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Here's ch21 ok things are gonna get moving again so get ready guys the storms only going to get worse from here.
plus a 180 POV! and start the drama!
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Mel was done waiting.
All this training and team building crap was a waste of time when they could be preparing for the festival. They didn't need a stag when they already had a willing volunteer, all they needed to do was get away from Lawrence and they were home free.
She had it all planned out since that Wednesday when Lawrence's dufus came asking around if they needed any help because he apparently felt like being useful and Mel saw her chance. After years of the Bro's taking advantage of them and hurting her sisters she could finally get retribution even if it was only one Bro it would sent a message to all the other meatheads.
Mel had watched the rotations for the stag and made sure to keep know who was where and at what times before letting it go. The stag was a great one it was fast and strong but she already had a stag in mind. After letting the stag go she went to the others and mentioned here and there that the Bro had offered but Danny had turned him down in favor of a real stag and that the bro wanted to help them but of course Danny being Danny crushed his little heart. Most of the girls believed it because they were new or had been subject to the Bro's tormenting like she had and saw the chance she was offering.
So here they were preparing for the hunt while Lawrence was over there 'pretending' to lead. All she was, was a glorified baby sitter at this point and the others all fell into line but Mel wasn't going to, not this time.
Looking to the others Mel nodded towards the door. Seeing the signal they grabbed their quivers and bows, ready for the night to begin. They were almost to the door when the hairs on the back of her neck shot up glaring over her shoulder Mel was unsurprised to see Danny
"Ladies where do you think you're going?"
"We're having the Hunt" Mel raised her chin unaffected by Danny's so called authority though she could see the others starting to waver.
"No we're not, we don't have a stag and not all of our sisters are here"
"Just because Cass isn't here doesn't mean we can't have it, the moon is full and we have a stag"
Danny narrowed her eyes piercing each of them with blazing emeralds. "We don't have a stag and we don't use people anymore, there are no volunteers and even if there were we wouldn't have taken them up on it"
"We'll we did because we can actually hunt without Cass here to hold our hand"
"Your right I don't need Cass to hold my hand I certainly didn't need it when I owned your ass on the mat not two days ago" Mel scowled at that one her pride was still very much wounded but she wouldn't let Danny talk her out of this she needed this and so did the others.
"Either way we're having our hunt"
Turning away Mel puffed up her chest satisfied with finally defying Lawrence in front of everyone. If they couldn't see the ginger for the goody two shoes that she was then Mel would gladly inform them and make a straight shot for president. Yes it was under handed and petty but come on! How many Bro's got away with crap while they had to stand by the side lines? The answer is too much and Mel was done with it.
"If you leave now you'll be on probation"
That stopped them.
Many of them looked between her and Mel but that didn't stop the brunette. Danny Lawrence held no respect with her so why would she listen to her?
"Go ahead Lawrence see what happens"
"Nothing you'll like Mel" Danny never took her eyes off the group and for a moment Mel almost thought she was serious but a big puppy dog like Lawrence wasn't any good without her vampire.
Scoffing Mel turned her back on the huntress not caring what she said. Mel would have her hunt and they would all get a small bit of revenge on the Bros what more could they want?
"See you after I claim my prize Lawrence" Marching out of the lodge with her small hunting party Mel felt fearless, nothing could stop her or her sisters they would hunt under the full moon as their goddess watched over them and their 'stag' would be caught by her arrow.
Ignoring the shiver that ran up her spine Mel shook of the sudden weight in her stomach as nerves, it was her first time truly leading a hunt after all and anything could happen.
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Danny watched the group leave with a wince, it felt like someone had kicked her in the gut and it wasn't even about the whole authority bit. No those girls were not only willing to go against their sisters but their leaders as well.
If they were lucky Cass would only put them on probation but Mel, goddess she didn't envy Mel in the slightest. The only person who would probably get it worse than Mel was her for letting them leave. It was of their own free will that they left but that didn't make it right they were her responsibility and they just walked out on her leaving her with a hundred other girls to watch over while they got themselves into a goddess knows what.
"Do you want us to go after them?" Asked Lydia glaring at their retreating backs.
"No they've made their choice but they also gave away the person who let the stag go"
"Who?"
