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She lifted her eyebrows "That’s a surprisingly ly mature" It wasn’t that I wanted to snark back to the principal of h school, the head honcho (honchess?) of the place I lived, slept, ate, and learned But her attitude, her assumption that I was here because I lacked soed for snark

On the other hand, since I’d made the decision toback to my room, maybe I did

Foley lifted her brows, and her expression hts onof our students and the reputation of our institution very seriously"

Given as going on beneath her institution, I wondered about that But I ed to keep my mouth shut

"I expect you’ll return to St Sophia’s tomorrow?"

"That’s what they say"

Foley nodded "Very well I’ve asked Ms Green to gather your assignments Given that tomorrow’s Saturday, you’ll have soe for a car to transport you back to St Sophia’s If you require anything before your return, you may contact our staff"

I nodded Her work apparently done, she walked toward the door But then she glanced back

"About our conversation," she said, "perhaps I wasill informed about your parents’ professions"

I stared at her for a few seconds, trying to nize that you, of course, would know better than I the nature of your parents’ work" She glanced down at her watch "I need to return to the school Enjoy your evening"

My ed to bob my head as she disappeared around the corner, then opened and closed the door again

I stared down at the remote control in h h that she’d dropped by in the first place--I h school principals visited their students in the hospital? She clearly had her own theories about what had happened to uess she wanted to cover her bases,to spill to the media or call a lawyer about ht up ed her story? And even weirder, she actually seemed sincere Contrite, even, and Foley didn’t exactly see type, nawed the edge of ave the reic, firespell, whatever Things were seriously weird at St Sophia’s

True to the doc’s word, I was released the next lasses-clad ht casual clothes for e into--jeans and a T-shirt, probably selected by Scout--and signed me out A nurse wheeled me, invalid style, to the front door of the clinic and the St Sophia’s-branded minivan that sat at the curb The matron was silent on the way back to the convent, but it was a pretty short ride--only a few blocks back to my new home on Erie They dropped me off at the front door without a word, and I headed up the stairs and into the building Although I’d been gone only a couple of days, the convent seeun to feel like hoamore than ever

It was a Saturday afternoon, and thewas all but empty A handful of students peppered the study hall, et ahead to pad their academic resumes The halls that held the suites were louder,into the hallway as St Sophia’s girls relaxed and enjoyed the weekend

I unlocked the door to our suite Scout jumped up from the couch, decked out in jeans and layered T-shirts, her hair pulled into a short ponytail, and practically knocked

"Thank God," she said "The brat packers were getting alavewhere I left it?"

"Last time I checked," I said with a smile, then waved at Barnaby, who sat on the couch behind us She wore a fitted pale blue T-shirt with a rainbow across the front, and her hair was up in some kind of complicated knot It was very Sound of Music

"Hello, Lily," she said

"Hi, Lesley"

The door to Amie’s suite opened Amie, MK, and Veronica piled out of the roo as they realized I’d co tank tops, and sneakers I assumed it orkout time

Amie’s smile faded to an expression that was a lot heavier on the contrition and apology MK’s s both hands to pull her hair into a ponytail I wasn’t even on her radar

"You were in the hospital," MK said There was no apology behind her words, no indication that she thought theythat happened to me They weren’t, of course, responsible, but they didn’t know that I’d hoped for so in a nice "sheepish embarrassment"

"Yep," I said

"What happened to you?" MK had apparently skipped e accusatory

"I’?" MK snickered at her joke "Soious?"

"There are certainliability issues," I said, then looked over at Aured she was et "Insurance issues Parental liability issues Probably best not to talk about it We don’t want to have to get the lawyers involved Not yet, anyway"

Scout, half turning so that only I could see her, winked at lance

"But thanks for the tour," I added as I headed for my bedroom I unlocked the door, then stood there as Scout and Barnaby skipped inside

"It was very educational," I said, then winked at the brat pack, walked inside, and closed the door behind us

As draave Scout and Lesley a mini- update, at least the parts I could talk about in Lesley’s company Lesley wasn’t an Adept, at least as far as I are, so I kept my replay of Foley’s visit and my chat with Jason purely PG But I shooed them out of my roo, environmentally irresponsible shower As soon as they were out the door, I changed into my reversible robe (stripes for perky days, deep blue for serious ones), grabbed my bucket o’ toiletries, and headed for the bathrooainst the wall, my head dunked under the spray The heat probably didn’t do ood for riri ofbeen unconscious and apparently near death for twelve hours; (3) having been the victi been carried out of a dangerous situation by a ridiculously pretty boy and having almost no ainst nature

And, of course, there was the other thing