Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 288(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 288(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
She does not like it when Miss Strict is terse. It makes her feel very guilty, and she has no intention of feeling guilty because as far as she is concerned, she has done absolutely nothing wrong.
Storm tries her best to look innocent as she enters Jane’s office. Her hair is curling in the places it got wet from the snow, but other than that there’s no evidence of her recent shenanigans. Maybe she can deny them? No. That would be a lie, and Storm really hates lying.
She draws in a sharp breath as Jane turns toward her. She appears to have been waiting impatiently. Her hair, quite often up during the school week is down, a dark flowing mane that frames her features and heightens the sudden sense of guilty fear that floods Storm’s body, even though she had promised herself she wouldn’t feel bad.
“There was an altercation between you and Ms König.”
“Ohhhh. Nah. It was just a couple of snowballs. Just a prank.” She smiles a little, not too much, not enough to come across smug, just enough to be a kind of calming signal.
Storm hopes like hell Jane buys this little act. Her entire plan of getting away with it depends on Jane being lenient, because it all sounds very funny. It’s quite a gamble, but Laura needed to be told what was what. She couldn’t be allowed to just go around talking shit.
“You know pranks come with consequences.”
Storm looks at Jane with the most innocent gaze she can muster, a hint of surprise with a side of concern. The next words out of Jane’s mouth justify that concern.
“Laura, could you come in please.”
The door opens behind Storm, and Laura walks in.
She’s trapped. Laura is behind her. Jane is in front of her. This is worse than a rock and a hard place. She would give anything to be stuck between a rock and a hard place in this moment.
Storm swings around to face Laura, her heart sinking when she sees the bruise under Laura’s left eye. Hell. She didn’t intend for anybody to get actually hurt. It had just seemed like a funny way to make a point, and she fucking loves funny ways to make a point.
“Your behavior today was unacceptable. It is not your place to waylay staff and threaten them. You created a dangerous situation,” Jane lectures from the rear.
“I didn’t mean for anything bad to happen. I am sorry about that,” Storm apologizes unreservedly. “I didn’t mean for anything to happen to you, Ms König.”
Laura does not accept her apology. She doesn’t even acknowledge it.
“Miss König is going to discipline you,” Jane says, passing a paddle around Storm to Laura. “She was there, and I was not.”
“Oh, fuck no,” Storm gasps, her eyes locked on that paddle as it passes by. She cannot begin to imagine how much that would hurt when wielded by an angry guard. “Not her. She’s not qualified! She doesn’t have a degree in discipline! She can’t be trusted.”
“I’m satisfied she has a sufficient grasp on discipline to deal with you.”
Storm looks at Laura, and then at the paddle, and then at Laura. There is no mercy or warmth in Laura’s gaze. That woman is angry, and she is not going to be satisfied until she has her pound of flesh.
There is no way Storm is going to let this happen.
She’s never defied Jane directly, but Laura is not Jane. Laura produces a different reaction in Storm. She knows very well how far she’s pushed this woman. She knows that expression on her face has to mean pain of the kind she has no intention of experiencing.
Storm doesn’t just think about running. She actually runs.
And that’s where a lifetime of being a pain in the ass pays off. Years spent on playgrounds and parks dodging bigger, older, and even faster people is just the training she needs for this moment.
She dips to Laura’s right, which happens to be the hand she is holding the paddle in. That means Laura has to reach across her body in the attempt to catch her, which makes her spin, which slows her down just enough to give Storm enough time to reach the door, wrench it open, and bolt.
Jane watches the little scene unfold with a less than impressed expression. That was not what she expected to happen. She expected Storm to beg, whine, charm, plead, and generally attempt to get her way out of trouble.
“Do you see what I mean?” Laura turns back to her.
“Yes,” Jane says sternly. “I see precisely what you mean. I am sorry, Laura. She knows better.”
“Does she? Or does she act better with you, and only you. Whatever you are teaching is not extending beyond your borders.”
Jane nods. That is clear. Storm might be good for her, but she is still a complete and utter terror for everybody else.