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[code]Grand Ridge Academy[/code]
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For Rita, last night had felt like the longest night of her life. She had tossed and turned for what felt like hours, mostly because she was steaming with anger. Jordan’s decision to go with the Hound ate at her. Kimberly said it was her choice, but it was the selfish choice. Plus, it felt like anyone who knew what was going on—Britney, the Child, the Speaker, the Hound—contradicted the others so much that Rita was certain that she was always getting lied too. Then, once she had managed to swallow her anger, push down her worries, and actually fall asleep her dreams were filled with memories of other people’s lives.

She had never even spoken with Charlie, and now she had to reflect on their deepest, darkest secrets and witness as they kept filling themselves up with false hope to keep on going down a fruitless career path. Rita shouldn’t hate so hard, as her studies were for Journalism with a minor in retail work, but at least it wasn’t Fine Arts. Despite spending too much of her night in Charlie’s head, Rita couldn’t understand how their mind worked. Since when did thinking happy thoughts do anything but set someone up for a grand disappointment? They were utterly unrealistic. 

It was with this negative energy that Rita started her day, and it was with this negative energy that she joined the group. Nobody needed to have an empathic link with the young woman to see that she wasn’t her best self; the dark rings under her eyes, her stringy, unwashed hair, and yesterday’s sweater said enough as it was. Rita did what she normally did when they had their group sessions: find Tuyen, squeeze in next to her, and try to disappear from sight. However, this morning there was no hello, no wave, and not even a quiet smile as Rita took her spot. She was practically Tuyen’s second shadow, which while perhaps more moody than the first was certainly less likely to tear the whole lobby apart. 

Penny offered Rita a smile as she joined the crew that were studying the map, the blonde’s face falling as the other girl outright ignored her. Penny also had a restless night, although she didn’t look as worn out or tired as Rita. Perhaps it was because she was no longer weighed down by heavy makeup, but Penny looked more like she felt—which was like a lost child crossed with a surprised deer. The role of leadership was proving itself to be an overwhelming one, and the fact that four of their own were now dead added a weight to any of the choices she was going to make. She should’ve fought harder against splitting up in the first place. 

"Great, so..." started Britney as Lynette arrived with the copies of the map. "The balls in your court, what would we do oh wise leader?"

“Seriously?” said Penny under her breath as she shot Britney an annoyed look, not letting the tiny little dig slide by. Penny had an urge to remind Britney how she had been the one to suggest that Penny be one of their “oh wise leaders”, let alone how Britney would be dead if Penny and the others hadn’t backed her up against Amethyst.  She swallowed it, and wished that she hadn’t smoked her last cigarette the other night. Penny was already feeling on edge because Billy still hadn’t decided to join the group yet, despite her telepathic reminders to get the hell up. She didn’t need to keep stirring up a rivalry she was trying to bury.

Justin mentioned having some tough news to swallow, giving Penny a minor reprieve of coming up with a plan.

“She’s right,” said Penny after Tuyen urged Justin on. “I’m pretty sure we can handle anything at this point.”