She should tell her about the song. Should share it with her. Should say something about this thing that was growing between them.
But Annabelle was already stretched so thin. Already trying to save the world single-handedly. The last thing she needed was Raven adding to her burdens with feelings and complications and all the messy, difficult parts of actually caring about someone.
So Raven would keep the song to herself. At least for now. At least until after the fundraiser, when Annabelle might actually have the space to breathe.
She curled up on the sofa, still wrapped in the blanket, and closed her eyes.
And for the first time in months, she felt something that might have been peace.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The list had a list.
Annabelle stared at the papers spread across the library floor, all color-coded, cross-referenced, annotated with increasingly frantic asterisks, and wondered when exactly she'd lost her mind.
Final headcount for refreshments
Confirm raffle prize collection (CHECK WITH BLOSSOM)
Print programs (COLLECT FROM ARTY BY 3PM)
Test sound system (AGAIN)
Check weather forecast (pray)
Spare batteries for mics
First aid kit
Gloria's costume crisis management
Talk to Jamie (he looked sad again)
That last one made her chest ache. She'd been so focused on logistics that she'd barely had time to check in with him properly. But she would. Tomorrow. After the fundraiser. When she had time to breathe.
If she ever had time to breathe again.
"Ms. Swift?"
Annabelle looked up to find Nina standing in the library doorway, holding a sandwich wrapped in cling film and wearing an expression of gentle concern.
"You've been in here for three hours," Nina said. "I brought you lunch."
"Oh." Annabelle blinked at the sandwich like it was a foreign object. "That's so sweet of you, but I'm not really hungry."
"You said that yesterday too."
"Did I?" Annabelle tried to remember. Yesterday felt like a lifetime ago. "Well, I'm fine. Really. Just need to finish checking these invoices and then I'll…"
"Annabelle."
The voice came from the doorway, and Annabelle looked up to find Lily standing there with her arms crossed and her headteacher face firmly in place.
"Nina, thank you for trying," Lily said. "I'll take it from here."
Nina nodded and quietly left, shooting Annabelle one last worried glance.
Lily closed the library door behind her and surveyed the chaos spread across the floor. Papers everywhere. Half-drunk cups of tea gone cold. Annabelle sitting in the middle of it all like the captain of a very disorganized ship.
