights. Now, what is it you want to talk to me about?"
You sit down and explain the note from Phoebe, the upcoming secret meeting, and even mention how Phoebe helped you out during the inspection. frowns a bit, but lets you finish.
"Okay, first of all, Phoebe's a backstabbing bitch and I wouldn't trust her if she swore she was lying," says. "But she's right about one thing. That basement is frequently used as a gathering place after hours. The faculty doesn't know about it and even Phoebe wouldn't spill the beans, there are too many people who stand to get expelled if it's found and she wouldn't risk that. My guess is that she's probably looking to turn the place into a private co-ed party room for her and her friends.
"The problem is, if you don't show up tonight, she has dirt on you she can give to Miss Stoller. If I were you, I wouldn't hide your stuff where she suggested. Find some other way to do it. Now, we're going to have to come up with some excuse why you can't make it tonight, and then..."
"Whoa," you say. "When did I say I wasn't going?"
looks at you with wide eyes. "You actually want to go?" she says incredulously. "With that stuck-up, conceited, nasty little conniving slut?"
You shrug.
"It's because she's letting you into her pants, isn't it?" asks. "She set off your hormones and now you're not thinking straight."
"Now, hold on..."
"I'm not naive, you know. I know that she's pretty, and sexy, and has a great body, and everything. But the stuff I could tell you about her..."
"All the more reason to stay on her good side until I learn the ropes around here," you insist.
shakes her head. "I still get the idea that you're thinking with your glands." |