Lutece Anthony

May 27, 2007 9:43 PM

[First Year Girls' Dorm] [Tag: Talitha] by Lutece Anthony

Lutece stomped up the stairs and into her dorm, slamming the door and glaring at it before flopping dejectedly onto her bed. Another stupid, stupid charms lesson with stupid people and stupider teachers. McKindy had started the whole lesson off with asking them to turn in their essays--which Lutece hadn't done, then told them to use their sticks to unlock boxes and 'magically' lift puzzle pieces onto the ceiling. And the worst part was that Lutece was completely out of excuses and reasons why it couldn't be real. She had talked to James and he'd thought she was completely nuts, making it all up or something. He had said it would be basically impossible to pull the sheer amount of fakery that would be necessary to run a 'magical' school without so much as a blip.

She had tried not to believe him, had tried to figure out some other reason for the whole system to be working.

But it was March, and she hadn't managed anything really plausible. Lutece was out of ideas and, quite frankly, out of the will to fight it with anything but a numb, 'it-can't-be-real' mentality. It was pathetic.

It was the best she could do.

She hated herself for that.

Burying her head in her pillow, she screamed in frustration and then, to her shock, horror, and utter dismay, heard the door open. Shooting up as though someone had put a Kneazle (cat, cat, cat, she thought furiously) under her stomach. Trying to fix her blue skirt, hair, and adjust her shirt so that her training bra didn't show at the neck at the same time didn't work so well. But then, realising who it was, she relaxed. It was just the Indian girl. Whatever her name was.

"What're you doing here?" Lutece asked coolly, if a bit hoarsely.
0 Lutece Anthony [First Year Girls' Dorm] [Tag: Talitha] 100 Lutece Anthony 1 5


Talitha

May 27, 2007 10:53 PM

Cheerio, Roomie by Talitha

Talitha took her parchment and books out of her bag. She decided to study down in the common room in the hopes that Oliver or Beth would wander by and want to do homework with her. She was all set up to begin her paper except for a quill. She dug though her bag, emptied the contents on the table, still no quill. She felt behind her ear. No she hadn’t stuck it there. Where did she loose it this time? Then she remembered throwing her bag on her bed before she headed for supper, it probably fell out there.

She walked up the stairs to her room, still giggling a bit. She’d calmed down during class in order to complete the task, but every time she thought of that hat… it was just too funny. For the most part, things couldn’t have been going better this term. Even her school work improved with her new attitude. ‘It’ had only happened a few times and nobody suspected her. She’d made lots of friends.

Mother and she had exchanged dozens of owls planning her party this summer after she “walked”. She hoped some of her classmates could make it to her party when she would get her adult name. “Talitha” sounded all right, even pretty, but it translated into “Little One” and she was tired of such a baby name. Humming to herself a bit she opened the door to her room.

"What're you doing here?" Lutece’s voice broke through her musings. So much for ending the day on a positive note, Talitha thought. Lutece looked upset, almost like she’d almost been caught doing something she oughtn’t. Talitha studied her roommate warily. She wasn’t really in the mood for a fight, but she wasn’t going to apologize for being in her own room either.

“Uhm, I live here?” Talitha answered with just a touch of sarcasm.

\n
0 Talitha Cheerio, Roomie 0 Talitha 0 5


Lutece

May 28, 2007 2:26 PM

Euegh. Do I have to admit I know you? by Lutece

"Uhm, I live here?"

Lutece's temper flared when the other first year made that sarcastic remark. She had absolutely no right to do that. It was obviously a bad time to mess with her. And if the little Indian girl couldn't even notice that after nearly a year of rooming with her, then it just sort of stunk to be her, didn't it?

"Yeah, I'd noticed. Something about the stupid Indian crap all over the room." Lutece honestly didn't care that Talitha had decorated her part of the room. She even sort of liked the dreamcatcher--it was pretty. But she needed some reason to get angry at someone besides herself. "It's not even completely your room! Other people have to live in this stupid place too. You don't have any consideration whatsoever! Plus, you...you....auegh! You're just so obnoxious!"

She hated Sonora. She wasn't even sure it was all right for her to play Quidditch anymore. She didn't want to be a lesbian like the Coach was. That would be really gross. Plus she couldn't even ask the Coach how to protect herself from becoming one because Jen was pretty sure that gayness was contagious.

Life seriously stunk.

Lutece stuck her hand in the American Eagle bag at her side, searching for her compact. She couldn't wear makeup yet, but it could still be useful in fixing her hair or something. While she was digging around in the bag, her hand fell upon the 'wand'. Angrily, she pushed it aside...and it emitted red and green sparks.

