Mildred's POV

So…word's got out about the secret party in the DOBS den, it was a random thing me and the girls decided on last night, invitations are extended to third, fourth, and fifth years only.

The other big drama of course is what happened to Clarice, well…what Sybil had done to Clarice, Fenny and Gris caught her on the corridor sitting, curled up in a ball outside her bedroom door, Fenny said she'd never seen a worse sight, a thin light slash across her neck, finger marks on her wrists and tear – stained eyes, I could scarce believe that the same Sybil Hallow I met all those years ago could be capable of such a monstrous act.

Clarice had outright refused to tell them what Sybil said, but there's not a doubt in my mind that those words should not be repeated, but one thing she did say was not to tell the teachers. It seems these days that Sybil is a lost cause, irredeemable, then again, as vile as her actions might have been since her return, I truly don't believe evil is in this girl heart, she has merely taken the wrong path and lost her way, and with it her moral compass.

"Hey Milly." Enid exclaims as we all meet at the potion lab for our first class of the day, "Excited for the party tonight?"

There's only one obvious answer, "Of course." To which the girls all giggle in agreement, then the bell rings for first period, "I wander if Ethel's going….." I mutter to myself,

"What was that Milly?"Enid asks,

"Oh, nothing." I lie, and twirl the end of one of my braids, I'd been thinking about Ethel a lot lately, and it seems that whenever we're in the same room I can't stop looking at her, and I start to take in every little detail, the way she does her hair, the way she knits her eyebrows when she's concentrating, that cute little self - satisfied smirk she does, wait, did I just say Ethel Hallow was cute? I need to get more sleep.

"Books out, less of the chatter, I am in no mood for your juvenile behaviour today." Miss Hardbroom booms, I'm sitting one row behind Ethel, I want to say something to her, but what do I say?

"You coming to the party tonight? There's going to be drink" And of course, by drink, I mean booze, and lots of it.

"Yes, I suppose so." She replies quietly.

"Umm….how's Sybil doing?" I whisper, trying not to get the both of us into trouble.

"You'd have to ask her that." Her voice is like ice, cold and distant, and it made Mildred shiver.

"I'm really glad you're coming to this party." Oops, did I say that out loud?

"Um…good to know." Says a confused Ethel, this party would surely loosen her up after all she's been through lately, I used to think Ethel was so one- dimensional, a typical bully, nothing more, but lately, to my horror, I've begun to….see her differently, I'd begun to find that her teasing and her threats give me this funny feeling, a…a flustered feeling. When she gets all up in my face and starts trying to wind me up, I get an incredibly intense burning feeling down south, and Ethel Hallow of all people should not be the one to make me feel this way.

"I should think you will find today's lesson interesting girls, today, we will be making a truth potion, and then testing it on each other." Mildred saw the slightest grin flash across Miss Hardbroom's face, Mildred wanted to say to her, "Want to know all our little secrets eh, you sneaky little bitch?" but refrained, fearing they'd kick her out on the spot just for that, "Mildred, for today's lesson you will work with Ethel since neither of you have a partner." Ethel and I look at each other, giving each other a 'is she on drugs?' look, of course, the idea of Miss Hardbroom on drugs is absurd. I guess I'll be the one to move seats, since Ethel doesn't look like she's going anywhere anytime soon, I tell her she could at least have the decency to move her shift her seat so I can sit down, earning me the famous Ethel Hallow sneer.

"I take it you have no idea what we're doing." Ethel says, clearly taking down to me, I've become so used to it that I can't tell if that is her actual tone of voice, "I also take it that I'll be doing all the work this lesson aswell."

If she wants to be sarky about this, then game on, "The way you're carrying on yes." Ethel's lips spread into a grin, she's never taken me seriously, nor is she in a hurry to, "Look, HB put us together, her choice, not mine." Oh please, you would've spent the entire lesson staring at her anyway, Oh, God, shut up conscience.

"And in the midst of all your talking, Mildred, I've actually finished the potion." There it is, that smirk that makes me go weak at the knees, wait a minute? What the actual hell Mildred?! If I didn't know any better, and, as your conscience, I know you better than anyone, then I'd say you're starting to li-, I try to push the thought out of my mind, "Care to try? Can you do that without messing up?"

"Funnily enough, even a total klutz like me finds drinking a glass of liquid relatively easy." Woah, I don't know where that just came from, maybe I've been hanging around Enid too much, or picked up on Ethel's way with words? Once again I ignore the inappropriate suggestions of my conscience, how is it inappropriate Mildred? You like her, end of story. Have done for months, years maybe, just because you can't admit it does not mean it's inappropriate. Am I seriously having an argument with my conscience? Over Ethel Hallow no less. I take a sip of the blue liquid and feel it tingle down my throat, when does it take effect? Can Ethel ask me whatever she likes? Ethel also drinks the potion and squints her eyes because of the bitter aftertaste.

"Ok, me first." Ethel's got that smirk on her face, it's like she's saying, 'I'm going to find out all of your dirty secrets and blackmail the fuck out of you' only making me more reluctant to tell all, "Have you got any dirty secrets that you don't want anybody to find out about?"

"Yes." I gasp once I realise how big of a hole I've just dug for myself, and Ethel's got the spare shovel to lend a hand, "My turn." I don't want Ethel asking any more questions than she needs to, "What's your biggest fear?" Maybe that was too much too soon.

"Not knowing if Sybil is ever going to be the same again." Ok, I shouldn't have asked that, I shouldn't have asked her that, knowing that she couldn't lie.

"I shouldn't have said that, I'm sorry." Nice one Hubble, you've done it again, put your foot in your mouth, think before you speak! Ethel says nothing, she probably wants to pretend she never said that, someone like Ethel hates being made to feel and look weak, and that's exactly what I've done.

"Forget about it Mildred." Surprisingly, there is nothing in the tone of her voice that suggests she was being harsh, she almost sounded…..calm, I was expecting Ethel to read the riot act, but there she sits, calm as ever, with a sort of…exhausted look, I just want to take her in my arms and hold her. "Anyway." She says, now sounding perky in a rather devilish way that only she can, "Moving swiftly on, do you fancy anyone?"

"Yes." Shit, I've done it again, "And please don't ask me who it is, I'm begging you." I'd never live it down if Ethel knew that…Oh, just fucking admit it, you fancy her, Ok fine, that I fancy her, Ethel chuckles, and it's low and raspy,Christ, she's killing me.

"Fair enough Hubble." And at just that moment the bell goes, I guess time goes by when you're having fun. Not to mention the party's tonight, and if everyone's getting pissed, expect secrets to be spilled.

AN: This was a bit of a weird chapter, very little mention of Sybil. I thought I'd bring in this whole Mildred/Ethel dynamic, because, I'll be honest, I ship Ethel/Mildred ngl, so I wanted to bring in this whole Ethel/ Mildred 'will they won't they' relationship. Next Chapter is Maud's POV, and after that, A HB POV, and *Spoiler for next chapter* Someone makes a shocking discovery in Sybil's room. Review and tell me what you think and tell me whose POV you'd like to see after HB.

Immortalgothgirl

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