Because {Three | Alaric Saltzman}

We're Being Punked, Pedro

The expressions targeted at Abigail and Alaric from the opposite side of a library table were stony. They belonged to Hope, Josie, and Lizzie, the three of them relaying that they were displeased by what they had just been told without words. But the ones that they responded with, those were the same.

"This makes no sense," Lizzie argued. "Why are we being punished?"

Abigail looked diagonally across the table at her. "Because you started a brawl at a charity football game that risked exposing what we really do here!"

Raising her eyebrows, Lizzie crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, you weren't mad last night."

"I was mad last night. So was your father. Our undying love for you and your sister just happened to trump our rage." The way she sat up in her chair was changed with the way she tilted her head to the side. "It's not just you, it's everyone who was involved. So, stop complaining."

"Listen to your mother." Alaric draped his arm along the back of Abigail's chair without touching her at all. "Besides, you're lucky that it's just community service and not actual jail time."

"Can I at least offer a rebuttal in my defense, if it pleases the court?" Lizzie asked.

Abigail looked to Alaric who gestured toward Lizzie, offering her the floor.

"First of all, I was provoked. My response was totally proportional considering the levels of abuse that I was forced to endure. And secondly..." Although Hope chuckled, it was not what made Lizzie hesitate. "If anyone should take the blame, it's Josie."

Josie's expression changed only with the raise of her eyebrows. "What?"

"I'm sorry," Lizzie backtracked. "I totally cracked during the cross, but if you had just let Kaleb catch the ball-"

Josie scoffed. "Yeah, okay."

Alaric redirected their conversation, "You'd still be in trouble-"

Hope interjected, "But nice job throwing your sister under the bus!"

Josie, who was sitting directly across from Abigail between Lizzie and Hope, looked from her right to her left. "Thank you, Hope."

A silent argument started before Josie even knew it did, so Abigail called their attention to her before she could realize it had. "Speaking of, the bus leaves in ten minutes, and I expect all three of you on it. Work together today, harmoniously and without drama. End of debate."

"I wasn't even at the game," Hope said. "Why am I being punished?"

Her expression was wiped away. "You know what you did."

"Alright, now come on. All of you." Alaric stood up, clapping loudly to emphasize his point. "Come on."

Josie and Lizzie groaned as they followed him out of the room but Hope stayed right where she was. "Seriously?"

"What part of what I said needs translating?" Abigail asked.

Hope didn't have to point at the stack of books on the table, but she did. "I want to help you with research."

She pulled the stack of books in front of her. "I think the adults have it covered."

"That's not fair. You only play by grown-up rules when you don't need something from me."

She shook her head slowly, the way she shook her head when she was serious. "That is not true."

What made their expressions different was Hope's fake smile. "I'm pretty sure it is."