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There was lots to be done today. Of course Prisha always felt that way especially now that she lived at Ericson. Wherever she looked she spotted things to improve on and each room felt like it inspired her in new ways to make life here even better. She strolled through the courtyard, her notebook tucked under her left arm that was strapped to her side with a brace. Being able to find this new way of carrying her notebook allowed her to free up her one good hand so that she could get around the school with more ease. As Prisha walked further through the courtyard she began to scan for a certain rapscallion who had become someone dear to her and her partner in all possible inventions and improvements for Ericson’s Boarding School for Troubled Youth. It didn’t take her long to spot Willy. Afterall he wasn’t exactly hard to find with how speedy, chaotic and loud he always tended to be. Usually Prisha let him go about his day doing whatever he did unless it was dangerous. As luck would have it Willy was doing something dangerous when Prisha spotted him. The young lanky teen was haphazardly trying to climb up the wall, balancing way to many items in his arms along with Garbage. It would make the trek up to the top near impossible but Willy didn’t see it that way.
“Willy!” Prisha called out as she ran forward “William, get down from there, it's dangerous!”
Willy turned his head back and looked at Prisha with a toothy grin. “Prisha! Great news, I think I found a way to-” His words were cut short as he lost his footing and immediately landed flat on his butt. The impact made him let out a small pained sound while Garbage frantically scurried out of his arms and ran away, frightened hisses escaping her form.
“Are you alright? Do you need me to get Ruby?” Prisha helped Willy up on his feet worried that he had been injured but he didn’t act like it. Instead he simply brushed off the dirt on his butt and grinned up at her.
“I’m okay! But who’s William?” Willy tilted his head slightly as he asked the question.
“It’s you.”
Willy shook his head. “No, I’m Willy. Did you hit your head? Maybe I should get Ruby for you.”
“No, Willy, William is your legal name,” Prisha replied calmly while Willy squinted at her, his nose scrunched up.
He stayed silent for a second.
“What’s legal?”
“It’s,” Prisha paused, she didn’t want to go down a rabbit hole of explanations and she felt like this could start it. “What I meant was your birth name. The name your parents gave you.”
“Oh!” Willy’s eyes grew large. “Nope, it was Willy.”
“I would assure you it most likely isn’t but then again there wouldn’t be any way to prove it. Your legal name would only appear on files and such and-”
“We have those! I know where mine is! So let’s see if it’s true!” Willy grabbed Prisha’s hand and started to book it over to the admin building.
“Wait, Willy.”
“We can even make a bet! If I win then you gotta play dress up with Garbage and me and if you’re right I’ll steal one of Aasim’s books for you!”
Prisha’s focus was split in half between not running into things as Willy guided him and what her young friend had said.
“I don’t think Aasim would appreciate the bet,”
“But you love books!”
Prisha grew silent. He wasn’t wrong there.
Before she had a chance to agree or disagree to the terms of the bet they had already gotten to their destination: the music room.
“What are we doing in here?”
“Getting my file,” Willy hopped up onto the ladder by the wall where large bookcases stood, a few stray boxes of files resting in the dusty spaces.
Prisha watched him for a minute before Willy made an excited victory noise.
“Found it!” He leapt down from the great height making Prisha reach out in concern but he was totally fine. “Okay, it’s in here somewhere, let’s see there’s Ruby’s, Aasim’s, Therissa’s, Dewey’s, Brody’s aaaannnd mine!” He had flicked past a few more names before being successful then held it up with a big grin. He tossed back the cover of the file and excitedly looked for the answer both of them were waiting for.
“No. Way. My name is William!” Willy looked up in awe.
“Guess I win then,” Prisha ruffled his hair and WIlly gave a small pout but it soon disappeared.
“Yeah, yeah, wanna know why I was sent to Ericson?” He leaned forward, his toothy smile making it clear that he wanted her to say yes.
“Sure.”
“Chronic masturbation!” Willy exclaimed proudly.
Prisha froze for a moment as her brows knit together. She didn’t know what she had expected but it certainly wasn’t that. She didn’t want to come across as rude though so she tried to think of something to say. As the seconds passed however all she managed to get out was a small “ah” sound.
That had been enough for Willy though and he rushed forward, tackling her with a hug.
“Thanks, Prisha,”
“For what?”
“Everyone else always made faces and said I should shut up about it. No one ever said anything good but you!”
She really hadn’t said anything at all but still she was glad to see that Willy was happy. After a second he got distracted reading his file and looking for Mitch’s. Willy wasn’t exactly the most delicate with the files though and had a tendency to toss them onto the floor.
“Willy, you can’t-'' Prisha was in the midst of scolding him as she leaned over to pick up the files when she spotted Violet’s. Her eyes stayed on the folder as curiosity clawed at the back of her mind. Despite all of her thoughts telling her not to, she picked up the file. She was too curious to learn why Violet was sent to her. Perhaps it was because of some small petty crime like stealing from a local store or maybe it was because a school couldn’t handle her attitude and sent her here for a stricter hand in education. Whatever she had assumed it to be, she soon learned it to be far from what it actually was. Slowly Prisha sat down on the floor, staring down at the words as she read them.
