xx48.11.30 / 11:34 / Wednesday

I'm still at the Crescents' house. It was funny in the morning, having to take turns in the bathroom. I went last, that was funny too because I was insisting I go last while they were all insisting that I went first (well, C2 wasn't, she's kind of practical and had her turn while her parents and I were insisting at each other). Eventually Mrs Crescent resolved things by saying "If Charlotte's going last then she can have a nice long bath, I'll get one ready for her", so that's what happened, I had a really long bath with all these nice bath salts and things, and candles all lit around me. I've never had a bath like that before, I was amazed at how calm it made me feel, and afterwards I noticed my hands weren't really shaking any more.

That's when I told Mrs Crescent about what happened. All of it, everything that Ray did. She listened very sympathetically, and when I told her about the bad part her mouth went all thin and her eyes went all hard, and she patted my arm and she said "Let's hope I never see the boy walking down the street, because big tough rugby player or not I'd punch him to the ground." I think she really would, too. She's lovely and laughy and kind of 'round', but I feel like Mrs Crescent is NOT someone you want to get on the wrong side of.

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I felt better for telling her, anyway, and she gave me a big hug and told me not to worry, that I did well to take care of myself and that probably all I should regret was not giving him a proper slap. Which I DO kind of regret, actually. He definitely deserved it!

One thing I've noticed, being here. My head is clearer. I can think properly. I've spent some time reading back over my recent entries, and it's pretty obvious there's something wrong. I keep mentioning how I should start investigating, but I never actually do anything. Being at the school is bad, that's clear. It's obviously the centre of whatever weird stuff is happening. I don't want to impose on the Crescents because CLEARLY they've already done SO much for me, but it's not just because I don't want to be alone that I'm reluctant to go back to the school.

Except...

Except I have to go back. Because I DO need to investigate. Because I DO need to stop all of this. At the very least I have to find out what's going on, and maybe who's behind all of this. Even if I can't do anything to stop it myself, I could maybe find someone who can. There aren't any buses out of town but there IS a road, and eventually that road has to lead SOMEWHERE.

I feel bad about sneaking away, but now that I've realised all of this I can't wait any longer. I'm going to leave a note for the Crescents thanking them for everything, and then I'm heading to the school. This time I'm not going as a student, though. I'm going as a spy. There are too many secrets at Emerald Hills Academy. And I'm going to unearth all of them.