Don't try to hide it how
"Hodges…," Pogue growled under his breath. Even though she'd heard Pogue say his name, when she looked up and over the long haired boy's shoulder, she was still surprised to see Matt jogging down the hallway. The blonde dodged nearby students, his head popped up and over the crowd looking for someone. When Matt caught sight of her he changed course and headed their way.
Kate looked back at Pogue, who, to her knowledge had his back to the hallway the entire time, and wondered to herself – Did he know Matt was coming? But how? It was all very odd.
"Hate to interrupt," Matt gasped as he approached the pair of them. It seemed as though he'd run a marathon the way he was trying to catch his breath.
"Then don't," Pogue replied, obviously trying to keep his annoyance in check.
"It's okay," Kate said, trying to diffuse what was clearly about to become a bad situation.
"No, it's not okay," Pogue countered, turning to Matt. While Kate couldn't see Pogue's expression, she saw the look on Matt's face which was clearly apologetic.
"There's a situation and I really need your help," Matt explained as Pogue rolled his eyes. "Look I wouldn't be here unless it was…important," Hodges's expression turned serious as he spoke.
"Tell Andie I'll call her later," Pogue sighed as he brushed off any further conversation with Matt as he faced Kate again.
Andie. Kate had almost forgotten about the whole Melanie Higgins punch-dumping incident.
"I'm not talking about Andie," Matt hissed as he glanced around the hallway to see if anyone was paying attention to him. When he noticed a few girls looking his way he lowered his voice to barely a whisper. "We're about to have a fucking nuclear holocaust."
"What's going on?" Kate asked in a low voice, not that it was necessarily her business but Matt had clearly been looking all over campus for Pogue. Why didn't he just call?
"Hey," Matt said when Pogue didn't respond. He grabbed the back of Pogue's jacket roughly for emphasis. The biker reacted quickly, breaking the hold and for a split second Kate thought Pogue was actually going to punch Matt. "The police are here," Hodges continued blocking Pogue's advance without actually making contact.
"Yeah so?" Pogue said as he did his best to straighten out the twisted leather sleeve of his jacket.
"So," Matt glanced down at his watch. "We probably have about five minutes before lockdown."
Pogue's head dropped forward and he let out a breath that sounded a lot like the word, "shit."
"What's lockdown?" Kate asked. As soon as she said it all the lights in the hallway blinked off then back on again.
"Are you going to help me or not?" Matt asked Pogue.
After a second of silence on Pogue's part Matt grunted a very snide, "Thanks," and took off running down the hallway.
"What's going on?" Kate asked again.
Pogue's hands balled into fists and his jaw set tightly. "I gotta help him. Sorry." He ran a hand through his hair. "But, uh, maybe I'll, uh, see you later," he said in Kate's general direction, though she could tell his attention was elsewhere.
"Yeah, see you later," she repeated, once again trying to cover up the disappointment. Pogue took a few steps backward and then spun around 180 degrees and tore down the hallway.
As she stood outside her room, Kate's own jaw clenched. It was hard to sort out her emotions. The happiness she felt less than five minutes ago was now replaced with confusion, disappointment and a sprinkling of resentment. Why did Matt have to interrupt at that moment? Not that she would have kissed Pogue right then but, well, she liked having the opportunity.
Maybe she would have let Pogue kiss her.
Maybe she would have satisfied her curiosity and tasted those amazing lips.
Maybe.
Maybe not.
But it should have been her decision.
Stupid Matt. Whatever this lockdown thing was, it better be damn important.
Feeling a little dejected, she shoved her key into the door and flung the it open. Closing the door behind her, she tossed her broken shoes into the corner by the trash can and headed into the bathroom, shutting that door too.
As she began taking her jewelry off she couldn't help thinking about how rude Matt had been. So what if the police were here? And why were they here anyway? Surely the Andie Bradway and Melanie Higgins situation wasn't a police matter. Kate didn't care about them or anyone else right now. Her thoughts were focused on the ruined moment with Pogue. Everything had been so wonderful; their dance, his arms around her, his head resting on hers… and now that was all… gone, thanks to the so-called 'friends' she made this past weekend. Kate Tunney was beginning to hate this school.
