Find the others

“Come on,” you say, grabbing Roxy and dragging her out of the office at a run.

You head for the library, Roxy hurrying to keep up with you. You don’t see anyone in the big hallway, so you look out the window at the courtyard below. There! You see Karen and Kris, and they look like they’re in a hurry. Did they find her?

You rush down the steps and burst out into the cold. They heard you coming and stop to look back.

Kris beckons frantically. You sprint to her, and Roxy arrives behind you, wheezing.

“We found her,” Karen says.

“Where?” you demand.

“She’s heading back to the street,” she replies, pointing. “Come see.”

The four of you tiptoe to the end of the walkway and peer around the corner of the building.

There she is! Lisey is in the phone booth at the intersection.

“I wonder,” Kris begins, but you rush out and dash forward.

Lisey shrieks and drops the phone when you slap your hand on the glass of the phone booth. She whirls, eyes wide.

“Open up,” you snap.

Lisey’s face hardens, but she opens the door.

“What the hell is this?” she asks, watching Karen, Kris, and Roxy catch up. She is visibly upset, and you just got out here, but you’re already freezing. Roxy shivers and moves closer to you, but you stay focused on Lisey.

“Did I out Sissy to you?” you ask bluntly. “Or did I out Professor Austen?”

Someone’s doing some cheating of some kind, and not just with grades.

Lisey doesn’t answer, but you can read her now that you are paying attention.

“Weren’t you just with her for the grades? Why are you jealous that she’s doing it with other girls?”

Lisey scowls and you and stamps her foot, groaning in frustration. “I’m allowed to have feelings,” she snaps. “And privacy!”

“Not when you’re basically a missing person,” you shoot back. “We were worried about you.”

“You’re nosy. That’s what you are,” she says through gritted teeth.

“Maybe,” you reply. “Where’s Sissy right now?”

Lisey’s hands clench. “Probably in Martha’s bed.”

Martha is Professor Austen’s first name.

You nod toward the phone. “I guess Martha’s not picking up the phone.”

“She’s busy,” Lisey says bitterly.

“What are you going to do? Confront her? She’s probably having affairs with a hundred cute girls. How many students does she have?” you ask.

“Professor Austen?” Karen says. She’s catching up. “Oh. She’s attractive. I totally get it,” she says to Lisey.

“Not helpful,” Kris mutters, pinching her.

“I don’t know what I was going to do!” Lisey bursts out.

Wow. You have never seen her like this. She’s always been so playful and uninhibited. You just didn’t… think that she would ever get serious. And about Martha Austen, of all people? A teacher who in your opinion exploited her?

You glance up at Roxy. Well, Lisey wouldn’t be the first CCL girl to do something irrational. You just had sex with a biker chick on a teacher’s desk in the middle of a town where touching other girls that way is illegal. And the biker chick’s boss hates you. So… yeah. Everyone makes mistakes.

“OK,” you say with a sigh. At least Lisey’s safe. But Sissy? You aren’t going to be able to sleep until you check on her. And this situation with Martha Austen? It’s a problem.

You grab Lisey’s arm and pull her out of the booth.

“You aren’t doing anything crazy tonight. We need to make sure that Sissy’s OK.”

“Hey!” Lisey struggles. “You are not my mother. Do whatever the hell you want, but I’m going home. I need some fucking wine. A lot of it.”

You hesitate.

It’s true. You aren’t her mom. And you are not CCL’s leader… yet. You boss people around a lot, but you don’t have the authority to give orders.

Let Lisey go?

Or bring her along?