"Is one of your teachers giving you trouble?"

She shakes her head again.  "I can't - I don't think you can - help me."

Her dad puts a hand on her shoulder.  "It's really easy to think that no one can possibly fix whatever problem you're having," he says.  "It's something people believe, and especially, no offense, something kids believe, a lot more often than it's actually true."

Saying it would put you in danger would really really not improve this conversation.  It's true - or at least, Kyubey claims that people who know about witches become targets for them - but she can't say it, there'd be no way she could stop her dad from trying to get involved and then inevitably a witch would -

She can't continue having that thought, so instead she says, "I know."  Her fists are clenched, nails digging into her palms.  "I don't - know if - I'm ready to talk about it."  That's sort of true, they're gonna go public eventually, just not yet; it's more bearable than telling a direct lie.

Her dad sighs.  "I understand."  He rubs her shoulder, and she leans into his fatherly side-hug.  "Just remember - it's our job to help you handle - anything.  And I really do think that talking about whatever-it-is would help.  Even if you don't think I can give you advice.  I know I'm surprised sometimes by how much it helps to talk stuff over with someone."

"I - yeah.  Thanks," she says.  "Just - not yet, okay?"

"Okay.  Promise you're not gonna cut class again, though?"

She nods, and then has to swallow a lump in her throat, because, well, she's hardly going to sit around and do nothing if another witch attacks the school.

She stands up abruptly.  "Thanks for talking.  I've - got homework."

" - all right," her dad says.

She does; she hides in her room and works, and thinks.

Friday passes; in trying to avoid talking to her other acquaintances about why she cut class, she ends up being pretty withdrawn from everyone, even Lianne.

Saturday arrives.  She meets Lianne at the scouting group.

"Hey Kaylee," she says when they meet. "Got grounded. For three whole weeks, I've never seen mom that mad. I won't be able to hang out on Fridays for a while. Luckily mom's letting me keep clubs and scouting, since they look good to colleges... How'd your parents take things?"

"My dad was - actually really nice about it, considering.  But.  He knows something's up with me, and I don't know how long I can keep him in the dark about what."

"It's good he was nice about it, but it does kinda stink that he's getting suspicious. At least my mom doesn't pay too much attention to what I'm doing... I don't know about my sister, though, I might have to come up with a reasonable-sounding excuse eventually."

"...Do you think Kyubey was right, that we should keep it a secret?"

"I honestly don't know. If it's true that witches target people who know... But if everyone knew, I don't think that'd change attack patterns? Though it might cause a panic. But people have the right to know when they're in danger."

She nods.  "I guess I just... I hate lying to my parents about something this big.  If there's some way to - safely clue in just a couple of people... I don't know."

"We can talk to Mallory about that?"

"Yeah.  Speaking of which - " she gestures toward the door.  "Shall we?"

"Let's."

In they go.

Everyone's there. Mal smiles at the two girls when they walk in.

"Hi everyone!" Kaylee says.  She's perked up already, being around a group of people she doesn't have to keep so many secrets from.  She glances around, but it looks like Tobi hasn't shown up yet.  "Are we late?"

"No, we're all just early. How was your week?"

"Well, a witch showed up near the school on Thursday..."

"Yikes. Is everyone okay?"