The bathroom door opened without warning, its edge hitting Kate right in the side.
"Occupied!" she yelled at her roommate as she pushed the door shut again and locked it. Kira was just another shining example of how self-absorbed and inconsiderate Spenser's students were.
"Let me in!" Kira pounded on the door. "It's an emergency!"
"Go change your pad in the hall bathroom!" Kate yelled back. There seemed to be a lot of 'emergencies' tonight and she was not in the mood for Kira and her period.
"Will you just open the door!" Kira banged harder. "Kate!"
"No!" Kate was not playing this game with Kira. The red head monopolized the bathroom almost the entire time before the dance. Now it was Kate's turn.
"Open. This. Door. Right. Now." Each word was accompanied by a loud thud as Kira nearly broke the door down.
Kate was ready to slap her. Furiously, she unlocked the door and swung it open. Kira practically fell in the bathroom. She must have been throwing herself against the door.
Kate watched as her roommate, scrambled across the floor. On her knees in front of the toilet Kira dumped out a small container of pills and flushed them.
"What are you doing?" Kate demanded. "Are those…drugs?" Kate's hands raked through her dark hair as Kira hastily began popping pills out from one of those sealed sheets with the foil backing. Kate had seen cold medicine in similar packaging, but these pills were much, much smaller. Kira tried to flush them down, but the tank hadn't completely refilled from the first flush and the little red pills swirled around the bowl in circle.
"Shit! Shit!" Kira frantically pressed the handle again. "Go down!"
"Kira, what are you doing?" Kate's hands clamped against her temples, unable to comprehend what she was seeing. Were those drugs? Was Kira on drugs? Drugs! This was Spenser Academy not a public high school – there's not supposed to be DRUGS here! Kate never thought she would ever be in this position. "Are those drugs?" she demanded.
But Kira didn't answer, she was too upset that toilet was taking so long to refill. Tears began to fall down her cheeks.
"No! No! No!" Kira began shaking. Kate was horrified as Kira reached into the toilet and tried to scoop up all the remaining pills.
"Oh my God!" Kate exclaimed as Kira pushed her out of the way as she dumped the handful she'd collected into the sink. Turning on the faucet, she tried to rinse them into the drain. The pills were just slightly bigger than the openings of the built in strainer of the drain. Frustrated and tearful Kira tried crushing the pills through but the water started backing up.
"Help me!" Kira looked over at Kate.
Kate clasped her hands behind her back and shook her head no. She wanted no parts of anything that had to do with drugs.
"Please," Kira sniffed as more tears rolled down her cheeks.
Kate shook her head again.
"Please, Kate. Please," Kira wiped her eyes with her arm. "I'm already on probation. If they find these I'll be expelled."
"Why are you on probation?" Kate asked. Kira hadn't mentioned anything about that. "Because you're on drugs?" Kate waved her hand toward the sink and toilet, "Because if you are, then maybe you should be expelled."
Kate Tunney did not want to deal with an addict roommate for an entire year. She'd sat through too many assemblies and watched too many documentaries about drug abuse and did not want any part of that.
"We're going on lockdown," Kira answered, hands frantically scraping at the pills. "And I could really use your help here."
"What is lockdown?"
"Room inspections."
You wanna kiss the girl
Kate had no intention of helping Kira. In fact she was one step away from going down to the House Masters' office and reporting her. But when Kira, scraped the pills (which had been in toilet) out of the sink and attempted to swallow them, Kate realized how absolutely desperate Kira was. So despite her feelings about drug use and Kira Snider, she agreed to help – just this once. And then she was going to have a MAJOR talk with her roommate.
Kate managed to get the pills down the drain as Kira reflushed the toilet and shredded the bottles and packaging that contained the pills. They were just finishing up when all the lights went out.
"It's time," Kira stated grimly.
An announcement came from the hallway intercom. "Will all residents and guests please come out into the hallway immediately."
