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After these series of e-mails, Bethany takes a cab out to Xavier's to come see for herself that Amanda's in one piece. Domino meets her at the door, like she promised, and gives the frazzled girl some much-needed comfort.Short and sweet.



As promised, Bethany had called when she was on her way out the door
- it was a cab ride for her, today, not that she really minded.
Cabbies drive fast, and right now, fast is good. She'd made very good
time, and managed not to trip over herself as she climbed out of the
taxi, passing her fare through the driver's window before shouldering
her backpack and offering a chipper 'thanks' to the driver.. but
then, once he was on his way, she had more important places to be.

Taking a quick look around for her welcoming comittee of one, Bethany
started the walk towards the school's front steps, repeating a silent
mantra in her head as her fingers idly played with the charm bracelet
around her wrist. She's fine. You don't need to run. She's fine.
Walk. Breathe. She's fine. She's fine.

Pushing the rather heavy front door, Domino grinned at the girl
rushing towards the stairs. "Slow down, kiddo," she said cheerfully.
"Sleeping Beauty is... well, sleeping quite soundly at the moment.
She's not going anywhere." When Bethany got to the door, Domino
decided to be forward and gave her a quick hug. "Hey."

Instead of the 'hi' she intended to respond with, "She's fine," came
out instead, and Bethany didn't really seem to notice. She was too
busy tightly returning the hug, though she was at least together
enough that she could make herself let go when Domino did, mustering
up an only slightly wobbly smile. "Sleep okay?"

"Better," Domino said, leaving her arm around Bethany's shoulders as
she led the girl inside. "Helped that I crashed with a smile on my
face, I think. Which is largely due to you."

"Glad I could help," Bethany replied sincerely, her smile gaining a
bit of strength. She was quite easy to guide along, even tucked up
against Domino's side like she was, though she couldn't help but
flick a slightly worried look around the room once they'd gotten
inside. "If she's still asleep, I don't want t'wake her," she said after
a moment, lightly chewing on her lower lip.

"Then don't," Domino said easily. "Go in and sit with her. She'll
wake up fairly soon anyway, I'd think. You'll be a nice surprise."

"I don't think I could just sit there and watch her sleep right now,"
Bethany observed sheepishly, rubbing at her eyes with the heels of
her hands, trusting Domino to lead her along while she can't see.
"Been too worried. Glomping or otherwise pitiful displays of girliness
would ensue, and wake her up, and that would be bad."

"I don't know that she'd consider it a bad thing," Domino said
wisely. "You should have seen the way her eyes lit up when I told her
you were coming. It was very, very girly."

"Really?" It would be hard not to smile at that, so Bethany didn't
bother trying not to, looking up with a hopeful expression. "Maybe
you could sit in there with me?"

"Sure thing," Domino said easily, but then grinned. "But you feel
free to tell me to leave the room if the two of you want some time
alone. Three's a crowd, they say."

"Only if you're lacking in imagination," Bethany observed innocently,
smiling at the older woman. "But I'll keep it in mind, I promise."