"I'll wait for Lu."

Lu returns pretty soon! They've cleared the halls of freshmen by now. 

And then she notices all the staring and whispering. She hurries to El's side, asks - "What did I miss?"

"Mum sent a letter. To the daughters of Gwen Higgins."

"...Oops."

" - Have you opened it yet?"

She displays the tightly-folded nugget. "Was waiting for you."

"Thanks." Open it now? 

Might as well.

In Gwen's neat hand, written so tiny El can barely read it -

Ash and I are safe, going into hiding. We may not be at graduation point. Aaron's family has our contact. Take care of each other. 

And stay away from the fucking mawmouths, children.

She can't help giggling a little when she reads Ash's part. And for Gwen's: "Well, that's one worry answered..."

"We'll have to track that kid down again soonish."

"Yeah. Get an address and names - and we can take any letters to his family, too." Or news if he dies. "Did you invite him to the table?"

"For dinner."

"Lines open in a few minutes... We'll catch him when he comes to sit down."

"Yep."

Speaking of... They should see if they can be among the first in. 

Worth a shot. Maybe people will still be too taken aback by their relation to contest it.

And they've got an increasingly intimidating reputation...

See if they can't put that to use.

It's got to help them for one thing. 

And - getting to the very first position is doable; the kids going in before everyone else are usually enclavers' hangers ons and allies - the ones getting the dubious honor of first pick of food in exchange for being the first pick of mals, with the enclavers behind them in line. Those kids have no real objections to the most terrifying alliance in school braving the line ahead of them - and the enclavers are too distracted to object in time, and if they butt ahead of New York then Dani can be an extra help there. 

She will pave the way!

And what with it being later in graduation day (and Luthien being exceptionally terrifying to mals, possibly more terrifying than she is to random students), they aren't even exceptionally molested in getting their food. 

Dani is going to take three pats of butter for her roll.

Downright luxury. 

Take it when you can get it.