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facilities and then washed my hands, taking the time to splash my face with cold water and examine my swiftly swelling face. I sighed, wishing not for the first time that I could be more average looking, more forgettable. Instead I was blessed, or cursed, with my mother’s exotic looks. While my father was a tall, skinny redhead with pasty white skin and a slightly overlarge nose, my mother had been beautiful. Like her, I had long, straight dark brown hair, almost black, and olive skin inherited from a Mediterranean grandmother that women spend countless hours and dollars in tanning beds trying to attain. My eyes were my father’s, a moss-colored green that stood out underneath thick lashes no one ever believed were natural. I was tall, around five foot ten, and slim and muscular from years of martial arts training. All in all, I was someone that usually got a second look and, in my position, that was the worst thing to have happen.
    I surveyed the damage done to the left side of my face and was satisfied that no blood vessels were broken, so bruising should be minimal. After examining my pupils and deciding I definitely didn’t have a concussion, I straightened my mussed hair and went back out into the office.
    The door to the hall crashed open and I heard an “oops” as Carey made his way towards me, ice pack in hand. I gratefully took it from him and held it against my aching head.
    “Now, I know it’s your first day, but maybe you should head out early and rest. I can write you a note if you like.” Nurse Nora was back to being blandly concerned now that we weren’t alone and I was relieved. All I could think of was getting home and telling Dad we needed to get the heck out of Dodge.
    “Uh, that’s ok. I took the bus, and my dad’s at work, so I wouldn’t have a ride.”
    “I can give you a ride home, Liz.” Carey looked down at me with eager kindness. Nurse Nora nodded approvingly.
    “No, really, it’s fine.  There’s only an hour or so left of school now anyway.” I was edging toward the door, suddenly desperate to be out of the room. There was something very strange about both of these people and I’d already hit my weirdness quota for the day.
    Nurse Nora seemed to grasp this because she nodded and shrugged her shoulders. “Alright dear, but don’t forget these.” She pushed the Tylenol and the bottle of Witch Hazel into my hands.  I stuffed them in my bag and shuffled to the door. “You can come back if you’re feeling bad and need to lie down. You should have someone keep an eye on you tonight, make sure you’re sleeping normally.”
    “Yeah. Sure. I will. Thanks.” She handed me a slip of paper excusing me from class and waved me out. I caught her and Carey exchange a significant look and then he was suddenly beside me, holding the door open with a gallant gesture. I slid through, careful not to bump his arm.
    “Well, you’re late for class, but I’ll show you how to get there if you’re sure you don’t want to go on home.” I shook my head, winced, and pressed the ice harder against my temple.
    “Actually, is there a quiet place anywhere I could just wait until school’s over?” The thought of going into class with my head pounding like this was daunting.
    “Um…yeah. No one is using the darkroom this time of day. I can take you there.” He raised one eyebrow and I nodded, looking forward to just closing my eyes and being alone for a moment.
    Without further comment, Carey turned us around and led me back down the hall until we reached a door that looked like it opened to a janitor’s closet. He jiggled the handle and the door cracked open; his decidedly nonchalant expression made me think that the door hadn’t been open to begin with. Crushing down any burgeoning feeling of curiosity, I just followed him into the darkroom and noted gratefully that the shadowy furniture inside the small room included a flat table that must have once held basins for photo developing