That was it.

Furiously, Lutece threw the stick towards the opposite wall. Her head was killing her. She did not want to deal with this stupid make-believe stuff.

The wand ricocheted off the wall, the handle having hit it and fell to the carpet, tip first.

The patch of carpet burst into bloom.

"Stop doing that!" she yelled at Talitha. Hurriedly, Lutece took her hair out of the high ponytail and started to put it back up again, ignoring her roommate and the small batch of flowers. Or trying to, at least.

0 Lutece Euegh. Do I have to admit I know you? 0 Lutece 0 5


Talitha Cumni

May 29, 2007 1:57 AM

Oooooooo Someone needs a nappie! by Talitha Cumni

As Lutece began her tirade about her stuff, Talitha stood with one eyebrow raised. Before, they had basically just ignored each other. But when they’d returned from break, Talitha had become more and more happy and well adjusted while Lutece had grown more and more sullen. She’d been making snide comments to the air or to others and Talitha chose to ignore them considering the source. Until tonight, however, Lutece had never directly gone on the attack. She certainly was making up for lost time.

As her roommate began to rant on and on about her “Indian” stuff, Tiffany scanned the muggle posters of models and rock stars on the walls were Lutece slept and the stacks and stacks of fashion magazines thrown everywhere. Never once had Tiffany been asked if she minded walls decorated with posters of name brand clothes that increased their profits by using child slave labor in third world countries.

The wand thrown across the room causing a piece of the carpet to grow flowers and Lutece’s accusation that Talitha had “done something” caused the other brow to join the first. Clearly this girl had issues and Talitha was just the target of the moment. It was definitely time for Lutece to be given a reality check.

“First of all,” Talitha put in an effort to keep her voice calm. “I didn’t do anything. The wand did that on its own because you abused it.”

“Secondly,” Talitha usually didn’t mind the word “Indian”. She used it herself. But it was the way Lutece said it, that gave offence. “My mother is Suquamish, my father is one half Navajo and one half Lakota/Sioux. None of my family or to my knowledge, my things come from India. The correct term is Native American, not Indian.

“And last, if you’ve got a problem with my stuff, than do me a favor and talk to me about it instead of scream at me. Oh yeah, I’ll take down my dream catcher when you take down your poster with the Nike swishes all over it.”
\n
0 Talitha Cumni Oooooooo Someone needs a nappie! 102 Talitha Cumni 0 5


Lutece

June 10, 2007 9:42 AM

...*headdesk* No comment by Lutece

“The ‘wand’,” Lutece interrupted acidly, “Is a piece of wood. You cannot abuse a piece of wood.” But the Indian girl rode right over her, as though she didn’t hear her. The first year was furious. At the whole school. At the world in general. At her roommate in particular. Why? Because she was there. Because she liked this stupid place. Because, for some mixture of events, Lutece was completely losing control. She could feel herself hyperventilating and not thinking before speaking. Despite all appearances, the Crotalus did not tend to be nescient. She usually did know what she was talking about, at least to some extent. But this…this was frightening.

Lutece tried to force herself to calm down and breathe, and think before she completely lost control, but the fact that Talitha kept talking was not helping the situation. If anything, it was making Lutece more frantic, more desperate to get some control over something. Breathe she told herself sternly, trying to contain her panic and frustration. This was the first time she had not been able to keep control to this extent. This was the first time that things had gone so drastically, badly wrong.

This was the first time that she could not seem to talk herself out of the situation.

It was a shock, to say the least. This neoteric feeling of a lack of control was not something Lutece felt she needed to be experiencing. She was used to being in charge, and Sonora had to be the first time that things had not happened her way. At all.

That needed to change. And fast.

To give herself a minute, Lutece pulled out a brush and began to neaten her brown hair. It was growing long again, edging towards being halfway down her back. From what her siblings had been writing her, long hair was in again. Good; she liked being able to put it back whenever she wanted, but still look pretty when she needed to.

As Talitha wound down her little rant about how she wasn’t an Indian, Lutece was happy to realize that she was doing a fairly good job of immuring her emotions and regaining control. Obviously things were still a little off balance, though, because as Talitha ended with an ”Oh yeah, I’ll take down my dream catcher when you take down your poster with the Nike swishes all over it.”, the girl stared, shocked, at her roommate.