Violet Miller shows a concerning lack of empathy when it comes to others. The worst offense of this being her not helping when her grandma committed suicide when she was capable of doing so. Most likely is emotionally stunted and has abandonment issues. If she is able to change her ways she should be able to get out of her by next summer.
Prisha stayed silent as she looked at the notes below it pushing Violet’s release date from this school further and further back despite it only being a few months since she had arrived there. Next to the description of Violet was a picture of her younger eleven year old self looking more detached and somber than in recent years.
The file remained in Prisha’s hand for a second longer before she closed it and put it back in the file box.
“I’m going to go. I’ll see you at dinner,”
“Oh okay, I’ll steal that book for you later then,” Willy waved goodbye and Prisha returned it then went back to her thoughts. A feeling of guilt entered her gut. She shouldn’t have read that. Not without Violet’s permission. She had invaded something personal and her girlfriend didn’t even know. Prisha took a shaky breath. She had to come clean to Violet, her conscience wouldn’t let her be otherwise. Afterall there were things in Prisha’s past that she wanted to have the time and space to decide whether or not to share and Violet had given her that. Now she had taken that away from Violet when it came to what was in her file. She slowly walked through the hallways of the admin building. The best thing to do at a time like this was keep busy.
Prisha had been acting off all afternoon. Violet had picked up on that fact as soon as she had finished helping Ruby with taking care of Molly. At first Violet had figured it was best to check in with Prisha after chores, thinking it was due to some memories of her past or loved ones she had lost. Violet had days like that, so did the others and she knew Prisha did too. But this didn’t feel like that and Violet couldn’t let go of that feeling all the way through dinner until everyone had gone their separate ways. Prisha was about to get up when Violet quickly stopped her.
“Prisha,”
Prisha looked over at her girlfriend. “Yes?”
“You feeling okay?” Violet noticed the pause the question had caused her girlfriend. “You’ve been acting off and I can tell something is up. Come on,” Violet got up and started to make her way to the steps of the admin building. It was a bit tougher to navigate there with limited light but not impossible.
“Wait,” Prisha bit down on the inside of her lip. “If we talk could it be in our room?”
Violet stared at her, unable to catch any of her expression with how dark it was but she got all she needed from the tone of her girlfriend’s voice.
After a short nod as confirmation Violet went over and walked side by side with Prisha. Their hands brushed together for a moment but instead of how Prisha usually reacted their hands remained unintertwined. Violet couldn’t help but get a twinge of worry at that. She tried her best not to think about it though and kept quiet until they had entered their room and sat on the bed. Prisha sat right beside Violet and stayed silent for a few seconds.
“I read your file.”
Violet tense slightly at that but she didn’t say a word. She could sense Prisha wanted to say more.
“I went to the music room with Willy about another matter that involved his file and I saw your file and,” Prisha took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. I hadn’t thought it would be something so personal. It was foolish of me to assume otherwise.”
Neither of them spoke for a minute as Violet let what her girlfriend said fully sink in.
“It’s okay,” Violet whispered but kept her eyes focused on the floor. She had read her own file before so she knew it didn’t have all the details but still. She had wanted to be able to tell Prisha when she felt ready and she wasn’t there yet. Violet wasn’t sure when she would’ve been ready, she had grown comfortable in how the relationship was going. Neither of them pressured the other to spill their guts about their past; they just let each other be and open up whenever they felt they were ready. Now she didn’t fully have that anymore but Violet didn’t feel mad or upset with Prisha. Hell, she held no sort of negative emotions towards her girlfriend for what happened. Instead all she was focused on was the inkling that had always remained in the back of her head, far before Prisha but staying ever present. A truth that she was worried Prisha would confirm to be true if she asked the next question. Deep down there was something wrong with her, something broken. That’s what Violet had feared, that when it came to the core of who she was she just wasn’t built right.
“Does it change anything,” Violet slowly held onto her arm and felt her throat tighten as her worry built causing her voice to take on softer, more strained lilt to it. “About how you see me?”
Prisha’s brows furrowed. “What? No, it doesn’t change anything. I see you the same as always.” She gently brushed her hand against Violet’s, carefully trying to get a sense if Violet wanted her hand in hers.
Violet didn’t take the offer right away and instead slowly brushed her knuckles against Prisha’s.
“I’m so, so sorry that you had to go through that, Violet. It’s something no one should ever have to experience.”
Tears started to form in Violet’s eyes making the limited sight she did have completely blurry. With a shaky breath she rested her head onto Prisha’s shoulder. Her girlfriend’s words had struck something deep within her heart. A vulnerability that she had been too scared to share in any detail before. As she struggled not to shed any tears, Violet felt Prisha’s arm wrap around her. Her arm slowly curled around Prisha holding her tighter. Neither of them spoke a word. All that needed to be said was done with the gestures reciprocated in this moment.