"It doesn't matter they'll be handled after Cass returns but first things first I need Laura to send out a warning to clear the campus before they get somebody killed"
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Laura was going over her options and it looked pretty bleak but when was investigative journalism ever easy?
She had spent the last three days trying to figure out what the schematics she'd found in the crater meant and all she could get was seven, seven what? She didn't know but seven something and Corve wanted it.
This left her with few options in finding out more. She needed to know what Corve wanted with these seven somethings and the only way to know that was to be in league with them and that wasn't happening. They were planning on harvesting kidneys and DNA samples for who knows what and they wouldn't want to listen to anything she had to say so she had find another route which brought her to the Baron. He was the least acknowledged board member thanks to Mattie but he was at every meeting and saw about 60% of all the contracts that passed by the vampire so if there was something going on he would have at least heard of it.
She was thinking up questions to ask him once she confirmed their meeting because no matter how much of a creep her girlfriend though he was he could still offer something. Who knows they might even get someone on the inside that had their interests at heart?
Yeah that probably wasn't going to happen but she had to at least meet with the Baron.
Taking a calming breath Laura picked up her phone and checked the number on the card Carmilla had swiped from Mattie, double checking the number before going to dial. Sadly she never got the chance because right when she went to dial Danny's icon popped up.
Frowning Laura answered wondering what the hunter might need.
"Hello~?"
"Laura I need you to put out an emergency warning to have the campus cleared ASAP"
"What?! Whats going on?"
"Just broad cast that unless people want arrows through them to get indoors until further notice"
"Ok, ok I'll do it just give me a minute"
Holding her phone in one hand Laura flew into her Silas News corner and haphazardly drew the curtain. Hitting the on button she checked her hair before shaking her head, there wasn't time. Hitting live she forewent the usual 'hello Silas' and went straight into her warning.
"Students of Silas I have to issue a warning from the Summer Society to stay indoors for your own safety as there will be arrows coming from all directions and the schools nurses office doesn't have the tools needed to surgically remove and arrow much less a splinter so please stay inside until further notice, that's all"
Hitting off she looked back to her phone. "Want to tell me what's going on?"
"No time just keep the doors locked and close all the shutters to keep stray arrows from hurting anyone in the house"
"But I-"All she got was the dial tone and Laura was done with tonight.
"Stupid cryptic hunters"
"What are you muttering about?" Carmilla had been dozing in the bedroom but at the Xena ringtone she woke up wondering what the huntress wanted with her girlfriend.
"Danny had me issue a warning to stay indoors till-"The interruptions never seemed to end as Evie flitted into the door way.
"Laura what's going on? I can hear people screaming from across campus"
"As I was saying it has something with the Summer's, Danny called me to let everyone know to stay inside until the arrows stopped flying, I don't know" Laura shook her head still just as lost as before the phone call.
"Ok well I'm gonna take a look around the house to make sure it's not within Summer range"
"Evie you're not going out there" Carmilla didn't want her sister going out into whatever the hell the psycho's were doing.
"I'm going to make sure everyone's inside"
"Maybe you should take your own advice and stay inside"
"Sorry sister but I feel I should at least check"
"Fine but don't leave the porch, got it?" Carmilla knew it was a losing battle but why not try to compromise?
"Sistereerrrr"
"Nope either the porch or the front window"
Evie mock glared at her sister before heading towards the door she could hear doors slamming for there and running feet, lots of those. It seemed people were actually listening to Laura for once, which was good, it showed that her broad cast had a real effect on the students of Silas.
Pushing open their front doors Evie was greeted by the sight of running humans as they piled into whatever buildings were closest. In about ten minutes the campus looked deserted it looked like those apocalypse drills were finally coming in handy.
Looking back to the door Evie bit her lip. She really wanted to do a short patrol around campus but Carmilla was serious about not leaving. Maybe her new super hearing could finally be put to go use?
Closing her eyes Evie let her senses loosen their hold much like turning a valve she could sense beyond the house and through the campus. Thousands of pounding hearts filled her ears making her mouth water but she pushed that hunger away she wasn't hungry for blood. Focusing more on her surroundings and less on the tempting heart beats she could hear feet slapping against the concrete. It wasn't the usual thud of boots or clicking of cleats but an actual slap maybe from sandals?
Opening her eyes Evie leaned over the edge of the porch she would look if she wanted but also keep within her sisters rules.
