xp_logs | NOT ANOTHER TEEN DIMENSION

Hope and Sarah take time to interrogate some of the rich kids.

It was after school on Thursday and it wasn't surprising that they found themselves at the mall. After all, it was their clique that had the credit cards to go along with their cellphones.

"Yes daddy, I'll be careful. We're just going to be looking for dresses for the party." Hope impatiently tapped her foot. "No, I will stay with the group and text you before I drive home." Quickly finishing her call, she rolled her eyes at her friends. "Sorry about that..."

"Yes, daddy.." Sarah mimicked, capping her lipstick and tucking it in her handbag. It was several shades too red for dress code and would be neatly wiped off before she arrived home for her own father to see it. There was some laughter from the group in response, but they knew they all did it. Except for Bridget, who called her parents "Paula and Joe" and said it made them treat her more like an adult. Sarah eyed across the food court to see what other groups were beginning to gather. "Where to first?"

"Liz, didn't you mention a boutique you wanted to hit? You said they had some amazing dresses." Hope tucked an arm through the brunette's and grinned: "By the way, did you hear that crazy rumor that is making the rounds. Sarah happened to mention it to me..."

"Rumours are for poor people." Liz sniffed but the blonde cocked her head back to Hope and Sarah. "Is it about that picture of Victor Creed's weird shaped dick on the club bulletin board? I heard it was Eddie Brock."

"Ew, nobody gives a shit about that." Sarah hurried them forward to walk in a line that nearly blocked the entire aisle. "I heard that you and Harry were over by the science room after school. Now as your friend, I obviously told them they needed to get their eyes checked, but I thought you might want to give us the gossip."

"Of course we were." Harry Osborn said, turning up suddenly with his tousled dark hair and sly smile. "Golf club. We always drop off our clubs in the secure equipment room." He gave Liz a kiss on the cheek. "Why? Who cares?"

"Who doesn't?" Hope rolled her eyes, quickly thinking back to the intensive briefing they'd had. "This is the kind of stuff 'Queen Bee' Clea laps up like a little poodle so she can spread her juicy little stories. I'm sure she thought you guys were up to no good."

"I heard her British accent is totally fake." Liz sneered.

Sarah tried to picture the school layout in her head. Was there a storage closet where they said it was? She couldn't remember seeing one on the map. She smiled slyly, and leaned in. "Are you sure you weren't messing with those nerds in Science Club? It's about time somebody did."

Hope giggled, then glanced at Liz: "Come on, Liz, don't deny it. If the Queen Bee is to be believed, that quinty kid totally has a crush on you. Heck, even Danny has seen him watching you in the cafeteria! And we know Harry is always up for a 'prank' as well."

"Hey, if those science dorks got fucked with, it was someone with time to waste. Never even been in that classroom." Harry said, steering Liz away. "Our movie is starting soon, babe."

"Oh, yeah, ok, sure." Liz waved to them as they walked away. As they passed Danny Rand, the blond rolled his eyes at Harry's comment.

"What bullshit." He muttered, loud enough for Hope and Sarah to hear.

Ears perking up, Hope sidled up to Danny's side: "That sounds like you know more... don't keep us waiting..." She fished, adding a playful bat of her eyes.

Sarah hung back, worried they might spook the kid before they got what they needed. "Seriously. You would have thought we asked Harry if he thought Liz might dump him before Friday's dance, he got out of here so fast."

"Harry is trying to fuck that Electra chick from Greece. He keeps bragging about his hookup and Liz and I grew up friends together. I don't like how he treats her." Danny said, sitting down on the bench. "Last year, Harry paid one of the kids in the office to copy the Science Lab key for him."

Hope dropped beside him, crossing her legs at the ankle and raising an eyebrow. "A key to the Science Lab? What might be there that he wants?" She grinned at Danny's raised eyebrow. "What? You didn't think he was going there to do science, did you?"

Sarah watched Danny's unsure expression, and wished he would just say it already. God what she wouldn't give for a straightforward monologue. "My money is on stealing exam answer keys."

"Ladies, it's easier than that." Danny said. "The only key that isn't on the master copy ring is the nurse's room key. Because she had medication locked up there, and some of Mr. Banner's chemicals can be used to make drugs, they have the only keys. Nurse Carter leaves right after the bell. When Mr. Banner has basketball practice or a game, that's an hour where the nurse's room and the bed are certain to be free. Banner keeps his key in his desk in the Science Lab."

Well, with the bed getting that much emphasis it was not that hard to guess what it was used for... for the younger Hope she was playing though: "What?!?!" Hope made sure she appeared faintly scandalized. "You're not saying they... like... 'use the bed'?"

Sarah couldn't help but laugh out loud, and hoped it wasn't too out of character. She fished in her handbag for her too red lipstick and applied another unnecessary coat. "That dog. I wonder if he would let me borrow that key sometime."

"Just saying. I wouldn't mind if Harry gets busted trying to bang someone else there." Danny said and shook his head. "Just... Liz deserves better."

Hope sat up, glancing over at Sarah before replying..."Why Danny, that almost sounds like a request... you do know who else he has been eying, right?"

"There's more? Fuck Harry, you'd stick it in a mudpuddle if you thought it would wriggle." He said almost to himself.

Sarah made a face, and held up a hand to stop his talking. "That is disgusting, and I hope I never to have to think about that again."