“You know what Nike is?!” she asked, completely stunned. It wasn’t the normal sort of question she directed at Talitha—cutting, usually pointed at something stupid the girl was doing—but an honest ‘wait, what?’ reaction. Lutece thought that Indians lived on reservations and suchlike, not the real world. She had certainly never seen an Indian in Central Maryland, where she lived, at least.
0 Lutece ...*headdesk* No comment 0 Lutece 0 5


Talitha

June 10, 2007 2:48 PM

*pats head* There there...There there by Talitha

Blinking hard at Lutece’s off the wall question, Talitha wondered if Lutece thought she grew up in a cave. But this question didn’t come off hostile, in fact, she seemed truly surprised. Well, Talitha’s upbringing wasn’t what most kids would think of as normal. The community she was raised in was unique. While it was governed by mostly Suquamish nationals, the population was made up of several races and Muggles and Wizards lived openly side by side. It was nothing to see kids on bikes chasing after kids on brooms. Not many people lived like that, especially wizards.

Because she was a Pureblood and most Purebloods (at least in Crotalus) didn’t give a care about Muggle fashion, Lutece might have assumed that Talitha didn’t either. Actually, she didn’t, but for different reasons. But because she had non-magical friends, she was aware of them. Sighing, she tried to answer her roommate in a way that wouldn’t get her screamed at again.

“I know what Nike is. And Areopostile. And Baby Phat. And Old Navy. And American Eagle. And… I didn’t grow up in a Pureblood bubble.” Talitha said, walking over to her dresser. “I just value things differently.”

She rummaged through her jewelry basket and pulled out a pair of rose quartz earring her uncle made for her. They were pretty, but pink wasn’t her color of choice. She walked over to Lutece, weighing her decision to present her with a peace offering.

“My uncle makes jewelry. I’ll bet you couldn’t find anything as pretty at Claire’s” Talitha said and handed them to Lutece.
\n
0 Talitha *pats head* There there...There there 0 Talitha 0 5


Lutece

June 15, 2007 11:59 AM

I'm not a dog by Lutece

Lutece was utterly and completely dumbfounded as Talitha rattled off a series of name-brand stores that she knew about. More astonishing was the comment at the end of the list. ”I didn’t grow up in a Pureblood bubble. I just value things differently.” From what Lutece had gathered about Purebloods, they were all rich and had believed in magic for generations and generations. So if Talitha was a Pureblood, and she knew about those stores, she obviously had the money to afford clothing from there. And she chose not to?! That made no sense!

Even more shockingly, her roommate walked over to the dresser, then walked back to Lutece and handed her a pair of positively beautiful rose earrings. She had never seen anything like them. Talitha then went on to say that her uncle had made them and remark that you couldn’t find anything like them at Claires. Well, the Indian girl was right about that. Claires mostly had cheap stuff. But these were…wow.

“I—thanks,” Lutece responded quietly, slowly putting the earrings in and looking in the mirror. They looked positively amazing. She didn’t know what else to say, either.

Suddenly, the realization hit her that Talitha had control over this situation and she had since the moment she walked into the room. If Lutece were to succeed in her goals at Sonora, she had to have some sort of group behind her. And that meant getting control of this situation here and now.

The almost emotional atmosphere cracked suddenly as Lutece started talking in her usual bossy manner. “So have you been to any of those stores? I bet I could really make you over with the right clothes and stuff. Do you have makeup? We could even keep the little Indian thing happening, if you wanted.”
0 Lutece I'm not a dog 0 Lutece 0 5


Talitha

June 19, 2007 6:40 PM

M'kay how about a nice squooshie hug by Talitha

Talitha’s head began to spin. First Lutece screamed at her. Next thing, she was offering to do a makeover! This sudden change happened Talitha could name a couple of clothing labels and gave her earrings she didn’t want? Sure, Lutece sounded a bit bossy and made Talitha cringe when she used the word “Indian” in her own uniquely irritating way, but this was the first time all year she spoke more than three words in a row to Talitha. Granted Lutece’s personality was not lent to winning friends and influencing people, but she seemed rather lonely. Talitha knew what that felt like.

“I’ve been to Tacoma Mall and Pike’s Place Market a million times with my parents and friends.” Talitha began, trying to connect with her roommate. She shrugged. “like I said, I’m just not into designer labels.”

She also shook her head when Lutece asked if she had her own make up. “I’m not allowed to wear make up until I ‘walk’.” Realizing that needed and explanation and Lutece didn’t care about the spiritual implications so Talitha explained in the simplest way possible. “I mean until after I’m twelve.”

