Andy stared across the valley, squinting at the huge bonfire on the other side. She didn't feel hungry, though she couldn't remember the last time she ate. Shielding her eyes against the bright moon, she could see shadows passing in front of the bright flames. Watching the hypnotic scene, her thoughts drifted back to the past.
She liked to think of herself as a quick study but it had taken her two months of working at the Mirror to realize that her time at Runway, or more accurately Miranda Priestly, had ruined print journalism for her. Two months of writing obituaries, interviewing public employees for hard hitting articles on street cleaning, and assisting a photojournalist document the yearly spring garden show. Journalism? Yes. Something of world shattering importance? Not even close. And definitely lacking in the terror inducing, adrenaline boosting excitement of being a Priestly girl.
She'd flailed about for an additional month, putting in her time at the Mirror, before coming up with a plan. She didn't rush things but over the next month she'd worked out the details, filled out paper work, requested transcripts. And retook the LSAT. And then waited patiently to hear back from Columbia, NYU, and several other less prestigious local law schools.
Cassidy wasn't in a good mood, and she'd made sure to share it with her sister at lunch. She hadn't heard from Andy in two weeks, the longest she hadn't spoken with her mother's former assistant since reconnecting with her the year before when she'd been a speaker at the annual Career Fair. Caroline, knowing what she wanted to do with her life since ninth grade, had skipped it.
Andy had talked about being a lawyer for a multinational NGO. Cassidy had hung around afterward and reintroduced herself. Andy was smart, really smart. Cassidy wasn't sure she really wanted to be a lawyer like her but Andy was the first person since her mother that impressed her. She even suspected that she was verging on crush territory. Which was one of many reasons she'd kept her friendship with Andy a secret from her sister and mother.
She wasn't worried, yet. But she'd looked up directions to Andy's office and planned to skip lunch tomorrow to go see her. She hadn't decided whether she was going alone yet. Caro hadn't been too happy the last time they got in trouble for skipping school.
Caroline nervously followed the Aid into Headmaster Sage's office, wondering what trouble her sister had gotten into this time. She couldn't think of any other reason to be pulled out of class. She hadn't been directly involved in one of Cassidy's schemes since they were sophomores but the headmaster always assumed guilt by association, and included her whenever she read Cassidy the riot act for some prank. Fortunately their mother knew better and only punished the truly guilty.
She couldn't wait for college. She loved her twin, she really did, but her rebel phase was getting old. She hoped to be far away when her mother found out about Cass's tattoo, an exotic looking design that Cass had yet to explain the meaning of.
Following the aid into the outer office, Caroline looked around for her sister, finding her glaring from the corner furthest away from Mrs. Peal, the Headmaster's secretary. In another chair sat one of the school chess team members, though she couldn't remember her name. She really hoped she wasn't a victim of the prank.
The door to Sage's office opened before she could sit down.
"You can go in now, girls," Mrs. Peal said.
Cassidy stood up and stomped into the headmaster's office. Shaking her head, Caroline reluctantly followed her. The other girl trailing behind, and closing the door behind them.
Caroline noticed the were only two chairs in front of the headmaster's desk.
"Girls, take a seat," Headmaster Sage said. Before she could say anything else, Cassidy flopped down and glared at a fifth occupant of the room, that Caroline had missed until that moment.
"Where's Andy!" she demanded, getting not reaction from her target.
"Andy who?" Caroline asked, staring at her sister and then the blank faced woman.
"Mom's Andy," Cassidy said, giving Caroline, that look she used when she thought her twin was being stupid.
"Cassidy, Caroline!" Headmistress Sage said, in that voice that everyone listened to.
"Sorry, Headmistress," Caroline said.
Cassidy sighed and turned back to face forward. "Sorry," she mumbled.
