So, thank you for dealing with me in a way I hope will always remind me to keep to the rules.“ With that she walked passed the girls in detention an... out of the classroom, along the corridor, out of the school, and made her way directly towards the Halfway house, knowing that she did actually deserve whatever additional punishment Governess Stanton gave her.The teachers had looks of surprises on their face when Marlene gave the apology that she did give. Of course, that reinforced their own new. " Don't be shy with your opinions now, Em," Dave said, smiling across the table at his still sleepy daughter."She's right," Jennifer said. "When I'm around, she's a perfectly sweet girl but I've heard her when she's with other girls - Meg, Em, Hayley and her friends. She is a bit of a bully. And, yes, I've heard her talking about her sexual adventures. I never took them real serious. When I was in school, it was the ones who talked the most who got the least." It's still true," Hayley told her. The conversation picked up again with Mamma fussing around the girls,straightening this, adjusting that, making little fixes to their makeup.All four of the girls were glad when they were finally outside and evengladder when they arrived at the club only two streets over. Walking inhigh-heels on cobbled streets was no fun.Michele's mood brightened as soon as they were settled in the club. Theyfound a large booth and ordered drinks; they were well aware that alleyes were on them. Not because. Not really. Not until now.And we did talk about our problem after that. It was no longer shoved in a closet. We both agreed that making a baby was a bad idea. I actually did buy some condoms, but we didn't use them. Not for a long time, actually. It wasn't that we didn't want to make love. It was more like we knew, now, how easily things like that could get out of control. And, thinking back on things, I think it occurred to both of us that we would have ended up using three condoms that night.