Caroline stood outside the twin’s door, still in her clothes from the plane, and pounded her knuckles on it loud enough for everyone down the hall to hear. It was Josie who opened the door. 
“Hugs.” Caroline’s voice was angry as she held out her arms. “Hugs first, and then you’re both in trouble.”
Lizzie reluctantly slid off her bed to join Josie in their mother’s less-than-welcoming arms. 
“Now.” Caroline held them both by their shoulders, just far enough away she could see their faces as she scolded them. “Just to get this straight - while I was off looking for answers about some very important and very dangerous and your dad was busy running this school by himself, the both of you did magical drugs on my campus?” 
Lizzie and Josie both glanced at each other.
“No - no! No silent twin communication. Just answer the question.”
“You told Dad?” Josie broke first, shooting daggers at Lizzie with her eyes. She turned back to her mom. “It was Penelope’s stash.”
“Is that supposed to be your excuse?” Caroline demanded, eyebrows shooting up. “That ‘it was someone else’s stash’?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. 
Josie broke out of Caroline's shoulder grip. “Dad would understand.”
“Well I’m not Dad, and your dad needs to work on that.” Caroline let go of Lizzie’s shoulder too and crossed her arms. “What about you, Elizabeth? Have anything to say?”
“Just that I already told Dad it’s never happening again,” Lizzie said quietly, crossing her arms and looking down at her feet. 
“Damn right it isn’t.” Caroline was launching into full lecture-mode now. “Because you both know there are consequences to your actions - and not just disciplinary. Did either of you consider Lizzie’s meds? You’re almost seventeen. It’s time to take responsibility for your actions. People get hurt when you don’t, and you are far beyond the age where it is excusable. Got it?”
“Fine.” Josie flopped down on her bed, turning her back to them and muttering under her breath. “But I’m not Lizzie’s keeper.”
Caroline’s jaw dropped and her eyes widened. She was about two seconds away from dark veins popping out underneath them, and that was something she swore she’d never do in front of her kids, no matter how angry she got with them or how high-strung of a parent she was.
Lizzie’s eyes were huge as she watched their mom grab her luggage and take off down the hallway in an angry wave and without another word. She glanced over at her sister, but Josie’s head was still on her pillow with her back to her.