Gregory Girls Gone Wild - Chapter 31: Chapter 31

"What did you punch me for?" Mickey shouted, his nose bloody.
"Sorry," Danika said, not looking sorry at all. "But you really shouldn't approach two girls alone at night."
Mickey stood up and tilted his head back, groaning.
"What's up, Mickey?" Rainey narrowed her eyes. "Are you here about the Phoenix Kings?"
Mickey looked down, startled.
"I know you're a member," Rainey said casually. "We were just coming back from a meeting with Sam Stabbings."
Mickey looked speechless. Rainey could tell that he was struggling to keep up with the flow of information.
"No, this isn't about the Phoenix Kings," he said slowly. "I'm here on behalf of Dean Perry."
Danika and Rainey exchanged glances.
"What connection do you have with the Dean?" Rainey demanded.
Mickey wiped his bloody nose on his sleeve. "I'm his executive assistant."
Danika frowned. "What? How can you be his assistant and be a part of the Phoenix Kings? Isn't that a conflict of interest?"
Rainey hid a smile. Conflict of interest? When did Dani start using such smart words?
Mickey shrugged. He winced as he touched his nose. "It isn't so quite black and white."
Mickey wasn't like Ethan, Rainey noticed. He was a quiet, subdued type of guy. Simple buttoned up shirt and a buzz cut. Didn't seem crazy.
But he could still be dangerous.
"What does the Dean want with me?" she asked.
Mickey pulled out a manila envelope tucked into the back of his shirt and handed it to her. Danika seized it out of her hands immediately.
Mickey gave her a quick once over.
"It's funny that you're here too, Danika," he remarked. "This also concerns you." He turned to Rainey. "The Dean's invited you to a private meeting."
Rainey was taken aback. "Why?"
"Because of an incident that happened last semester," Mickey explained patiently. "I think it was during a play hosted by the Gregory Theater Department."
Danika stilled. "You mean the Peter Pan production? When that light machine almost fell on top of me?"
He nodded. "The Dean wanted to thank you for what you did, Rainey. It was heroic, especially coming from a student."
Flabbergasted, Rainey watched as Danika read over the letter silently and handed it to her. "Why now? Why not sooner?"
"We sent the letter to you months ago," Mickey said. "When we didn't receive a reply, we figured it might have been lost in the mail. I was asked to deliver it to you personally."
"Which address?" Rainey asked suspiciously.
"Somewhere in Wisconsin."
Her mother's apartment, Rainey realized. She knew her mother didn't check her mail, and if she did, she would have thrown out anything that wasn't money or coupons.
"Don't you guys use email?" Danika scoffed.
"Dean Perry is pretty old-fashioned."
Rainey scanned over the letter.
Dear Rainey,
I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for your courageous efforts during an unfortunate incident on campus. Our administration take matters like this very seriously, and we'd like to take the time to honor you. Students who go above and beyond to help others are testaments of what our administration exemplifies at Gregory College.
Please accept my extended invitation for January 31st. I thank you once again for your outstanding performance and loyalty at this time.
It was officially signed by Dean Perry with following instructions of parking and where to go. Rainey's head began to throb.
"Anyway, that's it," Mickey said. He touched his nose and winced. "And thank you for that friendly hello."
"What about Dani?" Rainey asked. "Is she invited?"
"Well, the letter is addressed to you," Mickey replied. "But the Dean wouldn't mind meeting Danika either, especially since she was involved. He's looking forward to it."
A thought bloomed in her mind, a small burst of intensity. Rainey crossed her arms. "You're a double agent, aren't you, Mickey? Working for the Phoenix Kings, funneling information from the Dean's office?"
Mickey leveled his gaze at her. "Maybe it's the other way around."
"Is it?"
He looked away. "Just make a decision about the meeting, Rainey. My loyalties are none of your concern."
"Your loyalties are up in the air these days," Rainey replied. "The last time we saw each other was Halloween night, at my party."
A sliver of surprise entered his eyes before vanishing.
"As I recall," Rainey continued. "You gave Danika too much to drink that night."
Danika glanced at her, astonished.
"I think you heard us talking about going to the junkyard and you wanted to put a stop to it, as soon as possible. You gave Danika the alcohol so we wouldn't have the chance."
"That was a long time ago," Mickey said, pausing.
"Did you know that Danika had already gone to the junkyard before the party?"
Mickey's face was impassive. "I was informed the next morning."
Rainey grabbed Danika's wrist. Danika looked down at her, surprised. Her hand was warm, soft to touch.
"You were the one that tampered with the light during the play," Rainey said, taking a deep breath. "Other than Ethan, you have a connection to Danika and the Phoenix Kings. And since I'm pretty sure Ethan didn't do it...it had to be you."
Mickey's eyes widened, and he stepped back. "Wait a minute."
Danika was trembling with anger. Rainey held onto her tightly.
"It was you?" Danika exclaimed. Rainey grabbed her waist from behind, to keep her from flinging herself at Mickey. "I don't even know you! But I'm going to kill you!"
Mickey stumbled backwards, looking shocked. He glanced at Rainey before running down the street. Rainey had to practically leap on Danika's back to make sure that she didn't run after him. They were both breathing heavily.
