Shade

After seeing Lucinda taken out of the school by her mother, Libby was thrilled. She had to find out the gossip about what happened. Maybe she could recreate what had been done so it could be repeated. If there was a way to make Lucinda's life a complete nightmare, Libby wanted to do it.

Whatever had happened, it had to have happened during Lucinda's P.E. Period. She was wearing the required Gym Uniform when she went home. Libby was desperate to find out the news. She didn't have Gym Class with Lucinda and wasn't sure if Rebecca had had that class with Lucinda, either. Libby would make sure to ask Rebecca when they had lunch together at their usual table.

Libby ran to her spot at the lunch table to talk to Rachel and Rebecca. "Have you guys heard about Lucinda?"

Rachel and Rebecca both answered, shaking their heads and leaning in. "No, what?"

Libby sat down, talking quickly and excitedly. "She had to go home and she was wearing her Gym Uniform. That can only mean one thing." Libby sang this last line. "Lucinda got in trouble." Libby laughed with glee at Lucinda's misfortune.

Rebecca leaned back on her stool. She was stunned. "What happened?"

Libby shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, I was about to ask you the same thing. I know you have some classes with her. Is one of those classes Gym?"

"No." Rebecca replied. "I only have History, Science, and Math with her. I think Katey has Gym with her."

Libby's eyes gleamed. "Where's Katey?"

Rebecca pointed out where Katey was sitting. Like a bloodhound on a scent, Libby took off in the direction Rebecca's finger indicated. She had to find out the dirt and she had to find out now. Rebecca frowned after Libby.

When Libby left, Rebecca pursed her lips, not liking the vibe of things at all. It was clear that Libby was becoming obsessed with making Lucinda's life miserable. That obsession was unhealthy and Rebecca was coming to realize that. The worst thing about Libby tormenting Lucinda, was that there was no reason for it. Lucinda didn't do anything to Libby. She was just a random girl that Libby found a petty, cheap, fault with, and turned her into a terrible enemy. Rebecca knew the truth, however. Lucinda wasn't the awful person. She was this super nice girl. If Libby had only given her a real chance, she could have gotten to like Lucinda. Maybe even became her friend. Lucinda might even have been allowed to join Libby's exclusive clique. Libby was beginning to disgust Rebecca, but there was nothing she could say or do. Libby could just as easily turn her fury against Rebecca, for siding with Libby's enemy. If Lucinda's treatment was bad, Rebecca's would receive worse. She had more to lose.

Libby returned in a few minutes, after talking with Katey to drop the big news on her friends. "Lucinda not only is a slob, she's an idiot!"

Rebecca leaned forward with keen interest. "Why? What'd she do?"

Libby giggled, wildly, at the preposterous of the story. "She kicked Max Spencer!"

Rachel's eyes practically bugged out. "Does she have a death wish? She's lucky Max Spencer didn't kill her."

Libby rocked with mirth. "Max tried. She choked Lucinda with her bare hands. Lucinda fought back. Scratched Max's arm. Both she and Max had to go home."

Rebecca suppressed a sigh of relief. "So she got away."

Libby pouted at the realization. "Yeah, she got away. Shame, too, I wish Max would have killed her."

Rebecca was shocked. "That's cold, Libby."

Libby shot Rebecca a dirty look. "So? What's it to you? Are you thinking of making her your new best friend?"

Rebecca was abashed. "No!" She sighs. "Forget I said anything."

Libby smirked. "Good. Lucinda is nothing. You got that? Nothing. She made a mistake coming to this school, we're going to continue to make that worthless little nothing suffer for that mistake."

Rachel sensed Rebecca's discomfort and Libby's dogma. Not knowing where to side. At first, picking on the new girl was fun. But Libby's attitude about the whole thing, was quickly taking all the joy out of it. She decided to reserve her own judgment, for the time being. "At least we get a break from seeing her at school, for awhile. She's probably been suspended."

"True. Most likely she got three days suspended. At least it's something to keep her away." Libby put her elbow on the table, resting her head in her hand. "Pity. I'd suggest getting some more people to beat her up, after school, but if she's stupid enough to fight back. That's out. So, we'll continue the rumors and make her a total pariah." Libby paused for a few moments, thinking. "Hmm. I think I'll talk to daddy, maybe he can do something about her." Libby seemed satisfied with that idea. She, quickly, finished her lunch, then bused her tray. Rachel and Rebecca hung back, letting Libby go on by herself.

