Moira sighed as she came out of Miss Grayling's study. That had been hard, but worth it. She'd saved June from getting expelled, and she felt pretty darn good.
'Why?'
Moira looked back to see June, her face dirty, wet and woebegone. The correct response would be, of course, to look at the younger girl steadfastly and ask 'Why what?', but Moira knew as much about June as she knew about her. She sighed. 'Because I know it's partially my fault too, obviously?' she looked down. 'I'm sorry I am who I am.'
She heard a snicker from beside her, and looked up to see a smirk on June's face. 'Shouldn't you be saying this to Bridget?'
Moira flinched, wounded, and June hastily made amends. 'I'm sorry. Not my place, and I should be thanking you right now. I'll forever be greatful to you.'
'Don't worry about it,' said Moira ,'And don't worry, I'm not projecting Bridget onto you.'
June was looking away, chewing on her cuticles. 'I should go pack. I'll always be in your debt, though, so don't hesitate to ask me for anything.'
'Wait.'
June looked back. 'Yes?'
'Why?'
June shuffled her feet, not looking Moira in the eye.
'Please, June. I think I deserve to know.'
June sighed.
'June-' Moira was cut off by another pair of lips against her own. It wasn't intense at all, just a soft touch, as innocent, surprisingly, as a touch on the shoulder or a brush of hands.
To say she was taken aback would be an understatement.
'Not the best way, but there's no good way, is there?'
Before Moira could speak June laughed, a rich, bitter laugh, and turned her head away. 'There's no excuse, I know. I did a stupid thing and I truly regret it. But you saved me. I don't think I could ever pay you back.'
'I'm sorry.' Moira whispered, something unfamiliar stinging at the back of her eyes and heart.
June laughed again, but with an edge off the bitterness. 'No need, Queen Moira. I'll get over it.'
Moira stared silently at June's back as she walked away, not expecting the girl to suddenly swing one eighty degrees and face her.
'Talk to Bridget.'