"That's it? That's your whole reasoning?"

Not sure what has her so stumped. Men have died for less logical reasons. "Yes."

"I just don't understand you," She said with a shake of her head, "Well, since you're here, do you mind
*if (met_lucy_bathroom =true)
	explaining what you were doing in the women's room when I first saw you?

	I see, so she's still hostile over that.
	*fake_choice
		#Tell her the whole story
			*set lucy_stein +20
			*set nolucy true
			*set dismiss +1
			*set lucyrelationship "Classmates"
			I have to talk fast so some things might have sounded a bit odd, but I get the important details across. I tell her about the unusual feeling of being watched I had felt in art class, about the girl who had fled from the room announcing that she was going to the bathroom, and my pursuit of her in order to learn why she had been watching me only for her to give me the slip.

			"And so you went where you thought she would be. The women's restroom."

			"That is correct. I was not aware there would be anyone else there."

			"Well, I suppose it's not the worst reason I've heard of a boy sneaking around," she said, closing her lunchbox with a tone of finality, "Very well, consider yourself forgiven."

			"I am pleased to hear that, Lucy."

			"Miss Stein," She corrects me, "Everyone calls me that. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go."

			She doesn't seem to be intentionally rude about it, but I can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia as she stands up and marches off with the focus of a veteran officer, dismissing me utterly with the gesture.

			Having been completely set aside, I'm left with nothing but my food.
			*page_break Next
			*if (dismiss =1)
				*set report_lucydismiss true
				*goto_scene 1-9lunch-1dismissed
			*else
				*goto_scene 1-9lunch-1end
		#Make something up
			*set nolucy true
			*set dismiss +1
			I have fifteen seconds to come up with something, so I spend the first few trying to think of something reasonable that she could believe.

			"I was lost."

			"...I believe this conversation is over." She doesn't spare me another glance as she stands, leaving her food behind her and marching off with the focus on a veteran officer, dismissing me as one would a subordinate. 

			Right, I forgot. I'm bad at lying.

			Having been completely and utterly dismissed, I'm left alone with nothing but my food. I suppose it could be worse, she could have taken that with her.
			*page_break Next
			*if (dismiss =1)
				*set report_lucydismiss true
				*goto_scene 1-9lunch-1dismissed
			*else
				*goto_scene 1-9lunch-1end
*if (stabstudent =true)
	why you thought stabbing a boy was a perfectly reasonable response to a sad attempt at bullying?"

	"I made sure he would not die. I took care to avoid vital regions."

	"Awfully considerate, though it doesn't help your case in trying to avoid looking completely deranged. From the look on your face, I would have assumed you were a shark who smelled blood. Actually, you still kind of look like that; is that just your default face?"

	"More or less."

	"Again, not helping your case."
*if (stabstudent =false)
	telling me what was with that scene in language arts?"

	"I thought we already discussed that."

	"I'm not talking about your sadism," she said while shaking her head, "I'm talking about those moves of yours. Where did you learn to fight like that?"
	
	*if (travel =true)
		"My family tended to move around. I picked it up over time."

		"That is a complete lie," she said instantly, "I guess I won't pry. If you didn't tell me the truth the first time, I doubt you'll change your mind by me asking again."
	*if (terrorist =true)
		"I'm a former soldier."

		"You know, I almost believe that, if it weren't for the fact that it's absolutely insane. I guess I won't pry. If you didn't tell me the truth the first time, I doubt you'll change your mind by me asking again."
	*if (york =true)
		"That is a complete lie," she said instantly, "I guess I won't pry. If you didn't tell me the truth the first time, I doubt you'll change your mind by me asking again."
	*if (no =true)
		"I refuse to answer that."

		"At least you didn't lie to me. I guess I won't pry. If you didn't tell me the truth the first time, I doubt you'll change your mind by me asking again."
*page_break Next
"Did you have anything else to ask?" I ask as a means to keep conversation moving in a forward direction.

"Actually, yes, now that you mention it," She stands up sharply from her table and looks carefully at me, "I don't think I've ever met someone with your...temperament. How would you feel about a job?"