Both Kate and Kira exchanged terse looks. They gave the bathroom one last sweeping glance in the dim glow of the emergency lighting. Together the girls stepped outside their dorm joining the other students.
In the hallway stood Ms. Heffelfinger, one of the dorm House Masters and Ms. Renz, one of the teachers. Beside them were a police officer and a man she had never seen before.
"We're going to begin with roll call," Ms. Renz announced. "Would all guests please report to your own dormitories. All non-residents, please proceed downstairs to the foyer and check in with Mr. Fazzio. Residents, please stand against the far wall and wait for your name to be called."
The crowd dispersed, with many boys hustling toward the stairwell. She and Kira moved into place along with the other girls from their floor.
"Abigail Forbes. Emily Quinn," Ms. Heffelfinger read from a list on clipboard. Kate watched as the two roommates stepped forward and were directed to the opposite side of the hallway.
"Julianna Rizzo. Audrey Wallgren."
Another pair of girls stepped forward. Ms. Heffelfinger checked their names off on her list and they lined up next to Abby and Emily.
Names were read off two at a time. Kate knew she'd been very lucky so far. She'd managed to be late to several classes with just a warning. She'd left campus during lunch without getting caught. Then last night, she'd been trespassing at Putnam Barn while there was underage drinking – and she'd managed to get away with only a detention for breaking curfew. Would her luck hold out? She certainly hoped so.
"Kira Snider. Katherine Tunney." Ms. Renz read from the clipboard.
Kira followed inches behind Kate as they took their position in line.
The hallway was deadly quiet as all the girls waited for the impending inspection.
When the House Masters finished taking attendance, there were three residents not present. The four adults met briefly before continuing with 'lockdown'.
"This is Deputy Savatano from the Sheriff's Station and Mr. Hillard, the Director of Housing," Ms. Heffelfinger gestured to the two men behind her.
"Ladies, we're here to conduct a multi-point room inspection," Mr. Hillard announced. "As you know residential housing here at Spenser is a privilege not a right. Students are expected to adhere to all policies dictated in the housing contract at all times. NO exceptions."
"Yes sir," Kira replied, along with the other girls on their floor. Kate nodded numbly, unable to believe this was actually happening.
"Before we begin the inspections," Mr. Hillard said glancing to the two other adults, "I'm going to ask if any of you are in possession of any contraband."
"No sir," Kira shook her head innocently. Several other girls answered in a similar fashion.
Deputy Savatano stepped forward. "Is anyone in possession of firearms or weapons of any kind? BB Guns. Pocketknives. Tasers," he asked while trying to stare down the teenage girls.
"No," was the general reply.
"Any controlled substances? Tobacco. Alcohol."
"No."
The Deputy ran down a list of prohibited items that included everything from live animals to pornography to fireworks. At the mention of the last item, Kate thought back to the story Kira had told her about Aaron and Ryan last night at Marble Head. She wondered if they had any leftover fireworks on their rooms.
The final item of business was the actual room inspections. Ms. Heffelfinger, Mr. Hillard and the Deputy went to the first room at the far end of the hall. It belonged to Paris Filmore and Tabitha Schuller. Both girls looked terrified as they followed the adults into their room. Ms. Renz led the remaining residents to the stairwell, where they proceeded down the stairs to the main floor and into the foyer.
While very spacious under normal circumstances, tonight it was as packed as the gym during the last dance. The girls were made to stand in lines according to which floor they lived on and were lined up beside the double doors, unable to see or hear what was happening. The boys were lined up in a similar fashion on the other side. Kate looked for Pogue and Matt but there were so many people it was impossible to tell if they were there or not.
All the faculty who were at the dance were now crammed in along with everyone else. There were several other adults she didn't recognize and a few more uniformed police officers.
A low buzz hummed over the room as the students whispered to one another. Kate remained silent. Beside her Kira had her hands folded in prayer. On her other side was Emily Quinn. "Are they inspecting all the rooms at the same time?" the girl asked Kate. "Why are there police officers here? Are we going to get arrested?"
