A search and an interrogation

"Dean Hawkfeather has acquainted me with this morning's events," Diana says. "How are you feeling Chanel?"

"Much better now Headmistress," the pretty girl answers, her sad face looking up. "Nurse Wulf gave me something to help me calm down and told me to rest."

"I understand your teddy bear was destroyed. I'm sorry to hear it."

Chanel's chin trembles and for a moment you think she's about to burst into tears. Rose squeezes her shoulder and Chanel gives a little shudder and partially composes herself. "Jo-Jo. He was all torn up. I've had him since I was little. I don't understand why anyone would be so mean."

"It was a vicious prank," Rose says angrily. "I wish I knew who did it."

"So do I," Ms. Naylor says. "Where is the bear and the broken bottle now?"

"Tiana cleaned it up. You'd have to ask her what she did with it," Rose answers. "She wanted to protect Chanel from seeing it again." She gives her friend a hug around the shoulders.

"So let's talk about last night," Ms. Naylor says quietly, looking steadily at the two girls. Chanel blushes and looks down, while Rose meets the headmistresses gaze.

"I told Dean Hawkfeather the truth. We snuck out and were drinking. I made up the stuff about Chanel having a nightmare so we didn't get into trouble."

"Is that your story too, Chanel?"

"Yes Headmistress. I guess I had more to drink than I should have. I'm kind of hazy about everything."

"You didn't smell like alcohol. And I've go to say you didn't appear drunk."

"I don't know. I just know I hardly remember what happened. And I had a terrible hangover this morning."

"It seems odd that this vandalism of your bear is so similar to what you were saying in the middle of the night."

"Maybe one of the girls that heard Chanel screaming decided to use the idea for their prank," Rose says with a shrug. Ms. Naylor looks at her solemnly, saying nothing until Rose looks away and hugs Chanel's shoulder again.

"Let's move on to the alcohol Dean Hawkfeather confiscated. Where did that come from?"

"I got it," Chanel murmurs, not looking up. "I brought it when I came to school."

"Do you have more?"

"No Headmistress. We drank most of it and Dean Hawkfeather confiscated all that was left."

"You're aware that there are penalties for drunkenness, and for having contraband material in your possession."

"I'd argue that...." Rose begins, but Diana cuts her off.

"Dean Hawkfeather has told me your objections to being punished for drunkenness. I'm not entirely convinced, but the question of contraband is indisputable."

"I want to take the punishment for both of us," Rose says. "Poor Chanel has suffered so much and I want to protect her. I'll take her punishment as well as my own."

"Very considerate of you Miss Newton. But we haven't reached that point yet. I want to be sure that there's nothing else I need to know. We're going to search this room."

"Right now?" Chanel looks up, her eyes wide and anxious.

"Yes Miss Vallon. Right now. If you and Miss Newton will take seats over there, you can watch." She gestures to two chairs and nods to you. "Dean, if you will search Miss Vallon's side of the room, I'll take Miss Newton's."

Rose opens her mouth as if to protest, then shuts it, and holding Chanel with an arm around her shoulders, leads her to a chair. Chalon seems numb, staring blankly at you as you step to her side of the room.

You lift Chanel's mattress, looking under it and seeing nothing, then under her bed and finding nothing more. You open her drawers and look through her clothes, finding nothing you wouldn't expect in the top three drawers. The bottom is full of lingerie, lacy and pretty and erotic. You lift a scarlet corset trimmed with black lace out of the drawer, holding it up and glancing at the blushing girl. You shrug and carefully put it back, seeing no need to embarrass her further. In the same drawer you find an opened box of condoms. You can't recall any specific restriction against students having condoms, and you already know that many of them are on birth control. You pick the box up and clear your throat, causing Chanel to blush even deeper, and Diana to turn and look.

"Not contraband," she says, shaking her head. "I may not approve, but I'd rather that than have pregnant or infected students." Chanel blushes scarlet as you push the box back in the drawer, and as you shut it you see her looking at you from under her lowered lashes. She bites her lip nervously, and you wonder if she's concerned about what you might find, or just embarrassed about you finding the corset and condoms.

