Gregory Girls Gone Wild - Chapter 33: Chapter 33

"Hey, do you know where Dean Perry's office is?" Rainey approached a janitor in an administrative building.
"The Dean," the janitor repeated. She was a middle-aged woman in dirty green overalls and her eyebrows half shaved. "Who is the Dean now? Rotten Perry, isn't it? Dirty Dean Rotten Perry...now where is his office? I can't recall right now. Might be in this building."
Danika, who was inching back from the janitor, pulled Rainey aside.
"Is it just me or does she remind you a little of Annie Wilkes?"
"Oh, be quiet," Rainey said. She was unnerved by the janitor as well, but hell if she'd admit it to the plucky sophomore. "It's the dust in here. If I spent anymore time in this place, my brain would be fuzzy too."
Danika looked unconvinced. It was the day of the Dean's meeting, and Danika had accompanied Rainey like a bodyguard entering an enemy's domain. Danika wore a buttoned down coat with the collar up and a bejeweled headband that enhanced the light in her eyes quite remarkably. Rainey had dressed as professionally as she could, wearing a simple blazer and black jeans. She was excited to meet Dean Perry. If she could find his office, that is.
They knocked on random, official-looking doors and peered through empty rooms as they searched for the Dean's office. On the third floor, Rainey wandered across a marble archway to find a double-plaited staircase engraved with Asian drawings. It was a beautiful foyer, and unlike the rest of the building, it looked clean and well taken care of. At the top of the stairs was a glass door with neatly printed words:
DEAN RUBEN PERRY
Rainey summoned Danika who had been poking around a supply closet suspiciously.
"The Dean isn't swimming around in a mop bucket," Rainey said, irritated.
"You never know," Danika said. She stared at the staircase in amazement. "Oh, wow. This is unbelievably gorgeous."
Rainey knocked on the door with trepidation. She felt like she had been knocking on all sorts of doors lately, without the faintest clue of what lay behind.
A blurry figure from behind the glass opened the door. It was Mickey.
"You're late," he said. He glanced at Danika and stepped back quickly. "Never mind. Just come in. He's expecting you."
"Right now?" Rainey asked nervously. "Can Danika come with me?"
"The Dean wouldn't be against it."
They stepped inside a parlor straight from the southern antebellum. There were stiff velvet chairs and an antique grandfather clock, silk curtains with thick red ropes tied around its waist, and a chandelier in the shape of descending rain hung from the ceiling.
"This is where the Dean works?" Rainey asked, shocked. It looked more like an extravagant home in a historic neighborhood. She exchanged looks with Danika who mirrored similar astonishment.
Mickey led them to the next room. He stopped suddenly, causing Danika to accidentally brush against his side. She flinched and then, without warning, shoved him into the wall.
"Stop, Dani!" Rainey hissed, trying to pull Danika off of him.
"Get off me!" Mickey exclaimed, face reddening. He wriggled an arm free and was just about to punch her when,
"Mr. O'Brien!" a voice called out. "Have you brought my next guest?"
Mickey's arm sagged immediately. Rainey finally managed to pull Danika off of him, while he pushed them aside.
"Yes, I have Rainey Dumar and Danika Reddy to see you," Mickey said, out of breath.
Rainey and Danika looked at each other. They approached the room and saw a man sitting on a crystal chair behind a mahogany desk.
"Was the security really necessary?" the man asked, irritated.
Mickey's face went red. "Yes. Watch out for Reddy—she's prone to inane violence."
A figure moved in the corner; Rainey saw that it was a stocky security guard, staring impassively at the two of them. No matter how much they had been working out, they were no match for that guy. She looked at Danika and was shocked to see that she looked at ease.
I can take him, Danika's eyes seemed to say.
You idiot, Rainey thought back. She'd have to keep this meeting peaceful. Danika was so pissed at Mickey that she'd attack anyone with ill intentions, even if the enemy were a body builder or a Spartan warrior trained for war. Rainey preferred that neither of them get hurt by the end of the meeting.
The man at the desk was Dean Perry. He seemed taller than really was, possibly because he was bony and thin. A weak chin and a wispy beard captured a rosy, unremarkable face. His hair was too short for his wide face—he was a man that would look better with long hair, although he was too dull and proper to ever grow it out. He was nothing like Sam Stabbings, Rainey recalled, the friendly but formidable salesman.
