The Library Stairs, Chapter Six

"Funny how changing rooms smell the same no matter where or when you are," Mini-Flash Juniper declared to Mini-Flash Robin, as they stood facing each other outside the door. "And it's been on and off with these silly things all day."

First to one stocking and then the other she gave a last pull, as if bidding each a quick so long for now.

"You will be careful out there," Robin implored her anxiously.

"You too," returned Juniper. "And remember to shake those pom-poms even when you're not doing anything else. It just looks better that way."

Just then, one of the other girls appeared. It was Nanine, and she was scowling.

"Your friend Joe and the Headmistress want to you to come to her study," she told Juniper with extremely ill grace. "So I guess we're going to have to put our unfinished business on hold."

"I don't know what you mean by unfinished business," Juniper returned superbly. "But we'll go and see the Headmistress now. Thank you for delivering her message."

"Just as long as you remember the last bit of the message," warned Nanine, thrusting her frontage at Juniper. "Because you needn't go thinking I'm one to forgive and forget."

"I wouldn't have presumed for one moment you're capable of either," retorted Juniper, thrusting her own frontage right back at Nanine that the girls all but abutted. "You can just name the time and place, although I suppose it'll be when we next have a netball match."

"Erm," Robin interjected tactfully, taking Juniper by the arm. Parting from Nanine without further altercation they hurried off for the library stairs, Robin's cheerleader pom-poms swinging from his sports bag and rustling away.

It was much later that same day, but Mini-Flash Robin's head was still full of everything he'd heard from the Headmistress and Joe. Just outside the school gate was a bench, and there he sat by himself as evening steadily drew on. Mini-Flash Juniper came out of the car park to join him.

“Lot to take in just lately,” he greeted her. “That said, chap's still got his pants in such a twist over getting his first routine right that at least it puts those monsters at the seaside into perspective."

“It must be some help to know you'll be wearing ones that match the rest of the uniform,” Juniper replied.

“Rum too that the Headmistress was a girl around our age,” Robin went on. “Don’t mind telling you, Juniper, chap can’t quite make it out.”

Mini-Flash Juniper smoothed her skirts and sat down beside him on the bench.

“Did you get that bit about a cause?” she asked. "Out of everything these last two days, it felt to me like the most important part."

Robin thought.

“Joe got it,” was his truthful response.

To one of her stockings Mini-Flash Juniper administered a slow contemplative tug.

“These lessons we’ll start tomorrow will likely teach us more,” she declared at last.

“I daresay,” Robin put in staunchly. “But if the cause means rescuing your friend, and making a decent go of it this time, chap’s totes up for that already.”

Juniper told him she knew. For once in a way her voice was as small as that of any of their new classmates. Robin had to lean in to listen.

“Because when Lasser was using Pseudangelos…using her to use me,” Juniper continued, “I’ve not forgotten what you did.”

Then she in turn leaned in to him.

Always had Robin supposed that were this moment ever to arrive at all, he’d surely have closed his eyes. As it turned out however, even that much proved to be beyond him. So it was that he saw Mini-Flash Juniper’s own eyelashes were lowered all the way, while her nose nestled snugly alongside his and lips imparted that tenderness which had required trial to find expression, but which had existed on both parts long before.

When it was over, there were no words. Both simply smiled.

The sun was setting, so Robin and Juniper sat together and watched it happen at the faraway end of West Street.

TO BE CONTINUED