Kate took a few deep breaths, hoping for the best outcome but resigning herself that they were probably going to find Kira's pills, call Kira's parents and hers– and she was going to be in BIG trouble.
The seconds felt like hours. It seemed to take forever before Paris and Tabitha came back through the doors. Ms. Renz sent the next pair of girls to their room and the wait began again. Kate folded and unfolded her hands, crossed and uncrossed her legs. It was hard to tell what was going on. There were no more announcements and with all the students it was hard to keep track of everyone's comings and goings.
Then Emily whispered in Kate ear, "Tabitha said they went through everything. Her purse, her backpack, her closet. They even went through her underwear drawer AND they flipped her mattress to look under it. She's not sure what they're looking for, but they looked everywhere even in the toilet tank. Pass it on, okay."
Kate sighed and leaned over to Kira who was still praying. She repeated what Emily told her. Kira's lip quivered and she looked like she was going to cry again.
After an eternity, it was Kate's and Kira's turn. This time, Kate followed behind Kira. When they got to their room, Ms. Heffelfinger was there to meet them along with two male teachers Kate recognized, but didn't know their names.
"Ladies," Ms. Heffelfinger opened the door to their room. It was the same as they had left it, except the lights were on again. "Please stand in front of your beds."
Kate did as she was told.
"This is your last chance to inform us of any prohibited items in your possession." She looked at Kira first, who held it together quite well. Then the House Master looked Kate's way. Prepared to stand tall, Kate watched Ms. Heffelfinger's eyes go right past her. Kate looked behind her to the nightstand, which held her alarm clock, a framed picture of her and Jessica, some hair ties, a pencil and the scented candle Matt Hodges had given her earlier today.
"What do we have here?" Ms. Heffelfinger marched forward and scooped up the candle, holding it up for the other teachers to see. "Per the fire code, candles are strictly prohibited."
Kate's brow creased and her face flushed.
Ms Heffelfinger reached down and opened the nightstand drawer. "Oh my goodness!" she exclaimed pulling out a handful of assorted candy bars that Kate kept there. "Miss Tunney, there is no food or beverage allowed in the dorms. Only water is permitted."
Shit! Kate cursed under breath. Kira was a freaking drug addict and here she was getting busted for a candle she'd gotten as a gift and snacks that her mother had given her. Upon further search Kate's entire snack supply was uncovered and Ms. Heffelfinger seemed quite unnerved by the crumbs on the floor from the nachos Andie had eaten last night.
For a split second, Kate began to think Andie and Matt were conspiring against her.
But Ms. Heffelfinger also found some of Kira's possessions that, while not prohibited, were quite questionable. The House Master set aside the nightgown that Aaron had given her, a copy of Fifty Shades of Gray and a large amount of cash that Kira had stashed in her dresser.
Kate's eyes widened when she saw the wad of twenty dollar bills. She had no idea Kira had that much money. Maybe she's not on drugs – maybe she's selling them.
Then the moment came when Ms. Heffelfinger went to inspect the bathroom. Kate glanced over at Kira who maintained an impressive poker face the entire time. Astonishingly, her search of the bathroom came up empty. Kate glanced at Kira again and while her roommate's expression hadn't changed, Kate could see the relief in her posture.
"Miss Tunney, a word please?" Ms. Heffelfinger called Kate out into the hallway.
"Yes, Ms. Heffelfinger," Kate replied as politely and innocently as she could.
"You are in possession of several prohibited items which normally would result in disciplinary action. However, given the circumstances of this evening's inspection, Mr. Hillard has agreed to allow students with minimal violations, such as yourself, a single written warning…."
Kate nodded eagerly.
A written warning.
Yes, that was perfectly acceptable.
More than acceptable.
That was AWESOME!
"… and a parent conference to review the policies."
Kate stopped nodding.
A parent conference.
"You're going to call my parents?" Kate's voice cracked. She could only imagine what her father would have to say.
"Mr. Hillard will contact them and arrange the conference himself. I will be present as a witness."
That's when Kate Tunney began to cry.
babyshan211, bloodymara and debs2000 - Thanks for sticking with me - Gemma