“Did you really mean to help me out?” Darcy asked shakily after a tense moment.
“Yeah,” Judith mumbled irritably, staring at the carpet.
“Thanks,” Darcy said.
Judith twitched slightly in a “no problem” gesture and Alice sensed the give in her armor.
“And to be honest, I think Judith had a point, Darcy,” Alice said, trying to diffuse the girl’s focus on Judith. “You’re not acting like a slobbering puppy, I don’t mean that. But this guy’s attention isn’t going to make your life perfect, and you’re acting like it will.”
“But he’s so incredible,” Darcy persisted.
“If you’re so preoccupied with his incredibleness, he’s never going to notice yours,” Judith said.
Alice blinked, stunned by the girl’s conciseness. “Now that’s good advice,” she said, a smile breaking free.
“Maybe you’re right,” Darcy acknowledged.
Judith looked at Alice warily from beneath a lowered brow. Hopefully. A rush of amazement went through Alice. She recognized Judith’s expression.
Alice was the one usually wearing it.
“I’m here early,” Crystal Dean called out, approaching them. It felt like the fragile moment among Alice and the girls fractured. “It’s Friday night, Alice. Why don’t you take off? I saw some of the other counselors out on the grounds, and they were talking about going into Morgantown to get something to eat. Maybe you can join them.”
Judith abruptly got up.
“Judith,” Alice called out, getting up from the couch as well. Judith flew out of the common room. Alice followed her down the girl’s hallway, hoping to solidify the tenuous connection. Before she could reach her, however, Judith disappeared into her room and slammed the door behind her. Alice pulled up short and started to walk away.
Suddenly, she halted.
She recognized this particular gesture on Judith’s part as well, and had responded to it instinctively by departing. Didn’t Alice constantly retreat when her defenses were breached, eager to be alone so that she could lick her wounds and let the scar tissue build up once again?
She thought of last night, in bed with Dylan. She’d felt raw and exposed when he’d asked about her father. But Dylan hadn’t let her run away. Not completely. He’d only let her retreat to the bathroom for a bit to gather herself.
When she’d reemerged and come back to the bed, he hadn’t said another word. He’d just held and stroked her until she’d fallen asleep, his quiet acceptance and strong embrace speaking louder than words.
Well, she wasn’t as skilled at this communication thing as Dylan. But she wasn’t going to just give up, either. Alice hurried to the common room and found some paper and a pen. She wrote briskly, and then folded the note.
“Night, everybody,” she called out to the kids. She smiled broadly at the loud chorus of good-byes. She was starting to really like her kids.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do tonight, Alice!” Terrance called out slyly.
“Okay, so don’t be silent and tactful?” she tossed off over her shoulder, giving the boy a fond but pointed glance. Terrance’s brown eyes went wide. He and his friends roared with laughter. Alice paused, waiting for their amusement to quiet. “Remember what we’re doing Monday before breakfast?” she asked Terrance.
Terrance rolled his eyes and groaned. “Ah, no. You really going to make me go jogging with you? And that early in the morning?”
“You lost the bet during football practice,” Alice said, shrugging. “A deal is a deal. You go jogging with me at least three times a week. You afraid you can’t keep up?”
“I’ll keep up,” Terrance insisted while his friends snickered.
“Can I go, too?” Justin Arun piped up.
“No, just me and Alice, fool,” Terrance said, scowling forbiddingly at his friend.
Alice suppressed a grin. Terrance acted miffed about their deal, but she could tell he was secretly pleased to have been singled out for a little individual time with her. She prayed she could sell him on the benefits of exercise. She knew Terrance was strong physically from their football practices and various activities. He was just alarmingly obese, and had to deal with a chronic illness—diabetes—that most adults struggled with when it came to treatment compliance. Just today, the visiting physician had okayed Terrance for jogging. Alice had her work cut out for her.
On so many levels.
Before she left for the night, she slid the folded note under Judith’s door.