Dana walked into the vast, nearly empty library, the echo of her footsteps swallowed by towering shelves packed tightly with books. Dust floated lazily in the golden streaks of light that filtered through the tall windows.
Vanessa was already seated at a far desk, deeply immersed in a book, her smoothie resting quietly beside her.
Without asking, Dana slid into the chair opposite her and snatched the smoothie.
She peeled off the lid.
"Dana—" Vanessa started.
"No food allowed in the library," Dana replied calmly, taking a long sip.
Vanessa dropped her book onto the table with a soft thud. "You think I don't know that?"
Dana finished the drink in one go and placed the empty cup down like she had just won something.
Vanessa folded her arms across her chest. "You seem to be in a suspiciously good mood. What have you been up to?"
There was something in her tone , irritation, maybe even jealousy.
"Did you find something about the book?"
Dana leaned back in her chair slowly.
"Well…" she drawled. "Two things."
Vanessa rolled her eyes. "And how exactly am I supposed to guess the two things?"
Dana smirked. "Fine. I'll help you out. One, the book finally gave me something."
Vanessa straightened instantly.
"And two?"
Dana locked eyes with her.
That was enough.
Vanessa's expression shifted. "What did you find out?"
"June."
The name lingered in the quiet air between them.
"There's something strange about June," Dana continued. "And I'm almost certain Gwen is involved."
Vanessa leaned forward now, all irritation gone. "Explain."
Dana traced invisible patterns on the wooden table with her finger as she spoke.
"There are loopholes in her memory. Small contradictions. She mixes up timelines. There are things that happened in her past, and she's not even sure if they're real."
Vanessa frowned.
"How long have you been in this school?" Dana asked suddenly.
"Two years."
"You wouldn't know then. June's confused memories date further back than that."
Dana's voice dropped slightly.
"She says she got lost once… and Gwen found her. She talks like they've been friends forever. But if they only met a few years ago…"
She paused.
"Who was Gwen's roommate before June?"
Vanessa's thoughtful silence answered her "And in HERBERT WILBUR, your first roommate from junior level never changes" Vanessa said thoughtfully.
"You see what I'm saying?" Dana pressed.
Vanessa exhaled slowly. "So let's say June's memory is fractured. How does that lead us back to Gwen? Our whole point is to get to Gwen."
Dana leaned further back in her chair.
"I don't know yet. But my instincts don't lie. If Gwen is connected to this, and she's hiding something, then uncovering June's gaps might expose whatever she's protecting."
Vanessa's eyes gleamed.
"So we verify their history," she said.
Dana tilted her head. "And how do we do that?"
"The school ledger."
Dana blinked.
"They keep records of every new student. Admission dates. Room assignments. Transfers. Everything," Vanessa explained. "If we check the older entries, we'll know exactly when June arrived… and who Gwen was paired with before her."
Silence fell between them.
The administration building.
Again.
Dana sighed lightly. "So we've just signed ourselves up for another trip there."
Vanessa closed her book with determination.
--------
It was already dark, late in the night, Vanessa and Dana stood outside, slightly farther from the double doors of the administration building.
"As much as this is important, I really think I'm tired of snooping, especially around this building" Vanessa half complained. "Like one day we'd get caught and we'd have a lot of explaining to do".
"But for now, we haven't so forget about thinking about what would never happen " Dana said, constantly looking at the direction of the administration building. "where exactly are the ledgers, containing students information kept?". She turned back to look at Vanessa.
"Probably in the store room or in the principal's office which I wouldn't venture into" she said with a dramatic wave of her hand.
"We'd start from the store, if it isn't there, we are going to the principal's office " Dana said, her voice sharp, leaving no room for negotiation. Vanessa could only sigh internally, one day, Dana would be the end of her and for some reason, that day didn't seem so far-fetched.
"let's go" Dana motioned.