In Trouble Again

Not right now, though.

"First you're late," a hissed voice comes from behind me, "And then next you don't even do Kim the courtesy of paying attention while he's talking. And after he made sure that you didn't get in trouble. I mean he's the only reason you're not getting written up and you're just ignoring him and chatting with your gal pal. You are quite the number, Emily."

We've stopped at another nameless and inconsequential landmark and I jump and then turn slowly when she starts talking behind me. girl-Kim is behind me looking pissed and I have to wonder what I did to make her hate me this much, because clearly she despises me.

Rachel turns slower than I do and on top of that she looks like she's ready to tear girl-Kim a new asshole for her troubles and hey, maybe she deserves it. Scratch that she absolutely does deserve it and I would love to see it, but I know that if the goal here is helping people out then letting Rachel do what she is entirely justified to do doesn't help me or her or anyone at all.

Snatching Rachel's hand in mine I squeeze, hard. Hard enough to maybe even hurt but definitely enough to get my message across: Don't.

"You're right," I try for disarming submission because frankly nothing else seems to work with her, "I'm sorry Kim. I'll do better. We'll pay attention. Right, Rachel?"

Through gritted teeth and with possibly the fakest smile I've ever seen, Rachel replies, "Of course. We promise to be good."

"Nice try," girl-Kim smiles at me, not even giving Rachel the time of day, "But there is that whole 'fool me twice' thing and I'm not going to-"

"Everything okay, Kim?" a clearly annoyed voice calls out from the front of the group.

"Yep, Kim!" girl-Kim responds in a chipper and cheerful tone, "Just having a quick chat with the girls here."

His eyes focused with disbelief, but clearly as far as he was concerned provided we were all being quiet he didn't give a damn. And I did want to note that Rachel and I chatting was disturbing him far less than once girl-Kim decided to intervene on his behalf but she had been at least partly mollified so I wasn't about to tempt fate.

"Separate," she says, quieter than ever before and just to the two of us, "The two of you. At least until lunch break, you're not to walk together. I don't want you together. You can't be trusted."

First girl-Kim turns to Rachel, fixing her with a withering glare and giving her instructions.

"You're up front. Right up front. I want you laughing along to his dumb jokes and asking questions or I'll see to it you get written up for something. Play like he's got a captive audience and keep him invested. You're responsible for this going off without a hitch, as far as I'm concerned. Make up for the boredom of everyone else."

"But-" Rachel protests, but girl-Kim doesn't let her.

"I don't want to hear it," she snarls, "We're moving. March."

Rachel scurries off and, unfortunately, girl-Kim turns her attention over to me.

"You don't want me building up his ego too?"

"No I want you where I can keep my eyes on you," she gestures, the two of us lagging behind a little as the group pulls away, "You're at the back with me. As far away from your gal pal as you can manage and somewhere I can be sure that you're not going to cause trouble. And I've got someone else whose ego I think you can help fix."

"Of course," I say, but when the group pulls ahead and we fall into line at the back I realize what she has in mind and I don't want any part of it.

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