The panicked footsteps were making their way in what might be her direction but she wasn't sure they kept getting closer and farther away.
Prey lost amongst the forest floor the wolf whispered.
Looking up at the full moon Evie frowned remembering Laura's warning about the Summer's.
"They couldn't be…could they?"
The sandals grew closer and closer as did the pounding heartbeat. Preparing for the worst Evie crouched ever so slowly waiting for the poor soul to turn the corner and-
"Kirsch?"
"Blondie you gotta help me they shot my brew!" The panicked frat boy held up his skewered beer. Stumbling over his own feet Kirsch made his way to her tripping on the way it was only her catching him that saved him from a nasty fall.
"I gotcha Kirsch"
"They-they have arrows and-"
"Slow down Kirsch"
"No time! Badass babes with arrows!"
The bro looked around frantically jumping at nothing ready to swing the skewered beer if nessacary. Helping the bro up she dodged the antlers sticking out of the leather head dress only further proving her suspicions.
"Wait a minute Kirsch are you…are you the STAG!"
"They said it would be nice and they gave me fancy juice! It was not nice when they started chasing me and-and letting their dogs BITE ME!"
"Ok, ok uh go inside and hide, I'll call Danny"
Of course it was one of the few times Evie didn't have her phone on her. Going back inside she went to the apartment Laura's phone was the closest. Kirsch was hiding behind the chase with a confused Laura biting her nails by the computer.
"They have dogs and arrows, lots of Arrows!"
"You'll be fine here Kirsch, Laura I need your phone" Evie knew the bro was in a panic but until she talked to Danny she wouldn't be able to know what was going on.
"Oh um sure" Laura offered her phone feeling her own panic start to rise as the screams and manic laughter of the Summer Society grew closer.
Sending Danny a quick text Evie handed Laura back her phone. She would have flitted to the front door to lock it but it was too late she could already hear the hunters boots kicking down the door.
"Why are they kicking down the doors they're always unlocked?" Carmilla shook her head it didn't matter to her what they did because they'd be the ones paying for insurance.
The apartment door was next to be kicked open and Mel slid in bow at the ready. Kirsch squealed hiding behind the chase again Evie stood beside him protecting his flank. Mel came around the dividing wall right as Laura stepped in front of Kirsch, Carmilla not far from her girlfriend's side.
"Gotcha now brotein shake"
"I'M NOT A STAG I SWEAR!" Kirsch shouted nearly blowing out their eardrums.
"It's ok Kirsch, Mel's not gonna hurt you" Laura assured him not taking her eyes off the huntress.
"Right Mel?"
Turning her bow towards Laura Mel sneered "you really want some of this Veronica Mars?"
Carmilla swiftly pulled the reporter behind her growling fiercely, daring the huntress to try hurting her mate.
"Hey they aren't apart of this!" Kirsch stepped between them and the irate huntress.
"Now you're finally willing to man up? I wasn't sure you were up to it after all that running"
Mel drew back her arrow ready to take her shot when a growl escaped Evie's lips.
"Mel don't you dare" Rolling her eyes Mel wondered how many of these dweebs would be playing hero tonight.
"What you want a piece of me now fang face?"
Evie flitted between the two not caring how dangerous it was. Kirsch had been through enough tonight he certainly didn't need more trauma.
Mel wanted to laugh this vampire barely reached the Bro's chest and she wanted to protect him?
"Step aside blondie"
"It's not gonna happen Mel"
"Please all I have to do is go an inch higher and I'd get my shot"
"Not if I stop you"
"You would stop me?"
"Yes"
Mel held the blonde's stare seeing truth in those pale blue eyes. It seemed things would be going a lot smoother from here on out, just like Mel wanted.
"Once they know you stopped the festival Lawrence won't stand a chance and I'll be running unopposed"
"No you won't because I'm the one ending it"
"Oh really fang face?" Mel drew back her arrow as far as the cord would allow. If she was gonna take on a vampire she would need to make her first strike at full strength.
"Yes because Kirsch is under my protection and if you hurt him, you'll be dealing with me"
"Like you're such a threat"
Standing at full height Evangeline knew she wasn't that intimidating but she was already feeling the shift in her body language. Stepping forward she let the tip of Mel's arrow press into her shoulder.
