Just Away from the Bonfire: Ellie & Rider
"I don't mind doin' it." The cuff of her sweater sleeve was taking some damp damage as she tried to keep those stupid tears away. "I mean, it's far and away from the punishment we'd get at Anton but.." Her grimace tightened her jaw as she held her breath. Sometimes that worked to settle her down. Not this time however. "I feel like I'm a horrible disappointment now. Like I dun somethin' terribly wrong."
And that was the rub. Since coming to St. Margaret's she'd been on her best behavior, her definition of it anyway. Keeping out of sight, under the radar and trying not to be noticed. That was how it was done in Anton. How it had to be done. Bad things happened if you attracted attention to yourself there, especially drawing punishment down on you. Not that she expected the same treatment here, but it really hadn't been all that long ago, and old habits died hard. These folk were good to her and the rest of her oathbound. Now look what she'd done.