"Annie," called Big Sis, "Carrie's gone now."
Annie peeked out of the stall. "You don't have to watch me if you don't want to."
Big Sis would not look directly at her. "I'm sorry, I told Carrie I would."
Marie was obviously uncomfortable about intruding into her privacy, though Annie did not mind. She had heard Carrie ask the elder sister to watch over their younger sibling. Did Big Sis feel so bad about lying to Annie that she took her promise to Second Sis so seriously?
"Is it okay with you?" Annie definitely did not want her oldest sister to feel uneasy. Not when their relationship was now normal.
"It's... it's fine," Big Sis uttered.
Annie finished her shower and toweled herself dry. Outside the shower stall, Big Sis was standing there, facing away, with her head bowed and her arms crossed.
The little girl sighed. She wrapped herself in a towel. "I'm decent, Big Sis," she announced.
Big Sis looked at her and smiled. She waited while Annie brushed her teeth. Then she followed Annie back to her room. When the little girl gave her an inquiring glance, Marie apologized, "Sorry, I promised Carrie I'd watch over you."
Marie politely turned aside while Annie dressed in her pajamas. She helped dry Annie's hair with the hairdryer. She waited again while Annie chose her outfit for the next day. Finally, she tucked Annie into bed.
"Goodnight, Annie," Big Sis said as she brushed the hair away from her sister's forehead.
Annie smiled back. "Goodnight, Big Sis."
***
The first two schooldays of the week had been relaxing.
The school authorities had reminded the students not to bring inappropriate materials. Spot checks had been conducted. Annie had been relieved that no more of those offending photos of her were found - at least, none that she knew of.
On the morning of the third day, however, Keith the Unscrupulous Reporter had confronted her early before classes started. He was probably sullen that the school had barred him from writing any story about Annie's photos.
Annie had no sympathy for him. She still felt a little sour about his story of her alleged abuse of alcohol. He had slapped together a tale of how she drank until she passed out and was found by the police. The story was true, except for the false exaggerations of Annie's actions and intentions that put a bad light to her. Keith had also neglected to mention that she had not intentionally consumed the alcohol.
He probably did not know.
And it was a very good thing he did not know what had happened while she was unconscious or how she had been found.
"Do you know anything about what happened to Connie Baker and Sabine Weiss?" Keith began.
"No," Annie replied. They had been in class the day before, though they had disappeared after lunch. "Has something happened to them?"
"People say Ms Baker suddenly transferred," Keith said, "Though there's a rumor that she's actually suspended. Both she and Ms Weiss."
Connie and Sabine suspended!? Was that why they had to leave early yesterday?
"Why were they suspended?" Annie asked.
"I'm supposed to ask you that," Keith pointed out.
"I don't know why," Annie admitted.
It took a while but she did eventually convince the black-haired boy that she did not know anything. She suspected it had something to do with the police investigation of the kidnapping and robbery but she was not about to tell Keith about that.
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