"I'm more than a threat Melanie but you've just never gone against me, this entire time you've been on the side lines while I fought the turf war, gutted Harpies, and re-killed a couple vampires that rose from the depths of the Lustig building" Every word came out with more of a growl as she pressed harder into the arrow ripping her shirt till it pierced her shoulder.
"Evie" Things were getting out of hand and if Carmilla didn't stop her then Mel would be a bloodstain on the wall.
"I wouldn't even bother acknowledging your existence if it weren't for Danny and now you're threatening my Brother, my confused sometimes too naïve for his own good Brother and you think an arrow is going to save you from the PAIN I'm going to cause you should you hurt him, much less KILL HIM!" The fangs were out and Mel was really starting to regret coming in here alone.
"EVIE!"
Danny came charging in breathless from the run to keep ahead of the other girls. She knew things were bad if Kirsch was the stag but coming in on this scene of Kirsch covered in scratches and Evie practically impaling herself on Mel's arrow with murder burning in her eyes while Mel, fucking Mel was stock-still but her hands, Danny could see her hands were trembling. If someone didn't do something soon there would be more than a few blood stains on the carpet.
"Babe you need to back off a little you're hurting yourself"
"She's threatening my brother and that does not sit well with me"
"Carmilla aren't you going to do anything?"
"She already threatened Laura with her primitive weapons I don't have a problem stepping aside" Carmilla made sure Laura was firmly behind her because there was no way she was letting the human take an arrow from that bitch.
"Evie, babe please step back" Danny was grasping at straws here and staring to panic.
The distress in her mate's voice stabbed at her dead heart. She hated upsetting Danny more than anything in the world but this human was threatening her loved ones and she wouldn't stand for it.
A deep growl rumbled in her chest. Oh how she wanted to let it out but she wouldn't, not now, not with Danny begging her not to hurt this insect. She wanted to paint the walls with Mel's blood just to see how it would look against the wall paper and- wait…this wasn't her…Evie was losing herself again. Remembering where she was she clenched her jaw trying to keep it together she couldn't look weak in front of the hunter no matter how panicked she was.
"Get out" her voice was cold and unforgiving she would show no mercy to this huntress should she threaten her brother again.
"You would ruin the Adonis hunt?"
"Yes"
"Then its Lawrence's funeral" Mel pulled away finally lowering her bow.
"No its not, she isn't the one calling it off I am so if anyone has a problem they can come talk to me about it"
Mel's panicked eyes darted from Danny to Evie before she shook her head.
"Whatever, fang face"
The huntress left without a word leaving a stifling cloud of tension in the air till Kirsch broke it.
"Evie that was amazing and the look on her face was like 'oh man!' and you were just like 'come at me bro!' and- whoa your shoulder!"
Looking down she realized her shoulder wound had smeared blood all over her shirt. Taking a deep breath she turned to Kirsch assessing his wounds which were a great many.
"It's ok Kirsch I'll heal"
"Hold on" The boy ignored her and ripped off a piece of his ceremonial sash and pressed it to her shoulder.
"There now you won't have to worry about too much blood right?"
"No I guess I won't"
The others watched the scene with shock and unease. Evie wasn't quite herself and now it was made quite clear to everyone that something was off.
"Evie…" Carmilla needed to talk to the blonde but seeing how tired she was, maybe she would get her alone later.
"Keep the humans out of the house sister, I need to take care of Wilson"
"The humans?" Danny didn't like the sound of that.
"Wilson?" Carmilla had no clue Kirsch's real name was Wilson.
"If they are willing to attack an unarmed boy after entering the vampires den for sanctuary then they aren't human till proven otherwise" Evie was tired, upset, and wanted Danny to hold her till all of this made sense but she couldn't because her brother needed some help.
"Come on Wilson"
"Ok blondie" Kirsch's smile made her feel a little better.
"Evie" Danny was nowhere near done with what just happened.
Glancing from Kirsch to Danny, Evie patted the bro's hand and nodded to the stairs the ZETA was happy to take the out and trotted upstairs. Giving Danny her full attention Evie looked up at her girlfriend, her mate and waited, knowing her huntress had something to say.
"Babe…Evie what was that?"
Laura squeezed Carmilla's hand so hard the vampire was glad she didn't need to worry about circulation anymore. The tension was still pretty thick and with such a drastic change things were bound to be tense and they were in the middle of it.