"What—how did you know?" Danika finally wrenched from her grasp. "How long did you know?"
Rainey struggled to regain control of her breathing. "I didn't know. I just made a guess. Turns out it was the right one."
Danika shook her head in disbelief before looking up at the sky. "Damn it, Rainey! You should have let me go after him!"
Rainey sucked in another hard breath. "Why? You want to get hurt? Or arrested?"
"You don't think I'm strong enough, do you?" Danika asked, getting in her face. "To beat him up?"
Rainey swallowed, and then looked down. "No—you're actually pretty strong, Dani. I was worried that he would get you in trouble if you attacked him. I mean, he's hanging out with all these major players. And you already punched him once."
"Yeah, that was before I knew he had messed with the lights," Danika said angrily. "I've been on edge, wondering if it was actually the Phoenix Kings...if it was someone I knew. At least now...I don't know..."
Rainey chewed her lip. "Don't worry. I'll get to the bottom of this."
Danika still looked pissed.
Rainey grabbed her hand. "Okay?"
Danika looked down at her.
"Okay?"
Danika nodded, giving an embarrassed smile. "So you're a hero now, huh?"
Now it was Rainey's turn to be embarrassed. "It's probably a set up. I have a feeling this is somehow connected to the Phoenix Kings."
"Or maybe the Dean really wants to meet you."
Rainey examined Danika's bruised knuckles. "Do you need to come inside, get some ice on this?"
"Nah," Danika replied. "I barely grazed him."
Rainey grinned. "When did you get so tough?"
Danika tilted her head. "I work out."
"Really?" Rainey asked, surprised. She gingerly traced the slight veins on Danika's hand. Softly, carefully. "I didn't know that. With weights and everything?"
"Yeah. You should try it sometime. You're kinda small."
Rainey rolled her eyes. "You know, maybe I will. Seems good to be prepared."
She saw a shadow of doubt flicker in Danika's eyes. She seemed on the verge of spilling something. Rainey frowned.
"I used to have an ex-boyfriend," Danika said suddenly.
"Yeah?" Rainey said, confused. "Ryan?"
"No, this was the summer after high school," Danika hesitated. "He was a rough kind of guy."
Rainey gripped Danika's hand tighter. "What do you mean rough?"
"I don't mean anything." Danika shrugged. "He liked to fight."
Rainey stared at her.
"One time, he put me in the hospital," Danika said casually. "Next night, I got a bat and put him there."
"Jesus, Danika," Rainey said, aghast. "I had no idea."
"It's not as bad as I'm making it out to be," Danika said quickly. "But I just work out and keep up my strength since then. Routine stuff."
"Why—" Rainey swallowed. "Why didn't you tell me before?"
"You never asked," Danika grinned.
"I mean—how can I ask without knowing—"
"We've only known each other for a few months, Ran-Ran," Danika interrupted. "Although it feels like a lifetime."
Danika's eyes were dark but tranquil. Rainey felt faint, and dropped her hand so that it landed by her side.
"You're right," Rainey said softly. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be silly," Danika smiled. "Anyway, aren't you glad I walked you back to your apartment? Or else you would have met Mickey alone."
"Well—I don't know, shouldn't I walk you to your place?" Rainey stumbled.
Danika threw her head back and laughed. "Then I'd have to walk you back to yours."
Although still stunned by Danika's revelation, Rainey couldn't help but join in her laughter. It had been quite an eventful day.
"Is this what it's like to be in a relationship with a girl?" Danika chuckled. "Just switching off walking each other home?"
Rainey raised an eyebrow.
"I mean, with you and Fiona—I mean," Danika hastily corrected.
"Dunno. It depends."
It was quiet for several seconds.
Danika nodded. "Okie dokie, I'll be heading off then."
"Are you fine with walking home alone?" Rainey asked, concerned. "You can sleep over, if you want."
Danika looked unsure. "No, Sheba's expecting me. Early day tomorrow, you know."
"'Kay," Rainey said softly. "Thank you for...today. For everything. You know."
Danika grinned. "See you boss."
Rainey waited until she crossed the street and disappeared down the corner before heading inside. To her surprise, Fiona was asleep on her couch.
"I was...waiting for you," Fiona mumbled. Rainey kissed her forehead.
"You didn't have to, Fi," Rainey whispered. She tucked her arms underneath Fiona and carried her into the bedroom, laying her against the cozy bed comforter.
It was dark in her room, the moonlight shining onto the bare skin between Fiona's shirt and navel.
Rainey kissed her stomach and then began stroking her hair. It smelled like herbal shampoo and sweet strawberry.
"Did your meeting go okay?" Fiona whispered.
"It wasn't what I expected." Rainey kissed her lips.
"So you can leave the Phoenix Kings?"
"I know how to." Rainey brushed her lips against hers. "Now hush."
As they made love, Rainey felt such happiness and longing in her heart. It was wonderful to come home to someone who was waiting up for her.
Her thoughts drifted unwittingly to Danika. She wondered if there was anything else she didn't know about the sophomore. She stayed up until she received a text from Danika that she had reached her dorm, and then she fell asleep.