Tailored for more at seventeen

Chapter 7: The Missing Design

Sarah stared at the empty space on the table, unable to say a word. Diana slowly walked toward it, hoping she had somehow moved the fabric without remembering. But it was gone. “Maybe it fell somewhere,” Sarah said, looking around the room.

Diana shook her head. “No. I left it right there.” They searched under the table, inside their bags, and around the chairs, but nothing turned up. Diana’s heart sank. The design was more than just a piece of fabric. It was the first thing she had ever created from one of her own ideas. “What are we going to do?” she whispered. Sarah placed a hand on her shoulder. “We’re going to find it.”

The next morning, Diana could hardly concentrate in class. Her mind kept returning to the missing design. She wondered if Maya had taken it. Maybe she had seen it after all. But Diana didn't want to accuse her without knowing the truth. During lunch, Sarah rushed over to her. “I think I know where it might be.” Diana looked up quickly. “Where?” Sarah lowered her voice. “Yesterday, when Maya came in, she stood near the table. What if she accidentally picked it up?” Diana’s stomach tightened. “But why would she take it?” “I don’t know,” Sarah admitted. “We need to find out.” They decided to look around the classroom before asking Maya directly. As they walked back, Diana noticed something on the floor near the teacher’s desk. A small piece of the same fabric. She picked it up slowly. “Sarah…” Sarah looked down. Neither of them spoke. Diana turned the fabric over in her fingers. There was a tiny blue thread sewn into the edge, exactly like the one on their design. “This is definitely ours,” she whispered. Sarah looked toward the classroom. “Then someone brought it here.” Before Diana could reply, they heard footsteps behind them.

They turned around. Maya was standing there. She looked at the piece of fabric in Diana’s hand. Then her eyes widened. “What's that?” she asked quietly.