Wanting to bond with Lutece even though Talitha and she had nothing in common, she did go grab her brush and basket of hair accessories. Talitha loved having people mess with her hair.

“But if you can do something to tame these,” Talitha indicated the wispy strands of hair that framed her face and never wanted to stay obediently in her braid. “I wouldn’t even mind if it was a ‘pale face’ style,” She continued, unable to resist one teensy dig. She handed her brush to Lutece. “Don’t worry about hurting me, I have a tough scalp.”\n
0 Talitha M'kay how about a nice squooshie hug 0 Talitha 0 5


Lutece

June 23, 2007 6:12 PM

If I keep being difficult, will you go away? by Lutece

OOC: *mutters* You are evil

BIC:

“Ooh, that’s a pity,” Lutece said sympathetically to Talitha’s response that she wasn’t allowed to wear makeup until she was twelve. “My parents don’t want me to either, but I’ll get them to drop me at the mall or something this summer so I can get some.”

And then, oh! Talitha went to get her hairbrush and hair accessories! There were some really neat Indian-looking things in there, too. Lutece loved doing other peoples’ hair. At home, Jen and Michelle and she had had some really fun sleepovers, staying up all night, talking about boys, giggling, and playing ‘salon’. Michelle really did want to own her own salon when she grew up. Lutece didn’t know what she wanted to do, really. Maybe she would be a politician. Or an interior decorator.

“There isn’t that much you can really do with those,” Lutece said authoritatively. “But there’s something that I can do that’ll make it look like it’s supposed to be there.” She took Talitha’s hair out of the braid and began brushing through it. It didn’t have very many tangles, which was a definite plus to the whole braid thing. The first year really wanted to learn how to French-braid her hair. It looked really cool and kept your hair neat and out of the way at the same time.

After the Indian girl’s hair had been brushed out, Lutece put down the brush, separated a side segment of the hair, and started twisting. Shortly, she tied off that segment with a small hair tie, then began mirroring her actions on the other side.

“These are called fishtails,” she explained. “Or something like that. They look really cool—almost like a French braid.”
0 Lutece If I keep being difficult, will you go away? 0 Lutece 0 5


Talitha

July 05, 2007 1:34 PM

ala "The Producers": Never never never... by Talitha

OOC: *grins* More evilness coming...

BIC:
Talitha smiled at her image in the mirror. It really was a pretty style. Lutece knew what she was doing where hair was concerned. It was also nice to be relaxed around Lutece. She had walked on eggshells around her roommates for too long. The last hour had been fairly pleasant considering it almost start with a fight. Perhaps, someday, she might actually learn to like Lutece.

“I like this.” Talitha complemented her. “It’s different.”

They were both pretending that nothing happened earlier. Talitha noticed Lutece seemed a lot less stressed. Maybe she would be willing to talk about what was really bothering her soon. Talitha wished that Lutece could just embrace her magic, see it as a gift rather than a curse. It would make life a whole lot easier for her and all the people who had to deal with her. If they could just find some common ground. They definitely came from different worlds. Labels were so important to her, it was probably safe to start with that, then maybe she could change the subject to the true reason Lutece attacked her when she walked into their room.

“You know, the fashions you like are fine when you’re home, but they won’t impress anyone here.” Talitha began cautiously, she didn’t want her roommate to think she was cutting her down. “There’s some catalogues in the Common room. Most of the Crotalus girls who are our age get their clothes from those boutiques. Except for dress robes, most of the styles look like muggle clothes with small differences such as fabric that changes color or won’t wrinkle or stain. The most popular labels are Magically Cute Apparel and Just a Little Bit Witchy. They’re expensive, but they’re really cute and you can owl order them if they don’t have those stores where you live.”\n
0 Talitha ala "The Producers": Never never never... 0 Talitha 0 5


Lutece

July 12, 2007 8:05 PM

Oh, but we're <i>bonding</i> by Lutece

Lutece did not reply to Talitha's compliment on her hairdressing skills with a smug smile and an 'of course'. But it was a near thing. This was more like the interaction she was used to, anyway. The massive, giggling sleepovers of last year, when they would stay up nearly all night doing hair and makeup. By around three o'clock in the morning, hardly anyone could do anything really good, they were so tired and hyped up at the same time, on Pop Rocks and fat-free chocolate, and Diet Coke. Those were really fun. Maybe they could have a sleepover like that here! Well, maybe not. But it was an idea that she ought to look into. Or, at least next year. She could probably make friend with some first years, at least.