"Welcome, Ms. Dumar," Dean Perry said. "I'm happy to see you alive and well."
"Me too," Rainey replied. Because there were no chairs in the room, she and Danika stood awkwardly at a certain distance from the desk. Dean Perry made no motion to grab more chairs, or get up from his own.
"You went through a scare recently, is that right?" Dean Perry looked up from his computer. "A fallen light at the auditorium."
"Yes, but—"
"I told the Theater Department that if their equipment wasn't up to standard, then they would lose their funding."
"It wasn't their fault, if you knew the whole story," Rainey interjected.
"A lot of reporters were blaming me for faulty equipment, as if I had anything do with it!"
"I didn't know that but—" Rainey tried again.
"It wasn't the Theater Department's fault!" Danika blazed. "We've been asking for a larger budget for years now!"
Dean Perry looked at her for the first time. "Ms. Reddy, isn't it? What's your purpose in this meeting again?"
"I was the lead in the Peter Pan play," Danika said angrily. "Rainey saved my life!"
"Well, I didn't save it," Rainey said, wincing. "I might have played a hand in causing the light to fall."
Dean Perry frowned tremendously, his entire mouth collapsing in an audible gasp. "In causing the light to fall? What do you mean by that?"
Rainey stared at him. A thought occurred to her. How much did the Dean know about the dark forces that lurked at Gregory College?"
"Dean Perry," she said slowly. "Does the name Phoenix Kings ring a bell?"
There was a long pause. Dean Perry stood up. "What? Foxy Rings? Is that a punk rock band?"
Oh come on, Rainey thought, he has to be lying.
"Never mind all that." Dean Perry wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Ms. Dumar—or Rainey, can I call you Rainey?" He steamrolled on, without an answer. "I've called you today because you've exceeded expectations as a student in Gregory College. You acted bravely in the face of danger, which is a rarity around these parts, as far as I can tell. I'm sure that your friends feel lucky to have you in their lives."
Looking surprised, Danika turned around and gave her a thumbs up.
"Uh, thank you," Rainey said, feeling herself turn red. "But like I said before, it was kind of my fault—"
"As such, I've decided to award you this year's Student of the Year," Dean Perry interrupted pompously.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Danika said, grinning.
"I-I don't deserve an award!" Rainey said, astonished. "I'm sure that there's other more qualified students that deserve it!"
"You're more modest than I would have assumed," Dean Perry squinted. "Usually people like you, in the LGBT gang, I mean, you all are very loud with your accomplishments, aren't you? Maybe that's only in June. But to make little of your achievements is...ah, is dishonest. I've looked at your transcripts, Rainey. You were a straight A-student last semester while working a heavily physical full-time job. By all means, you would be our most hard-working contender for Student of the Year we've had in a long time."
Rainey was speechless.
Danika beamed. "That's right!"
"I've asked a school reporter to take our photo and a few soundbites. Of course, this isn't the real ceremony—that's at the end of the year, but an airbrushed photo of us wouldn't hurt in the school newspaper."
Dean Perry walked around his desk and inspected himself in the glass of a shiny award. "Come in, Ms. Brookes!"
A girl with a digital camera walked in the room.
"Hello, I just need you to stand here...and the Dean, over here...thank you for this opportunity by the way," the girl wiped her nose on her sleeves. "I'm not crying, I just have allergies. But this is such a great opportunity, I could cry if I put my mind to it. Now, do we want both girls in the picture?"
Rainey couldn't escape even if she tried. She was squeezed in between Dean Perry and Danika, who were both ecstatic to be apart of a photo shoot.
FLASH. FLASH.
"Should I add a few more lights in here?" Dean Perry asked, worried.
"I should have worn lipstick," Danika said, disappointed. "If we have time, I can run back to my dorm and freshen up."
"Please," Rainey said weakly. "Let's just finish this quickly."
FLASH. FLASH.
"I want a picture too!" Danika said, after Rainey's eyes began to burn from the flash. "A personal one if you don't mind."