Evie opened and closed her mouth trying to think up some reason, some kind of explanation for her behavior but she didn't have one.
"I...I guess things are changing"
"What kind of things? Because you would never threaten anyone even someone like Mel the way you did two seconds ago" Danny wasn't angry she couldn't be, frustrated and worried were about right but not at Evie, never at Evie.
"I think I'm…" Evie tried to find a way to describe the chaos inside her head and Danny stood by patiently waiting for her girlfriend to process it all.
Carmilla pulled Laura down with her on to the chase watching her sister carefully because, not to offend her, but too much thinking after a harsh attitude 180 like that could cause some unneeded stress.
"Carm shouldn't we give them some privacy?" Whispered Laura she wanted to bite her nails so bad right now. She felt like she was intruding on some big moment or something, was this what it was like watching her videos?
"Don't worry Love, they're on a whole other plain of existence right now"
Carmilla couldn't help the gratitude she felt seeing Danny's "amazing patience", Evie's words not hers obviously. In life Carmilla knew that whoever ended up with her sister was a lucky bastard but would need endless patience because Evie was remarkably easy to befriend but the romance department was vastly more difficult to understand.
"I think I'm lost Danny…I keep feeling so-so possessive of things that aren't mine and of people and with you I would understand but others? The school? None of them are mine, never were, and now…" Evie licked her lips trying to find the words but it was getting harder to talk about it.
"I get so angry that people are touching what I feel is mine and…and I don't like it, I don't like feeling so possessive, so defensive as if I'm entitled to these things when I'm not, Danny I'm not"
"I get that Evie but what about Mel? You nearly got yourself killed scaring her"
"I wouldn't get myself killed"
"Mel is strong Evie, she can take me in a fight and-"
"And she reeked of fear" Evangeline hissed looking away from Danny as her hands clenched into harsh fists her knuckles burned white. "I can still taste it now just as I did seconds ago, it taints the room and her words will taint the others, feeding their fears of what real vampires are like just as she wanted"
Danny gaped this wasn't her girlfriend, no matter how angry or annoyed with her fellow huntress Evie never talked about Mel with such malice, she never talked about any one like that not even Mattie.
"Evie…"
"It's because of hunters like her that Vampires are feared so greatly, they're rash and armed what better mix can you find?" Evangeline shook her head glaring at the floor trying to quell her rage but it kept building and building she didn't know what to do with it but let it out in sharp bursts of vicious words.
"Evie" Danny's hand hovered over her shoulder not wanting to invoke the vampire's wrath but at the same time she knew Evie would never intentionally hurt her even, inadvertently hurting her nearly killed the blonde.
"I want you to take a deep breath"
Evangeline growled she wanted to hold on to this rage, stoke it like a fire and let it run wild but that wasn't her she couldn't. The thought of pushing this fire down, ignoring the challenge made by the weak willed huntress made another growl rumble in her chest, she couldn't let them see any form of weakness. But at the same time Danny, her mate, was asking her to calm down, to clear her head so she could speak, so she could understand.
Forcing her hands to open she hissed as her nails pulled out of the fresh cuts in her palms. Turning she took Danny's hand and pressed it to her cheek, breathing deeply as her mate had asked. It was hard to pull this other side of herself back in but if there was any one to do it for it was Danny, she would do anything for Danny.
The wolf snarled in the back of her mind coming forward for once not to take over but help her. It snapped and snarled at the power as if it were a separate entity within her forcing it back into its cage. Evie could feel the power leaving her muscles making her weaker than when she fought off those vampires down in the crater.
Leaning into Danny she felt an arm snake around her waist keeping her on her feet as her legs gave out.
"Whoa there"
Evie pressed her face into Danny's chest letting the blessed warmth of her mate soothe her tired muscles. Danny pressed a kiss to the top of her head lingering for a moment longer before resting her cheek on the blondes head. Evie loved moments like this, she loved being in Danny's arms but she hated how they always happened after her episodes. She wanted to be held simply because they could, not because she was on the verge of a mental breakdown or someone almost died, why couldn't they just be?
