Valerie offered a bewildered smile in return and finished off the first half of her sandwich. When the topic turned out to be about training the blonde internally relaxed. A nod was given to say she understood since her tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth. Yes, she’d experienced the cool detachment during her stay in England. At first it had bothered her, being young she didn’t properly understand the distance. Then as she grew she began to realise why it existed, even if she didn’t quite believe it did anyone any good. To not get emotionally involved on some level almost made it seem like she was never really a real person, just a tool to be used against forces far stronger than they could handle.
Palms smoothed together to shed any crumbs before she picked up the can and took a liberal sip. What kind of inadvertent bond? Surely not a romantic one, no that was absurd, perhaps more in tune to a motherly figure than a friend? It was common among teachers and pupils to connect in such ways, role models formed naturally. Though Julianna sounded perplexed, Valerie watched it play over the woman as much as the sunlight.
“Is she in trouble, do you need me to find her? I can leave today.” It didn’t occur to her that the past tense hadn’t just been about when Julianna had met her. No, it hit her seconds later when she remembered what the woman had said moments before. Don’t fret. Which meant either Allison was in town for a visit and Julianna didn’t know how to approach her or… Allison was dead.
Valerie sat back in the chair, pale hands splayed against the table and she shut her eyes. “I’m sorry.” She said quietly, then looked across to Julianna. “Did she…” Lips pressed together and she took in a slow breath, shook her head. “Was it recently?” That poor girl, another one gone. It seemed so needless though she knew it wasn’t. Did she think that because it’s what she felt, or what she was told? “Is there anything I can do?”
no subject
Palms smoothed together to shed any crumbs before she picked up the can and took a liberal sip. What kind of inadvertent bond? Surely not a romantic one, no that was absurd, perhaps more in tune to a motherly figure than a friend? It was common among teachers and pupils to connect in such ways, role models formed naturally. Though Julianna sounded perplexed, Valerie watched it play over the woman as much as the sunlight.
“Is she in trouble, do you need me to find her? I can leave today.” It didn’t occur to her that the past tense hadn’t just been about when Julianna had met her. No, it hit her seconds later when she remembered what the woman had said moments before. Don’t fret. Which meant either Allison was in town for a visit and Julianna didn’t know how to approach her or… Allison was dead.
Valerie sat back in the chair, pale hands splayed against the table and she shut her eyes. “I’m sorry.” She said quietly, then looked across to Julianna. “Did she…” Lips pressed together and she took in a slow breath, shook her head. “Was it recently?” That poor girl, another one gone. It seemed so needless though she knew it wasn’t. Did she think that because it’s what she felt, or what she was told? “Is there anything I can do?”