You find nothing else of note and turn your attention to a small bookshelf. She has the textbooks you expect and selection of other books. You pick a few out at random, flicking through the pages and finding nothing in most of them. Thumbing through a paperback book a flimsy slip of paper flips out and spirals to the floor. As you bend to pick it up you hear a sharp gasp and turn to see Rose covering her mouth and casting an angry glance at Chanel, who looks miserable and abashed.

Puzzled, you pick up the slip of paper and find that it contains nothing but a series of seemingly random numbers. You glance at the girls, finding that Rose has recovered her composure, while Chanel continues to look unhappy. You're wondering what is causing the reaction, when there's an angry snort from Diana Naylor.

"How do you explain this Miss Newton?" she asks with a sharp voice, as she opens a tin box to expose several dried buds of marijuana. Rose looks at the angry headmistress steadily although you can see a faint tremor in her.

"It's what it looks like. I brought it when I came. Chanel knew nothing about it."

"And this?" Diana holds up a small plastic Ziploc bag with several pills. Rose bites her lip and looks down for a moment before meeting her gaze.

"It's Ecstasy. I brought that too."

"Do you have a drug problem Miss Newton?"

"No I don't. But I like to party sometimes. And I like sex. And I like how sex feels when I'm on X." Her matter of fact statement brings a flush of colour to Diana's throat and you find yourself raising your eyebrows in surprise. Chanel just sits looking thoroughly miserable, seemingly staring at the book you still hold in your hand.

You look down at it, noting the title 'The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories by H.P. Lovecraft' before putting it back on the shelf, as you watch Diana glaring at Rose who sits calmly, as though awaiting judgement.

"And who are you having sex with here Miss Newton?" Diana asks, glancing at Chanel. Rose shakes her head even as she squeezes her friends shoulder.

"There's a boy at Hamilton. I'm not lesbian if that's what you're thinking. Chanel has nothing to do with this. She brought the vodka coolers, but she doesn't do drugs. She didn't know about this."

"And you're telling me you're not having sex with anyone at Pink Rose?"

Rose makes a grimace of disgust. "I'm not going to fuck gardeners and janitors. And until Dean Hawkfeather and the other teachers arrived, they were the only men on campus. And no, I haven't been with any of them."

"What about boys from town?"

"Are you looking for tips, Headmistress? No. Only with the boy from Hamilton. A couple of boys actually."

You seen Diana's face tighten with anger at Rose's scornful defiance. She presses her lips together as she glares at the student, her eyes dark and furious.

"You will go to Dean Hawkfeather's office immediately Miss Newton. You can prepare yourself to take the punishment coming to you. The Dean and I will join you directly. Miss Vallon, you can remain behind for a moment."

Rose rises, her face pale but stoic. She gives Chanel's shoulder a last squeeze before she leaves the room, walking as if she's going to her execution. Diana waits for her to leave and shut the door before turning her gaze on Chanel.

"Well Miss Vallon, have you anything to add?"

"I'm sorry about making a scene. And for bringing alcohol to school. You can punish me if you want," Chanel says miserably. "I deserve it."

"And the drugs?" Diana asks sternly.

"I didn't know about them. I did X once and it kinda scared me. I don't do that."

"What other girls snuck out with you and Rose?"

"What?" Chanel looks up, startled. "Um...no one. It was just us. No one else." You're convinced she's lying but you stay silent, stepping to Rose's side of the room to keep out of the way. Glancing at Rose's bookshelf you notice the same book you found on Chanel's shelf and shrug at the coincidence, then shake your head as you assume it must be an assigned book for a class they take. You turn your attention back to Diana's questioning.

"Where did you go?"

"Down by the lake. We talked about what we did over the summer, and boys and stuff...and drank. And I guess I drank too much. I'm sorry Headmistress."

Diana stares at Chanel silently until the girl drops her eyes and starts to fidget with her fingers.

"Very well. This matter is suspended for now, but may be reopened later. The nurse wants you to rest. I suggest you lay down and recover. Good afternoon Miss Vallon." Diana gives a little nod towards the door and the two of you leave, shutting the door behind you.

"She's lying about something," you say quietly.

"I know. Let's go deal with Miss Newton. I'm looking forward to this," Diana says with a determined toss of her head.

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