Chapter 10

Wally glanced at Elizabeth worriedly as he supported her down the street. He was well aware of what these 'outbursts' could do to her, but he didn't like how she was clearly struggling to deal with the physical results. He hoped that the Headmaster did what he had promised and stopped the Prefects from provoking Elizabeth. He was fully prepared to move her to another school if the Prefects continued to harass her, since he knew how dangerous another 'outburst' could be so soon on top of the others. As Elizabeth suddenly stumbled and nearly fell, Wally decided that enough was enough. In a move so quick that it startled her, he scooped her into his arms, shaking his head when she weakly protested and attempted to get down.

"Not a chance, not when you're like this!"

Elizabeth sighed, but didn't attempt to argue. She had seen the look on Wally's face, one that he rarely wore, a steely-eyed mask of determination. She knew she would never win this one. She leaned her head against Wally's shoulder as he continued the walk back home, going over the day's events in her head. She was very relieved that she hadn't been punished for attacking Jeff, and also a little surprised, since the Headmaster seemed to hold the Prefects in very high regard, almost over the teachers.

Elizabeth's head jerked up slightly, as she heard the sound of rapid footsteps coming up behind Wally. She smiled slightly as she smelled who was coming up behind them. Wally looked down at her in surprise, but Elizabeth quietly told him to stop. As he did so, he soon understood the reason for her reaction. Lloyd and Harvey Hunter came to a halt in front of them, both of them looking concerned about her, especially Harvey. Tentatively, he asked:

"What happened? Are you alright?"

Elizabeth smiled at his concern, answering quietly:

"I'll be fine once I've had a rest. This has happened before, so I know it won't last for too long. Although, I have to admit, this was a big one."

As Harvey looked sceptical, Lloyd persisted with his own questioning. He wanted to find out what had caused Elizabeth to end up like this.

"How did this happen? I saw you leaning on the Headmaster when he took you out into the playground at the end of school."

Elizabeth answered him thoughtfully while she tried to come up with another plausible lie. Luckily, this one could safely latch onto one she had already told. It seemed that Wally could tell that she needed to do this one her own, as he didn't attempt to interrupt. Elizabeth squeezed his arm briefly to signify that she could cope by herself.

"I thought that there was someone there. Well, you've seen what happens when I totally lose my temper. What you don't know is what it can do to me if it goes on too long. Jeff was escorting me back to the Headmaster's office and making irritating little comments along the way, which made it difficult to keep my temper. However, when we got to the Headmaster's office, I think he got annoyed that he wasn't getting the reaction he wanted from me and insulted my family. At that point I totally lost it and tried to strangle him."

Harvey grinned suddenly at the end of this, looking delighted, and Elizabeth knew why he was so happy. Lloyd smirked, and said:

"What happened next?"

Elizabeth sighed at this.

"Well, I don't remember what happened next, but the I found myself in the stock cupboard inside the Headmaster's office. Once he let me out and got me sat down, he said that he had to lock me in there until I calmed down, because I wouldn't stop attacking Jeff."

Harvey sniggered at this, while the smirk on Lloyd's face turned into a grin. Lloyd was worried what Jeff would do in retaliation for being subdued by a girl, especially an eight year old, but did not share that worry. It seemed that Elizabeth could handle herself without any assistance, she was more than a match for Jeff. Instead, he switched to an issue that he had been discussing with Harvey recently. Addressing both Wally and Elizabeth, Lloyd asked:

"How would you like to spend the evening at our house tomorrow? We would be glad to have you, and Mum's been dying to meet you, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth smiled shyly and answered:

"I would love to come!"

Wally grinned and added his own contribution.

"If it wouldn't impose. Do you want me to give your mum a ring this evening? So we can sort things out?"

Lloyd nodded.

"Might be a good idea. Anyway, Harvey and I need to get going, we're going to meet the others. Elizabeth, we would ask you to join us, but you don't look in any state to be playing games."

Elizabeth sighed.

"Normally, I would disagree, but I know I'm not up to it. Besides, Mr Fusspot here wouldn't have let me go anyway!"

Wally snorted in amusement, muttering:

"You have that right!"

Harvey waved as he resumed the journey home, in a very good mood thanks to what Elizabeth had done to Jeff. Lloyd smiled slightly and clapped Elizabeth on the shoulder, before following after his brother. He only hoped that Jeff didn't take out his humiliation on Harvey, something that was very likely.

Elizabeth was slightly annoyed that Wally carried her all the way back home, as she felt that she didn't need him to do that. However, since she knew there was no use arguing, she had not voiced her protests, as that would have wasted time and she was eager to get home. Once Wally had put her in her room, however, she was glad that he had stopped her walking.