The Crotalus didn't realise that she was thinking in terms of 'next year'. She had pretty much resigned herself to this year, true, but that was only by repeatedly pointing out that even if the school was psychotic, top grades would still look good for college. And, after all, every well-adjusted, independent woman ought to go to college. How else could you afford spas, and expensive trips, and proper dental work? If the Anthonys relied on Lutece's father, she would never have gotten the invisible braces (invisible because they were plastic strips, not because they were 'magic') she wanted last year.

Her dark mood almost completely dissipated, Lutece hummed the latest song from her favourite band under her breath. They had been phenomenally popular the year before, although the release of their latest album had practically set them back into anonymity. It was safe to hum it quietly around Sonora, though. Most of the students were so...sheltered from the real world. Like homeschoolers, but worse. Therefore, it wouldn't be noticed that Lutece was still humming a tune that was out of date.

In fact, the girl was in such a good mood that she didn't even take offense that an Indian girl with less apparent taste than Lutece's father was giving her advice on clothes.

"Thank you, Talitha," she said courteously, when the girl was done. Why did all the names of the boutiques have to be so...weird? Just a Little Bit Witchy was cool, but Magically Cute Apparel? Seriously. Plus, again, with the whole 'magic' motif. It was obnoxious and inconsiderate, really it was. "I'd heard that scientists had been experimenting with colour changing fabrics, but I didn't know that they were ready to sell yet. That will be useful." and it would be. After all, who wouldn't want a shirt that could change to match any accessories?!
0 Lutece Oh, but we're <i>bonding</i> 0 Lutece 0 5


Talitha

July 14, 2007 11:52 AM

Bonding? Yea! More Hugs! by Talitha

Well, okay Lutece wasn’t exactly on board with the subject of Wizarding fashion, which was good because Talitha didn’t really know a lot about it except what she’d overheard from other girls. It was frustrating though that Lutece still wouldn’t see than being magical was a good thing. She still couldn’t possibly believe after a year at school that magic didn’t exist, but it was obvious that it would be a long time, if ever, before she let go of her denial. Still, things were going better than Talitha could have ever hoped for. Maybe, this fall, they would actually like each other. Maybe next summer, Lutece would be ready to visit her community without freaking out.

This summer. This was the summer to have friends who didn’t already have plans. But, as far as she could determine, everybody did. Those who didn’t were boys who couldn’t really appreciate what was happening and couldn’t participate in all the rituals or Lutece, who would have a horrible time considering where her head was. Oh, well, Talitha still had her friends back home to enjoy her special days with and she could still have fun sending potlatch gifts to everyone and owling them about it. She wondered for possibly the millionth time what her new name would be.

“What are you going to do this summer?” Talitha asked, her homework that sat spread out on a table in the common room forgotten.
\n
0 Talitha Bonding? Yea! More Hugs! 0 Talitha 0 5


Lutece

July 24, 2007 10:34 PM

Okay, I'm into contact sports, but not quite that contact by Lutece

OOC: Whoops. This is totally not ten days late, I swear...*wince* sorry.

BIC:

"My parents are going to drag us to Ocean City," Lutece answered, flopping backwards on the bed and rolling her eyes. "And/or take us to the Middle Of Nowhere, USA, to visit some relatives. But nothing, really. Maybe get together with some friends." she shrugged and tried to sound offhand, but ended up sounding a bit wistful. She really did miss her friends back in Maryland. Her normal friends. The ones she could go shopping with at FSK mall and they could share all their inside jokes every time someone who looked like a freak passed by. And eat hot pretzels, and giggle about how they were spoiling their diets. And then have a massive sleepover with makeovers and lots and lots of fat-free snacks, and hardly any actual sleep at all.

"How about you?" she asked automatically. After all, that was basically the 'insert-card-one, return-card-two' remark of all time. If you really paid attention, very few people actually answered it. But it was like wearing makeup or the latest accessory; if you didn't do it, people remarked oddly. If you did, they hardly noticed, other than to give it the theoretical cursory nod.

With great amusement, Lutece realised that she really was returning to her old self. She hadn't done that--dissection, she supposed--of social customs in ages. Not since coming to Sonora, anyway, and not really frequently beforehand. Those times she did try it, she got funny looks and quickly stopped. It didn't take a genius to figure out that if you started talking like that, people would either think you were a nerd like James or crazy. And while Lutece appreciated her brother's help, in the grand scheme of things, being thought of to be like him was not something she wanted.

