Court Kept (Court High 3)

This was better, making things seem like a casual and friendly visit to discuss memories regarding my sister. Like my initial plan with Ramses, I did need things to appear normal. I didn’t know what was bothering the boys about me poking. But something did bother them, so any questioning I did needed to stay on the DL for now. If anything, so as not to get back to them that I was prying.

Mrs. Hastings’s smile returned, her nod light before placing hands on her knee. “I understand, but I have to say, anything that was exchanged between your sister and me during her sessions is strictly confidential.”

“I know. I guess I just…” I pulled the journal forward, showing it to her. “I wanted to talk about her with you as her friend, I guess? The journal really helped.”

Sitting back, Mrs. Hastings’s eyes crinkled hard in the corners. “I see. Well then, this requires something a little less formal, then, doesn’t it? Come. Let’s get away from the therapy couch and to more casual seating. We’ll talk there.”

As it turned out, I liked the switch across her office to lounge chairs. It felt less therapist and patient and more talking about someone we had a mutual relationship with.

I took the seat with ease, studying the collection of photos Mrs. Hastings had on the end table and coffee table. There were many of her and her sister, Daisy, the two on vacation with each other in places like Paris, London, Australia, and even Disney World. They’d definitely been adults with no kids in that last photo, Mickey Mouse ears on their heads and the two with their arms around each other. They were obviously incredibly close and the sole picture she did have with Principal Hastings was their wedding photo. That was weird. I turned away, watching as Mrs. Hastings sat down with a cup of coffee.

“Your sister is nice,” I said, as Mrs. Hastings blew the steam off her coffee. Seeing me notice her photos, the light shined across her face again.

“She is and very fun as you can see.” She nudged her coffee cup toward the table, pointing out a few of the photos there. “She got me to go to all those places. I seriously hate flying.”

“Really?”

“Oh, loathe it.” Chuckling, she stirred her coffee. “Definitely more of the adventurous type.”

Sounded like me and my sister. Paige had always been the one to do all the running, free unlike me. I found myself easily bound by mental handicaps when they came, where she just said to hell with any problems she had. They always so easily rolled off her back.

Mrs. Hastings placed her cup on the table. “So the journal helped? I’m glad. I didn’t know if it would or not.”

I ran my hand over the cover. “Leave it to my sister to doodle when she should be writing her feelings.”

“Oh, those were her feelings, December. So many. Your sister was very expressive but in her own way.”

“Can you tell me about her? I mean, not the therapy stuff, of course, but just who she was now. You know we lived apart.”

“I do.” That made her sad, the expression reflecting its way across her eyes. “She was very excitable, but I wouldn’t say not happy. She had a lot of good support here. She and Royal Prinze were inseparable. And of course Lance Johnson, Knight Reed, and Jaxen Ambrose. I only counseled her freshman year, but there wasn’t a place she went where those four didn’t go too, real friends until the…”

I looked up, knowing why she didn’t finish.

Her smile saddened. “I’m sorry. What I meant was they were really good friends. You didn’t have to worry about Paige. At least, when I knew her

. She was very determined, always there fighting for herself and others. Many people admired her.”

I admired her too, my hand on the moleskin. “I know you counseled her freshman year, but did you know anything else about her?”

“In what way?” Crossing her legs, she leaned in.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. About the stuff she was into now? Was she still on the prep team?”

“Not that I know of, and to be honest, I think she did that mostly as a favor to me. Turnout was never great for the program, and she did me a favor by joining. Your sister was so popular. She got so many of the girls at school to come out for it.”

I smiled. “Anyone she was close to on the team or…” That might be my in, my everything. My sister had a predominately male relationship range, and if she did prep team this one year, a team full of girls, that might be where she’d met the one.

Thinking about it, Mrs. Hasting picked up her coffee. “Honestly, I can’t remember. She could have. Why do you ask?”

I sat back casually. “I just want to talk to everyone who knew her. It really does help, the grieving process.”

Looking at me, Mrs. Hastings lowered her cup. “I wish I could be of more help. I knew your sister, but it’d been a long time. I didn’t keep up with her over the years as much as I would have liked. I had so many students at that time, December. I’m so sorry.”

It wasn’t her fault, and I did understand. Coming here was a long shot, and I did know that too.

Mrs. Hastings nodded toward my hands, and when she did, I gave her the journal. “Honestly, this may give you more clues about her depth. Who she was at her core and the things she couldn’t always say. Even to me. She told so much in these drawings.” Handing it back to me, she sat back. “I wish you luck, and if you ever need anything, to talk for real, please call me. I’m happy to help. Anything to help.”

Eighteen