Rachel looked at Rebecca with concern. "Are you okay?"

Rebecca shook her head, sadly. "No. No, I'm not."

Rachel listened. "Is it about how Libby is treating Lucinda?"

Rebecca nodded. "Yeah. She's crazy obsessed and the bad part is Lucinda doesn't deserve it."

"I know." Rachel agreed.

Rebecca gestured, talking with her hands and words. "I did a History project with Lucinda. I got to know her. She's incredibly nice. The complete opposite of Libby in her kindness. There's nothing bad about her. She's just really shy and timid."

Rachel measured her words, carefully. "Do you wish you were Lucinda's friend instead of Libby's?"

Rebecca nodded. "Yes. But I'm stuck. If I become friends with Lucinda, Libby would be furious and I'd get worse than what Lucinda's getting."

"Libby's as vindictive as she is vicious." Rachel admitted, supporting Rebecca in her dilemma.

Rebecca bit her lip, before continuing. "I kind of don't want to be Libby's friend, anymore, over the way she's treating Lucinda. But what do I do?"

Rachel raised her eyebrows. "I agree with you. At first, messing with the new girl was fun. But I don't like it, anymore. If only Libby would let up. That would make things easier."

"Yeah. I think, I'm beginning to feel bad for Lucinda." Rebecca picks up her empty tray. "Thanks for listening. Don't tell Libby what I said."

Rachel smiled, picking up her own tray. "I won't if you won't. Whatever you decide, about continuing to be Libby's friend. I'm with you."

Rebecca chuckled. "No need to worry about that." The girls return their lunch trays, then head off to class. Happy in their new understanding of one another and Lucinda.

---

Libby entered the school office, stopping by the secretary's desk. "Is daddy in? I'd like to talk to him." The secretary, distracted by her own lunch, waves Libby into her father's office. "Thanks." Libby skips into her father's office. She sees her father sitting behind his desk. Going over to him, Libby gives her father a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Hi, daddy."

Mr. Chandler, returns his daughter's affection. "Hi, sweetheart, what brings you to my office?"

Libby gives her father a saccharine smile. "Nothing. Can't I visit you during lunchtime, daddy?"

Mr. Chandler, not buying the act. "What are you up to?"

"What do you mean?" Libby asks. Seeing that her father isn't being fooled, she sits across from him in his desk. "Okay, I want to talk about that new girl, Lucinda. You had her in your office, today."

Mr. Chandler grows serious. "Libby, you know I can't tell you about school business regarding other students."

Libby rolls her eyes. "I know, daddy. Listen!" Libby pauses, expecting her father to say more, but when he doesn't, she continues. "That Lucinda-girl. I have the same lunch period as her. She bothers me. I can't stand to be around her."

Mr. Chandler gives Libby a confused look. "Bothers you? Bothers you how?"

Libby looks at her father all cute. "She's gross. I don't like her. Make it so I don't have to be anywhere near her, daddy. Please?"

Still not, fully, understanding, but wanting to please his daughter, Mr. Chandler gives in. "Okay, sweetheart. I'll talk to Michelle Bowen and see what we can do about it." He hears the bell ring, ending the lunch period. "Run along to class, you don't want to be late."

Libby springs up from her chair, bouncing around her father's desk to give him a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, daddy." Feeling pleased with herself, Libby skips out of the office, on her way to class.

Mr. Chandler is suspicious that his daughter is way too happy about reporting Lucinda. Something's got to be up. The office staff didn't note anything too out of the ordinary when she was in, earlier. Given what she was in for, Lucinda behaved quite well and normal. Apologizing to Max Spencer, the way she did, considering. Still, if there was a problem with the girl, he couldn't ignore it. He picked up the phone on his desk and dialed Miss Bowen's extension. He and the guidance counselor had themselves a nice long chat, regarding Lucinda. As a result, it was decided that Lucinda, Libby, the counselor, and the principal would have a meeting, once Lucinda returned from her suspension. The school staff would get to the bottom of all the strange things going on around Lucinda. Glancing at the calendar, Mr. Chandler realizes that the day Lucinda returns is also when half the teachers are planning to give students their midterm exams. That's going to make things extra difficult.