As soon as he put her on her bed, she tried to get off it, wanting to get her favourite book. However, she only took two steps before her legs buckled, and Wally swiftly caught her, putting her back where she had been before. Feeling very upset, she whispered tearfully:

"I wanna go to bed!"

This made Wally glance at Elizabeth in concern, as she was never that eager to go to bed: it usually took several hints, and occasional bribery until she did so. Clutching her hands, he said gently:

"I know you do, but you need to eat something first. You're skinny enough as it is! Once you've eaten, and you finish in the bathroom, you can go to bed then. How about some soup?"

Sniffling, Elizabeth nodded at this, wiping her nose with her hand. Wally rolled his eyes and helped Elizabeth to change into her pyjamas, settling her under the covers with a tissue box next to her bed. Seeing that she was still upset, he pulled her into his arms, gently stroking her hair as she suddenly clutched at him and buried her face in his woollen jumper, bursting into tears. Waiting until her crying had subsided enough for her to talk to him, Wally asked gently:

"Liz? Why are you so upset?"

Her reply was very muffled, since she refused to move her face from his jumper, but Wally could still understand her.

"It w-was so s-scary! I've n-never had a-an 'outburst' t-that strong b-before! I c-could hardly m-move afterwards!"

Continuing to stroke her hair, Wally murmured gently:

"I'm not surprised you're so upset, I would have been too. But I want you to remember that not only will myself and the Headmaster do our best to stop another one happening, we can help you if one does happen. You're not alone in dealing with this anymore, Liz. Not like you used to be."

Elizabeth squeezed Wally weakly around the middle and muttered:

"Can I please have my soup?"

Chuckling fondly at her, Wally ruffled her hair and headed downstairs to make her dinner.

Half an hour later, far earlier than her usual bedtime, Elizabeth was fast asleep. After she had finished her soup and Wally had helped her get to the bathroom, he carried her back to her room and tucked her into bed, reading from her second favourite book until she fell asleep. Kissing her gently on the cheek, Wally frowned as the phone sounded. Shutting Elizabeth's door as quietly as possible, Wally picked up the phone, wondering who was calling at this time in the evening. When he heard who it was, he told himself that he should have expected such a call. The Headmaster's cold, brisk voice went directly to the point without any pleasantries, assuring Wally that the Prefects would not retaliate for what Elizabeth had done to Jeff.

"I know you are likely concerned about her safety, but the Prefects will not dare do a thing, not after they see what else I have lined up for Jeff."

Wally frowned.

"You mean you're issuing multiple punishments?"

On the other end of the phone, the Headmaster's eyes narrowed from a rage that still simmered below the surface. He hissed:

"I am indeed! I issued one as soon as yourself and Elizabeth left the school, in the presence of the other Prefects. Jeff will be seen completing additional public punishments for the rest of the week. I will announce to the other children that Jeff is being punished because he, a Prefect, disobeyed my orders, which is unacceptable in a person who is meant to be setting a good example to them. Elizabeth's involvement will not be mentioned, and the rest of the Prefects have been forbidden to speak of what really happened except to those who already know the truth of what occurred. I do not want her becoming more of a target than she is already."

Wally sighed in relief, glad that the Headmaster was so committed to keeping Elizabeth safe during school.

"Thank you, Sir. That's good to hear, I was worried what might happen tomorrow."

The Headmaster frowned at this.

"Since she will still be serving detention with me for most of the day, I will be able to keep an eye on her, and Jeff will be kept as far away from her as possible. How is Elizabeth faring this evening?"

Wally sighed again.

"I've never seen her this tired, Sir. I carried her most of the way home, as she came close to falling when we started going back. When I got her inside, she got very upset went she tried to go for her favourite book and nearly fell again after only a few steps. She demanded that she wanted to go to bed, which she never does normally, and it took a bit of persuasion to get her to eat something before she went to bed. She's sleeping deeply now. Hopefully her sleep won't be interrupted with nightmares tonight, she needs all the rest she can get."

In his office, the Headmaster scowled, angry that Jeff's provocation had caused so much damage. Tentatively, he offered something that he would not normally even consider.

"See how she is tomorrow. If she is not yet recovered, I will excuse her from school in order for her to get some more rest. Make her understand that I do not want her pushing herself into coming to school when she is not ready for it. Her health is far more important than attending my school, for the present."

Wally smiled, glad that the Headmaster shared the same goal that he did.

"Thank you, Sir. I will tell you if she is well enough for school tomorrow morning. Goodnight, Sir."

The Headmaster snapped briefly:

"I appreciate that. Goodnight, Mr Brent."

After the Headmaster put the phone down, he sat thinking for a while. He had another motive for ensuring that Elizabeth recovered completely. He would not be able to study her as completely as he wished if she was not absolutely healthy, it was imperative that he prevented another 'outburst' from occurring. Well, tomorrow he would do his best not to let her out of his sight, and have her watched in places where he could not follow her.