Danika gave her phone to the reporter and posed.
"Now, with just me and the Dean please," Danika said.
"What?" Rainey exclaimed. "Why do you two need a picture?"
"I'm gonna send this one to my mom. She'll be thrilled."
"I'm sure the Dean is too busy—"
Dean Perry cleared his throat. "Take a lot, Sherry! Then we can have a good collection to pick from!"
FLASH. FLASH.
"Why don't you come on in too?" Danika asked the reporter.
"Eh, me?" Sherry the reporter said, taken aback.
"Rainey, take the picture, why don't you?" Danika asked.
"Aren't I the one whose picture should be taken?" Rainey said grumpily. Danika was enjoying the photo shoot far more than anyone else in the room, except perhaps for Dean Perry. Rainey took the phone and clicked a couple of pictures.
FLASH.
A notification popped up on the top of the phone. Rainey read it accidentally, as she fiddled with the camera.
Tinder: Ashley sent you a message.
Stunned, Rainey fumbled the phone and dropped it on the floor.
"Rainey!" Danika exclaimed. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Rainey recovered. She hid her face from the others and picked up Danika's phone.
What the hell is Danika doing on a dating app?
"For someone that uses her hands a lot on the job, you're quite clumsy," Dean Perry remarked.
"I think that should be enough," Sherry the reporter, said flustered. "Can I get a few soundbites from you, Rainey?"
Ashley's a girl name, Rainey thought furiously. Or no, it can be a boy's name too, can't it?
"How does it feel to be awarded the Student of the Year award?"
I know an Ashley. My third grade reading buddy with pigtails and pink ribbons.
"When you bought a ticket to the campus production of Peter Pan, did you ever expect to save your friend's life?
What was that guy's name from Gone with the Wind? Ashley Wilkes. So, Ashley can be a guy name, at least back in the old days...
"Uh, Rainey?"
She shook her head.
"What are you going to do with the compensation money?" Sherry asked.
"Compensation?" That caught Rainey's attention.
"Yes, the money that comes with the award. What are you planning on doing with it?"
"Is that true?" Rainey turned to the Dean, who had been wearily listening to Danika talk about the state of the Theater department's budget. "Is there a compensation?"
"Oh, yes!" Dean Perry jumped. "I almost forgot about the award money!" He picked up an envelope by each hand and handed them to Rainey and Danika separately.
"Even for me?" Danika spluttered. Rainey looked at her quickly, the name Ashley flashing in her mind.
"Yes, yes, of course," Dean Perry said importantly. "With that in mind, we, ah, would appreciate it if you didn't sue the Theater Department or any other Gregory affiliated persons because of the incident."
Rainey flipped the envelope over in her hand.
"Anything you'd like to add in your feature, Rainey?" Sherry asked.
"Uh, yeah," Rainey said. "Say that this award makes me feel like a phoenix rising out of the ashes."
She watched Dean Perry suspiciously. He looked startled but regained his composure almost immediately. Mickey re-entered the room.
Danika tensed up, her good mood vanishing.
"I don't know if you know this," Rainey said quietly to the Dean. "But Mickey O'Brien is a Phoenix King."
Mickey scowled at her. Confused by the sudden change of mood, Sherry lowered her notepad and stared at all of them.
Dean Perry turned to Rainey. "Yes, I heard he plays excellent guitar. I hope he does well in your band."
"It's not a band—"
"If I were you, Ms. Dumar, I would worry more about your job than the people I choose to employ," Dean Perry said lightly.
"What do you mean?" Rainey frowned. Was he threatening her?
"No, I didn't mean it as threat," Dean Perry said, like he was reading her mind. He sat back down on his crystal chair. It looked uncomfortable. "Gregory College's water level is almost back to normal. I don't think there will be much of a demand for delivering water bottles. I expect you would need to find new employment soon."
"Does that mean we're getting clean water again?" Rainey asked eagerly.
"Can I quote you on that?" Sherry demanded.
"Yes and no," Dean Perry said. "Sherry, let's keep the article's focus strictly on our Student of the Year." Sherry looked disappointed. He waved his hand.
Mickey approached them. "I'm afraid the Dean has another meeting to attend to. Thank you all for making an appearance. We appreciate your attendance."
