Shady

“Mostly,” Sadie agreed. “I feel for her, though. You can tell there’s a lot going on in that brain of hers that she doesn’t share.”

“…dunno.” Jerica shrugged. “I didn’t… tell ‘em… yet. I’m gonna. Obviously.”

“I don’t find her disrespectful.” Sadie shrugged. “Just… misunderstood.”

“Yeah. Derik and Zander and Rek. My — our — uncles and cousin.” No point in trying to backtrack; they clearly weren’t buying it.

“Ohhhh!” Sadie nodded. “Right. Gotcha. Yeah I’ve got her in class. She’s spirited that’s for sure.”

Jerica hesitated, eyes going wide when she realized what she’d done. Why was she always like this? Running her mouth when she shouldn’t? “I… I mean, like, metaphorically… girl power?” ...

“Laura?”

“‘Cause ain’t no one gonna terrorize my sister on my watch.” Ky grimaced; they weren’t supposed to tell people that.

Sadie tsked and shook her head. “Shitheads—“ she glanced over at him, blushing immediately. “Sorry.”

“You can’t,” Ky said flatly. “Yeah huh.” She patted her sword confidently. “He’s a ghost. You can’t even see him.” Jerica hesitated, glancing at Myna. “You have anything that’ll

“For sure… well, for the age you teach anyhow. I’m not a fan of tiny kids. That’s why I went high school.”

“Yes ma’am.” She nodded. “Who?” Jerica asked. “No one.” Ky shook her head. “Don’t worry about it.” “No, its clearly something,” Jerica argued. “If someone is being mean to yo

She shook her head. “No ma’am. I’m avoiding him like the plague.”

“I do… mostly.” Sadie nodded. “It’s tiring. But I love the kids.”

“No? … he can’t, right?” Ky was concerned that maybe she wasn’t being as rhetorical as she’d originally assumed.