Dekka was always nervous when she was with Taylor, but today it was worse than usual. Taylor was always ahead of the game when it came to secrets, and she was constantly paranoid that Taylor knew about her spying on her. It would be bad for Diana because Taylor wouldn't trust her anymore, but it would be even worse for Dekka because Taylor would tell Brianna everything and she wouldn't be able to face her.
'Taylor, what exactly are these bar things? You were telling me the other day, but I had a few things on my mind, so could you tell me again?'
Taylor considered. 'Yes, but later. And if I don't get around to it, I'm sure you'll find out soon enough.'
Dekka stared at her. This wasn't meant to happen, Taylor was meant to tell her about the bars so Dekka could find out what she knew! Luckily, Diana had anticipated that this would happen, so she said her second prepared line.
'Taylor, I heard something about Dahra. I heard she is working with Diana to find out about what we're doing.'
Taylor laughed. 'What we're doing? You mean, what you're doing. Anyone checks any records, I'm clean. Anyway, where did you hear that? You never were good at distinguishing between reliable and unreliable sources. Do you really think Diana is always telling the truth?'
Dekka didn't reply. She had no more prepared lines. Instead, she asked 'Where are we going?'
'You'll see. We're nearly there, anyway.'
Which didn't fill Dekka with confidence because they were headed towards the library, where Lana and Diana were.
Lana slapped Diana, who was intensely looking at the computer and seemed to not be aware of the outside world at all.
'Diana! Taylor is here with Dekka. It obviously didn't work. They're coming here!' hissed Lana.
Diana sighed. 'Relax, Lana. You obviously don't deal with silly little girl drama very often. Maybe not even since Taylor and you fell out over Caine and she never stopped sulking.'
'That was uncalled for, Diana! But we have bigger issues right now.'
Taylor reached their table, and hit the desk with her hands. Shaking her head, she raised her eyebrows at Diana and Lana, as if their attempts to stop her were like a fly trying to escape a spider's web.
'I'm not going to tell everyone about your weirdo freak bar things. Yet. First I'm gonna find your little blondie friend and tell her about Dekka here dreaming about her one day magically loving her back.'
'Leave Dekka alone.' Lana stood up.
'Oh, look at Lana, all defensive, thinking I only insulted Dekka just then. No, you're one of the freaks too. Don't look surprised, you knew all about your unnatural… power things. Did you think I wouldn't know why you were talking to Diana these last weeks?'
Lana looked at Diana, confused. 'Is she crazy? She's crazy, right? What the hell are bars? Everyone keeps talking about them.' Lana's face fell as she realised Taylor hadn't been lying.
'So she never told you? Typical Diana. Always lying, even to her 'friends''. Taylor made quotation marks while saying this. 'Well, let me fill you in. Bars are the measurement of how strong your power is. You, my friend, are a 3-bar. That's pretty strong. So you can go all freak-mode with your new powers if you want, but not until I've warned everyone so no one will go close enough to you for you to be able to use them.'
Dekka, who had been standing silently, watching the scene like the usual spectator she was, butted in. 'But Taylor, you said you were a 2-bar.'
Taylor suddenly turned to Dekka, and violently said 'I'm not. Shut up. I am not a freak. That was before I knew what bars were. I know that I don't have any of this unnatural crap.'
Diana smiled, sensing an opportunity. 'In denial are we, Taylor? Because I could grab your hand now and set straight all the facts. Of course, you'd say I was lying, but we both know the truth, don't we? So if you want to go telling everyone about the bars, go ahead. But don't forget, I'll be there to remind everyone that you are one of them too.'
Taylor glared at Diana, knowing she had lost. 'One day, bitch. One day.'
And with that, Taylor left the library.