Doubt

The girls took their seats as the dean sat behind his desk.

"I hear that each of you have had a difficult time in your courses," Dean Trask said.

"Sir, we can explain everything," June said.

"I hope so, Ms. Violet. Your teacher reported a small fire that was set off soon after you left."

"A fire?" June's eyes widened in surprise.

"Many of the students suggest that you may have set off a match and let 'Ms. Hash's bracelet on fire.'"

"That's not true," June protested.

"I'm sure she didn't do it, Sir," Madison defended June. "Granted, I don't know June that well, but she doesn't seem like the type of person who would do that type of thing."

"I am afraid I cannot take your word for it, Ms. Chan, considering the incident you caused with the sprinklers," the dean responded.

"I didn't—" Madison began to speak.

"Ms. Chan, please do not sit there and lie to me."

Nervous about the dean not letting her explain, Madison cringed in her chair.

"Perhaps you need a new prescription to assist with your condition."

"She doesn't need those damn pills," April G said.

"Ms. Jones, I'd appreciate it if you controlled your temper," said the dean. "It might have prevented what you did to Ms. Latimore."

"She attacked me first. Besides, that spatula never should have exploded like that. Ms. Beingshi just bought them this month."

"That is enough. All three of you refuse to take responsibility for your actions. So, I will be assigning each of you cleanup duty after the school play as punishment."

"But sir, I have a game tomorrow," Madison said.

"I'm afraid you'll have to miss it," the dean said. "Since Brother Baxter has taken a leave of absence, I will personally supervise your work. Is that understood?"

The girls looked at each other with a grim feeling hanging over their heads.

"Yes, sir," they agreed in unison.

"Terrific. You are dismissed," said the dean.

As the girls rose from their seats, the dean reached for a glass jar filled with lollipops.

"One more thing. It has come to my attention that all of you have a birthday today. Please take one."

The dean offered the girls a lollipop, and they reluctantly accepted.

"Happy birthday, ladies."

"Thank you, Sir," they replied.

The students left the dean's office as he returned the jar to his desk. But as he did, he saw a flickering light come from his pocket. He reached in and pulled out the crystal ball that April G had tripped on earlier that week.

"It can't be," Dean Trask said. "Zai must be near."

The girls walked through the hallway as Madison and June unwrapped their lollipops.

"Can't believe we ended up having to clean the auditorium," April complained as she folded her arms.

"At least he was nicer than Baxter," June said, putting the lollipop in her mouth.

"Why is it that the three of us are always getting into trouble?" Madison asked.

"Beats me. I can't wait till I'm eighteen so I can leave this stupid orphanage."

"Same here," April G said. "My life here has been a living hell."

"Because of Roxy?" Madison asked. "Why does she hate you so much?"

"It's… you wouldn't understand."

"Does it have something to do with that Jerome guy?" June asked.

"Kind of."

"Or maybe it's about that pearl necklace," said Madison.

April G stopped in her tracks as Madison brought up the necklace.

"How did you—"

"I saw her play with it every time she bullied you."

"Is that yours?" June asked.

"No, it was my mom's," April G explained. "It's the last thing I have of her."

"How did Roxy get her hands on it?" Madison asked.

"Her and some of her friends jumped me a few weeks ago and stole it. Apparently, Jerome has a thing for me, and she noticed."

"So, it's payback," June said. "Steal her boyfriend, she steals your necklace."

"I didn't like Jerome that way. He's just a nice guy who always seemed friendly to me."

"So, if you told the teachers about the necklace…" Madison started.

"Roxy and her friends would tell them I was lying. She's a straight-A student and captain of the debate team," April G said. "The school is so desperate to have star students like her to get more notoriety."

"Why's that?" Madison asked.

"Money," June answered. "The better the extracurriculars, the more funding the school will get."

Their conversation continued until the lights exploded throughout the hallway, causing the girls to freak out.

"What the hell?" June asked.

April G dropped her lollipop, shattering it on the floor.

"I see why the school needs funding," Madison criticized. "The lights are terrible."

"Kind of like last night when we had to clean the gym," June added.

As they discussed this strange phenomenon, April G's hand began to twitch. Looking around the pitch-black hallway, her hand glowed green, and the lollipop reformed.

The lights came back on, and the girls regained their sight.

"This is getting weird," Madison said. "We should head to class."

"Good idea," April G agreed.

"Hey, is that your lollipop?" June asked.

"Oh yeah," April G picked up the lollipop. "Funny, I thought I heard this thing break when I dropped it."

The girls went their separate ways as the dean appeared from the shadows with suspicion on his face.

"Those three may be connected to Zai," Dean Trask said. "But how?"