#bergen_county

"Ahem." She says

"Fine, he wins. Fine, he gets to be a sidhe and a knight and whatever other thing. Adam is the big special hero that he is in his mind, and the universe will vindicate him with rewards."

"I never said you had to suck it up or he wins. I said it was annoying that he wins. Different thing."

"Why do his feelings matter and mine don't?"

"I never said that either. " She says with a frown

"Well, it feels that way."

"Dagmar, honey. I am listening to you now. That's what I'm doing."

"I don't want to go to school with him!"

"I believe you" She says "Please don't yell at me. I know you seem to doubt this, but I'm on your side, not his."

She is calm, and the Gwydion boon indicates she's been honest

Dagmar is squeezing Odin a bit too tightly.

"I don't like it there. I don't like the computer, either, but I'll do it."

A hiccup. "I want real school back."

"Oh baby" She ..is getting a hug. And so is Odin

Odin makes an unhappy meow. "Sorry."

"Oh..sorry, Odin"

"You miss May and Lupe a lot don't you?"

"Yeah. And basketball. And there won't be track, either."

"And how am I gonna get a scholarship now? What if we don't have next year?"

"Well, the DeBukes have basketball with some other communties" At the scholarship talk she says "Oh.Sweetheart. It's okay. We'll make it. We will. I'm doing okay with my youtube. I litterally have a captive audience"

"Can I do the computer for now?"

"I'll talk to your dad on long term, and I WILL be talking to the Chief and see if we can get Adam expelled. It's not that I'm just worried about you understand, though YOU are my priority, but if Adam is being a shit to everyone and destroying the learning enviroment then fine.. boot him to his happy uneducated undiplomed ass. He shouldn't be allowed to get away with ruining it for others. Did you mention this to Chief Clem?"

"I mean, beyond the 'take samhain week off' bit?"

Jaw juts and she shakes her head.

"Because it just makes me look like... like... ungrateful or.. or, like... like I'm too sensitive.... like.. like I'm trouble.."

"And I know I should just suck it up."

"Ah, so that's where that came from. That just suck it up bit. I didn't tell you that. Did the Chief?"

She avoids looking at Tove. "Because I'm supposed to be an example."

"Example doesn't mean perfect, honey. And you're not alone. Nadeen has been pressured to be an example too I think. To show them not all sidhe are evil." A curious look "Is Nadeen being friendly to adam or something?"

"No."

"Nadeen's just being Nadeen."

"They aren't super nice to her, either."

"But she goes into, y'know, sidhe mode."

"Well, I hestitate to pry, but did you dump her?"

"What? No!"

"I wondered" She says "mmm

"

Brow-furrow.

"Sorry. You seemed to have been avoiding her. You didn't spend Samhain with her. You were mad at her at pennons, though I understand that. At school , well, we both know why you clam up at school but I think she's under the idea you don't want to spend time with her anymore"

"She was mean to Symon..."

"Ah" A nod

"I mean, I know. Varich."

"But I don't like it when she's mean."

"Did she apologize ?"

"Yeah."

"She's trying. I know it's hard for her."

"But you're still upset with her. And I think she notices" A look "Honey, I love you. You'r brave, but in a strange way you don't like conflict ... not saying anyone does, but you're very skittish about it. As if it's a reflection on you , your fault just for it happening"

"I don't like it when people are fighting. Who does?"

"No one, but you act like when they are it's your fault. This is why when I and your father fight with quarter staves over the dirty laundry, we don't tell you"

Brow.