"I've got you Evie, I've got you"
Once Evie started sniffling that was it there was no holding back the tears. Danny squeezed the blonde as hard as she could knowing it wouldn't compare to a vampires strength but it would help her girlfriend and that's all that mattered. The sound of Danny's heart beating strong and steady next to her ear gave Evie something to focus on, trying to pull herself out of this emotional crash but she couldn't quite get a grip leaving her the waves of sadness and utter frustration.
Unbeknownst to her Danny looked at Carmilla clearly they needed to have more than just a talk but it was late the Summer's needed, Kirsch needed stiches from their resident ginger medic, and Evie wouldn't be calming down anytime soon.
Carmilla swallowed the guilt one more time before squeezing Laura's hand. She needed to start acting or Evie would be lost to the insanity like Lilith and there was no way in hell that way happening.
"Let's get you upstairs" Danny swept and arm under her legs letting the blonde warp her arms around her neck.
Evie buried her face in Danny's neck longing to be close to her mark and Danny's pulse point letting her mates heart beat calm her. With the teary blonde secure in her arms Danny nodded to Laura and Carmilla.
"Thanks for giving out that warning it made keeping a head of the girls a lot easier without panicked students"
"Of course just text me if you need me to issue another warning" Laura offered happy to be of help.
Danny gave a tight smile before resting her cheek on Evie's head once more leaving the pair for the upstairs. Laura leaned back against Carmilla listening to the stairs creak ever so slightly as Danny made her way upstairs before her footsteps were out of her hearing range but Carmilla could hear the huntress walking through the manor with the sniffling blonde in her arms tearing at her undead heart with every pained whimper. Gods she hated it when Evie cried, people like her didn't deserve to cry.
"That was…" Laura couldn't think of enough words to describe that mess.
Pressing a kiss to the reporters temple Carmilla closed her eyes.
"Intense? Sad? Tragic? Terrifying?"
"All that and so much more"
Laura looked at her girlfriend, really looking at her for the first time in what felt like ages. For someone who was immortal and thought to be ageless Carmilla looked like she'd aged ten years. Her eyes were tired with a melancholy look to her eyes giving those brown eyes more emotion than Laura wanted to see because just looking at them made her tear up.
"I'm gonna go get ready for bed it's been a long day" Pecking Carmilla on the cheek Laura hurried into the bed room to calm herself.
Carmilla watched her girlfriend go with a heavy heart. All of it was hitting home and yet here she sat on the chase with her sister upstairs crying her heart out because she probably thought she was going crazy and her girlfriend stressing herself out in the other room about the whole university and all the problems that came with it.
Running a hand through her hair Carmilla pulled on the ends not even wincing at the painful tug that came with it. She deserved it for going against everything she'd planned on doing so far: Help her sister.
"You look a little worse for wear" Sighing Carmilla looked up at Mattie not bothering to put up her mask.
"You here to tear into me or do you want to just stake me now?"
"Not happening Darling we have a lot of work to do before either of us are dust in the wind"
"Did you enjoy the show?"
"Disaster is more fitting than show I won't say I told you so-"
"Funny"
"-but I will say that we're running out of time though and you need to get over this whole not hurting her feelings thing because until she knows what's going on it'll only hurt her more the longer it takes" Mattie was done waiting she would give Carmilla one last chance to tell the runt before she did it herself to save them all from getting killed.
"I'll do it Mattie, I won't let her suffer anymore"
"Good the sooner we start getting into this clan regent business the better off we'll all be" Nodding to herself Mattie gave her sister a tight smile. She wouldn't admit it but when that huntress threatened the bro she'd felt that flash of power again and after the last few times Mattie was getting worried because it was growing stronger every time.
"Night Carm"
Carmilla watched Mattie go with twinge in her chest this was a terrible plan but Mattie was right they needed to put away the kid gloves and tell Evie. Falling back against the chase Carmilla threw an arm over her eyes.
None of them could catch a break.
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so that was ch21 as you can tell were in the storm now. It was a nice change doing Mel's POV to give a little insight plus how she got to have their hunt without Danny. I also wanted to show Danny as a leader like character I guess? She's important and the girls do respect her but not every one feels the same way and elections are coming up for the leadership position even though schools not really in session anymore. and of course I have to throw in a Carm/Mattie piece. they've been talking about Evie but they haven't actually done anything and now more than ever Carm knows she has to do something before Evie loses it completely.
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