Something clicks in my brain and some subconscious part of me starts carefully listening for orders. The rest of me is still conscious enough to think, but I suppose the habit of blindly accepting whatever command is sent to my general direction is a bit hard to break, "You wish to employ my skills?"

"In a sense. You're new, so I suppose I can explain a few things. My father, Gerald Stein, just happens to be this state's congressman, and aside from my duties as student council president, I take it upon myself to do some business on the side to help support his position. Lately though, this has been getting a bit dicey, and I've been thinking that a bodyguard may be in order. Do you see what I'm asking now?"

"You want me to protect you."

"That's right. In exchange, I can open a few doors for you. You will be paid, of course, but more than that. Time out of classes, a whisper in the teacher's ear, a get out of jail free card which something tells me you will probably need in the near future, and in the long term, a recommendation from a congressman will probably make finding an occupation or university a lot less troublesome. All you have to do is stay by my side between classes and help me out with some of the side projects I get involved in. Does this appeal to you?"

Something tells me that most of the stuff she just listed are things Daniel and the CIA could already have provided. Still, if I ever want a life away from them, it would probably be a good idea to get a contact away from those circles.
*choice
	#Yes
		*set lucyrelationship "Professional"
		*set hiredlucy true
		*set lucy_stein +30
		"Excellent. Now I do not believe we have been formally introduced," she extends her hand out to me, "You can call me Miss. Stein. Everyone calls me that."

		I look at the hand placed in front of me, "...${fullname}."

		Miss Stein doesn't seem too bothered, "Right. How long do you think it will take you to eat?"

		"Three minutes. Maximum."

		"Hurry quickly then. We have business to take care of right away and I want to get to it in a timely fashion. Don't worry about missing class, I can make sure the principal doesn't get on your back."
		*page_break Sixth hour (with Lucy)
		*goto_scene 1-10Lucy-1
	#No
		*set lucyrelationship "Rejected"
		*set rejectlucy true
		*set dismiss +1
		*set lucy_stein 10
		Her smile drops, "Then I suppose we have nothing more to discuss. I won't force you to stand by my side, though I do encourage that you refrain from standing in my way."

		She moves on her way without another glance in my direction. Something in her demeanor and her thinly veiled threat tells me she's not very used to having her deals rejected. This was probably a rather dire blow to her ego, though she only has herself to blame for that.

		Nonetheless, it appears that any hope of us being allies has been thoroughly obliterated.
		*page_break Next
		*if (dismiss =1)
			*goto_scene 1-9lunch-1dismissed
		*else
			*goto_scene 1-9lunch-1end
	#I must think about it
		Her smile drops, "No, that's not how it works. I'm making you an offer right now, and expect an answer right now. Yes, or no?"

		*choice
			#Yes
				*set lucyrelationship "Professional"
				*set hiredlucy true
				"Excellent. Now I do not believe we have been formally introduced," she extends her hand out to me, "You can call me Miss. Stein. Everyone calls me that."

				I look at the hand placed in front of me, "...${fullname}."

				Miss. Stein doesn't seem too bothered, "Right. How long do you think it will take you to eat?"

				"Three minutes. Maximum."

				"Hurry quickly then. We have business to take care of right away and I want to get to it in a timely fashion."
				*page_break Sixth hour...
				*goto_scene 1-10Lucy-1
			#No
				*set lucyrelationship "Rejected"
				*set rejectlucy true
				*set dismiss +1
				*set lucy_stein 10
				Her smile drops, "Then I suppose we have nothing more to discuss. I won't force you to stand by my side, though I do encourage that you refrain from standing in my way."

				She moves on her way without another glance in my direction. Something in her demeanor and her thinly veiled threat tells me she's not very used to having her deals rejected. This was probably a rather dire blow to her ego, though she only has herself to blame for that.

				Nonetheless, it appears that any hope of us being allies has been thoroughly obliterated.
				*page_break Next
				*if (dismiss =1)
					*goto_scene 1-9lunch-1dismissed
				*else
					*goto_scene 1-9lunch-1end