She smiled and fiddled a bit with the earrings. They really were pretty. Her thoughts returned again to the fact that Talitha had offhandedly mentioned she had an uncle who made them. Lutece didn't have any useful relatives. Her cousins were all nasty and snobbish. Her aunts and uncles spent most of their time competing with her parents (well, her mother) in the game of Who Earns More. Interesting and rather funny, but it got repetitive sometimes. And she completely wasn't in the mood to deal with that this summer.
0 Lutece Okay, I'm into contact sports, but not quite that contact 0 Lutece 0 5


Talitha

July 26, 2007 10:25 AM

But as you said, We're bonding by Talitha

Talitha stretched out on her stomach on the carpet. Her feet held in the air and her ankles crossed, she traced the pattern of the carpet with her finger. Lutece sounded as though she felt just as down about going home as she did when she talked about things at school, but at least she was talking. Talitha tried to make her voice sound noncommittal as she answered Lutece. Even though she was totally excited about what would be happening to her, she didn’t want to sound superior or like she was bragging.

“This summer I turn twelve and it’s a really a big deal where I come from.” Talitha didn’t know how religious Lutece’s family was. “This year I ‘Walk‘. Its kinda like being confirmed or having a batmitzpah.

“Girls who’ve turned twelve and started…” Talitha flushed a bit, “…you know, go on their ‘Walk’. There’s a bunch of rituals and stuff I have to do without magic that will last most of the summer. Then I have to fast and go on a dream quest and get a my grownup name. I hope my new name doesn’t sound ugly or mean something stupid like ‘Her Face Scares Off Grizzlies’. Then there’s a big party and a potlatch. A long, long time ago, the girl’s parents would have started looking for a husband. I’m glad that doesn’t happen anymore."
\n
0 Talitha But as you said, We're bonding 0 Talitha 0 5


Lutece

August 03, 2007 9:13 PM

I know what I'm talking about since when, now? by Lutece

"Does that mean you're allowed to start dating?" Lutece asked with interest. The whole thing sounded a bit hokey, actually. If you changed names, then what did they put on your birth certificate? Why would you go through all the trouble to get adjusted to one name when you were simply going to change it in a few years? And the 'dream quest' thing sounded as though it were out of a bad video game. To preserve the fragile peace that had grown between them, though, Lutece mentioned none of this. If Talitha and her family insisted on being delusional, well, that was their problem. At least her family was normal, if boring.

She pushed back her brown hair and looked at it out of the corner of her eye. She needed to use more Sun-In. The blonde highlights were fading.

What Talitha's monologue also meant, Lutece realised, was that she was older than the girl. By at least a month, since her own twelfth birthday was in May. Last year for her birthday, her parents had taken her out to Waffle House with her friends, and they had swooned over all the so-cute high school guys that came in. Well, she and her friends had. Her family had seated themselves to the side and had eaten their food without comment.

"Happy early birthday, by the way," Lutece said.
0 Lutece I know what I'm talking about since when, now? 0 Lutece 0 5


Talitha

August 05, 2007 9:14 PM

Yes! Exactly! by Talitha


"Does that mean you're allowed to start dating? Happy early birthday, by the way,"

“Thanks.“ Talitha glanced up a Lutece. Had they found some common ground? Boys? Dating? Talitha wasn’t really boy crazy, but lately she did seem to see them in a different light. Brett made her chest feel funny when she saw him like her heart forgot how to beat properly, but he didn’t even know she existed. The artistic, sarcastically funny Earl Tallow did the same thing, but he was so much an older man. Jae was cute but just a buddy, even though they were practically the same age is so seemed like an adorable little brother.

Oliver, well that was different. Oliver seemed to like her and she thought he looked so intelligent in his glasses. He treated her like she wouldn’t break just because she was a girl. Talitha liked that. She’d also learned she could make a very studious, serious boy smile and found she liked it.

“Date? Are you kidding?” Talitha rolled her eyes. “Daddy’s having enough trouble that Mother is going to allow me to wear makeup, there is no way he would allow me to date.”

Dating. Scary thought that. Being with a boy all by yourself. But still… it was an exciting prospect. Talitha’s mind ran in very fast circles. Here, her parents had very little knowledge or control over what she chose to do. Besides, what good was being called an adult without all the privileges of adulthood? Her eyes danced mischievously and her dimples deepened as she met Lutece’s eyes conspiratorially.

“But then, Daddy doesn’t know what happens here unless I tell him,” she said, savoring a rare bit of rebellion. “And what Daddy doesn’t know won’t exactly hurt him, will it?”
\n
0 Talitha Yes! Exactly! 0 Talitha 0 5