So it was official. I was gonna snoop around.

There had to be something that was going on. I decided not to tell Lily. I don't think she needed the trouble. 

Rory told me there were secrets and corruptions going on. The best place to check was probably Marelyn's office. There didn't seem to be any passcode when Lily and I came. 

I needed to watch Marelyn. Wait outside her office. After breakfast. Get there before she does. I hope she doesn't go anywhere else. 

***

So after breakfast I made an excuse to Lily and snuck off before the formal ending.

I hide around the corner, my back to the wall. I hear footsteps click-clacking on the brick floors. I suck in a breath and listen closely. I hear a door open and close. Nothing else.

"You know you're not gonna get anywhere without me, right?"

I freeze and turn around. "Lily?" Her arms were crossed and her eyes started at me with malice.

"The one and only."

"I-I thought I told you-"

"Please. I know when you're lying. I followed you."

She's mad at me. All I did was keep her safe. I didn't want her to be involved in this. "You shouldn't have done that."

"You shouldn't have lied."

"It's not that big of a deal!" Lily uncrossed her arms.

"No, Odila! It's a lot bigger than you think!" She stepped closer to me, getting in my face. I glared back. She didn't understand. "You don't trust me. You don't think I can handle sneaking around. You don't think I can break a rule!"

"That's not true!"

Lily stepped away. "It is Odila, and you know it." She walked past me angrily, her hair swishing in my face. It gave off a sickly fruity smell. 

I slid down and sat on my butt, angry tears sliding down my cheeks. I had lost my first real friend. A lot of other stuff came back, stuff that I didn't want to remember. When my dad walked out. One night he was there, the next he wasn't. He and mom would get into fights almost daily. I would hide upstairs and put on music so I didn't have to hear them shouting. 

I had to get her back. 

I couldn't loose her. She knew me now, I can't shut that door. Can't cut her out, just like that. 

And I need to figure out this secret.