"Wait," Rainey began.
"Please...if you don't mind, I'd rather there not be a scene," Dean Perry said nervously, glancing at the security guard.
Danika glared at Mickey and then the security guard.
"Let's go, Rainey."
As they stepped out of the office, and traveled back downstairs, the lights seemed to go off one after another. Rainey searched for the janitor but she seemed to have vanished. Once they were outside, in the cold air, she looked back at the building. The windows were all black.
"What do you think?" Danika asked, looking around the street.
"It was..." Rainey searched for the right word. "Unexpected."
Danika nodded. "I can't believe he's nominating you as Student of the Year. Your sister is going to be so proud."
Rainey grimaced. "It's stupid. There are so many people more deserving."
"I'm sure there are. Me, for example."
"I'm serious," Rainey replied. "I think the Dean probably had another reason for giving me the award."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean," Rainey lowered her voice. "Isn't it odd that he's never heard of the Phoenix Kings at all? A group like that, whose main goal is to undermine his administration...I'm sure he knows more than he's saying. With Mickey as his assistant, or whatever. I don't know, I just feel like this award may have some strings attached."
Danika bit her lip thoughtfully. "I kind of agree with you. But have you ever thought that he might actually be helping you, Rainey? Maybe this was his way of secretly patting you on the back for your work against the Phoenix Kings."
"I haven't even done anything against the Phoenix Kings," Rainey said dimly. "I just keep getting caught in their mess."
"What about the compensation money?" Danika asked. She gasped suddenly. "What if the Dean is secretly trying to pay your Phoenix King debt?"
Rainey slapped her forehead. "I almost forgot about it!" She took out the envelope from her back pocket and ripped it open, imagining the money that must lay inside. Maybe Danika was right, maybe it was a check with enough money to forfeit her membership.
"Or maybe not..." Danika said, disappointed. She pulled out an Outback Steakhouse gift card. Rainey held an identical one in her hand.
"The hell..." Rainey threw the envelope on the ground. "This isn't even real money!"
Danika shook her head, bemused. "What a douchebag."
"The biggest."
"At least we get a free dinner," Danika said brightly. "I'm starving."
Rainey froze. The Phoenix Kings meeting Ethan invited her to was going to start in a few minutes. She'd have to run to the other end of campus, without Danika knowing about it. "Oh, um—"
"Are you free?" Danika asked.
Rainey made up a bullshit excuse. "Um, I was actually thinking about taking Fiona to dinner. Since it's free and all."
Danika looked up at the night sky. "Oh, right. My bad. Obviously you'd take your girlfriend out. Celebrate the award tonight."
Suddenly, the air was awkward. Rainey shifted her feet.
"Here take this," Danika handed her gift card to her.
"No, I can't!" Rainey protested. "It's yours, you earned it."
"Rainey, if you're paying for you and your girlfriend, both of our gift cards should cover your meal. Besides, I owe you for the other night when I forgot my wallet."
Feeling bad for lying, Rainey shook her head emphatically.
Danika shoved her gift card into Rainey's hands. "Just take it, boss. I don't want it back, you hear me?"
Rainey reluctantly pocketed it.
"Then I'll see you, okay?" Danika waved. "Should I walk you back?"
"No," Rainey said quickly. "I'll be alright."
Danika nodded listlessly. She headed in the opposite direction. Before she could stop herself, Rainey called out,
"Hey, Dani!"
Danika turned around, in the middle of an empty street. The streetlight basked her in green light, her shadow a formidable hulking black.
Rainey thought of her Tinder notifications. There was no way to bring it up without Danika thinking she was into her, right? And she wasn't into Danika...she was just curious, that's all...about Ashley...who was definitely a boy.
Rainey waved her concerns away. "Never mind!"
Danika shrugged, and continued her walk. She kicked a pebble on the ground.
Rainey headed the other direction. The Phoenix Kings meeting...she felt a shiver go down her back. She was intrigued, she admitted. She was looking forward to finally getting some answers about the group that she was an unwitting member of. Ethan had invited her...she wondered if she'd see him there or not.
She cut through the empty street, wary, rushing towards the meeting site of the Phoenix Kings.