Page 33 of De Vil

Leaving her makes my heart hurt. I shouldn't have left her alone for so long today. Then again, she needed to learn her place. It's a conundrum that I'm going to have to deal with. No matter what I do, It’s a battle with myself.

While I grab a bottle of water, I get some snack food. I'm pretty sure she's going to be hungry, and I feel bad all over again, knowing I practically starved her today. Walking back into the bathroom, I stay silent as she blows the bubbles in her hand.

I've never had a little girl, so I do not know if this is normal. Or if this is her way of coping with what happened today. "I've got you some water and a few snacks to help curb your hunger."

"Thank you, Mommy." Tia takes the bottle of water and downs it. Good thing I have more.

"Slow down, princess. You don't want to choke yourself."

"Sorry, Mommy, I'm very thirsty."

I smile at her as I sit down on the side of the tub. "I figured. Here, eat some crackers and I'll get you some more water."

"Don't go." She reaches out with her free hand and holds onto my arm. Her grip is hard, and I'm not sure that she's aware of it.

"Alright." I take her hand in mine and bring it up to my mouth. "My sweet princess. You are being so good right now. I'm proud of you."

She blushes, and for the first time, I see the girl behind the mask. The one that needs love and attention. Something I'm more than willing to provide her.

As she eats her crackers and cheese, I watch her, content, sitting here in silence. My phone buzzes and I sigh. Of course the real world would try to pierce through my peace. "Do you want to get that?"

Tia looks at me, and I chuckle. "Yeah, I might need to get that."

"Ok." I go into the bedroom and pick up the phone.

Chris:Meet me in my office at four. We need to discuss what happened at the Kappa House."

Me:You know what happened.

Chris:Four.

Pompous prick. Taking the phone into the bathroom, I sit it down on the counter and turn to Tia. "I need to meet the dean of education at four o’clock. That's about an hour or so from now. Would you like to go see your friend, Jazz?"

The smile on Tia's face says it all. I made the right decision to let her go see her friend. "Yes, please."

Damn, I'm going to enjoy hearing her saypleasemore. Her being on her best behavior makes me happy. I'll have to find ways for her to continue to be a good girl.

* * *

After dropping Tia off, I drive over to the Groveton Administrative Building. Christopher Groveton is on the top floor, and I know for a fact, he hates being here. He's already made it clear he feels like the students are beneath him on more than one occasion.

Tia has my phone number, and she will call me if anything happens—or if she needs me for anything. I didn't like leaving her. Knowing what I now know, I might not let her be far away from me again for long.

Chris is waiting for me when I step off the elevator. "Laura, so good of you to come."

"Not like I had a choice, Chris."

"Mr. Groveton," he corrects me and moves his eyes to the side. I crane my neck and see the police department here.

"My apologies Mr. Groveton." I step up to him and he bends down.

"Stick to the story you told and everything will be fine. I know better. You have some explaining to do."

I nod my head, and he backs away from me. "Officers, I told you I would come down to the station later today. I'm not sure why you couldn't wait. After all, I am the victim."

Coach didn't walk into the dorm with me, and she doesn't know that Jazz isn't here. I'm uncertain where she is since I didn't send a message to her. Instead, I ordered an Uber, and I'm on my way home. The feelings I have when I'm with Coach are unsettling. One minute I want to be her little princess. Next, I want to be a brat. I need to breathe. I have to, because I can't understand what's happening to me.

Normalcy. That's what I want right now, and that's what I'm going to do. Once I'm home, I change into a pair of shorts and a tank top. Maybe I'm trying to goad Coach. This could be a direct hit to the truce we seem to have made. I smile, thinking about what she might do to me.

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