"Flash, a word."
Flash stopped halfway to his most recently acquired car and turning, saw the schools overbearing headmistress beckoning him through an open window.
"Small problem," she called.
"What's up, Miss Fritton?" asked Flash, walking over.
"It seems that when you try to pay a bank half a million in full, they start asking questions and frankly, I don't think they'd like the answer," explained Camilla with a throaty chuckle, "anyway, long story short, I told them we had an investor."
"Oh I'm with ya Milla," grinned Flash.
Camilla smiled back, "I knew we could count on you Flash. Now dress smartly and be at the hockey game tomorrow."
"Will do Milla. Will do," Flash smiled broadly, and winking, he strode away whistling. He never passed up an opportunity to see Kelly in her gym kit.
As soon as he was out of sight, Camilla turned to a small camera concealed in the window frame.
"He's in," she said, giving the camera a wink and two thumbs up.
Across the school, several floors up, Polly turned from her laptop to the girls behind her.
"He's in," she repeated.
*
Two Days Ago
"Come on guys! Are you in or not?" Annabelle asked the girls.
The rest of the group exchanged uneasy glances.
"Well it's a good idea Belle, and Flash would certainly thank us for it," began Polly slowly.
"But Kelly'll kill us if she finds out what we're up to!" finished Taylor bluntly.
Annabelle groaned, she had known that it would be hard to convince the others but she had thought they would at least listen.
"Come on! Kelly does everything for us, but this is the one thing she'll never do for herself. So we have to," looking around at the others she willed someone to agree with her. Yet all the girls, including Andrea and Taylor, remained silent. Annabelle was disappointed. As Kelly's best friends, she had expected Taylor's and Rea's support at least. Just as she was about to give up she received support from the most unexpected source.
"I agree with Annabelle," Celia slowly stood up, "We should do this for Kelly."
"Yeah!" yelled the twins, jumping up and high-fiving each other. Slowly, the older girls began to nod and smile, enthusiasm for a new scheme growing.
"Ok girls. Let's get cracking," said Polly clapping her hands and booting up her laptop.
*
The girls stood about the hockey pitch wearing their various customised versions of the school P.E. kit.
"Taylor, he's here," Annabelle nudged Taylor and gestured to where Flash was greeting Miss Fritton. Taylor nodded back and wandered over to Kelly.
"Hey Kell, what's Flash doing 'ere?" she asked casually.
"He's pretending to the school's new investor, to cover where we got the money from," explained Kelly without looking over.
Taylor resisted the urge to roll her eyes; Kelly was beyond stubborn.
"Yeah, but what I meant was," continued Taylor, beckoning Annabelle over, "what's he doing here looking like that?"
Kelly looked up and couldn't stop an audible gasp. The spiv's usual rough and tumble appearance had been transformed into one of a confident and successful business man. He was cleanly shaven apart from his moustache and his hair was neat bellow his favourite hat. His dashing appearance was amplified as he came to stand next to the bank representative, who shook his hand enthusiastically. The bank man's suit seemed to be more starch than material and almost appeared to be trying to escape from its wearer. Flash, on the other hand, could have been born in his suit judging by the ease with which he wore it. The black trousers and jacket were tailored and practically screamed wealth and influence. He wore no tie and the top few buttons of his shirt remained undone, making him look (although Kelly would never admit it) so sexy it should have been illegal.
Annabell and Taylor exchanged a subtle high-five behind Kelly's back as she unconsciously ran a hand through her hair and straightened her top.
"Well Mr. Bank-Manager," said Miss Fritton smugly, "this is our new investor, Mr. Harry Hacket."
The bank man tittered nervously, hurrying forward to shake Harry's hand, "It's so good to meet you Sir, Mr. Kyle Brittmore at your service."
Harry cocked an eyebrow at the slimy man; there was nothing that annoyed him more than people who sucked up to his family because of their reputation. He shared an amused glance with Camilla before replying, "So you're the man who didn't think that I existed."
Brittmore let out a loud nervous laugh before hurriedly assuring him that this wasn't the case, "It's just that we found it hard to believe that an upstanding gentleman such as yourself would want to associate relations with an institution like this!" He finished with a self important sniff.
Camilla's temper flared up – nothing upset her more than people slighting her school and her girls – luckily she remained calm enough to remain in control enough to remember the plan. "I would be careful what you say to Mr. Hacket. It is his fiancées school, after all."
"It is?" squeaked Brittmore, turning pale as his dreams of social and financial elevation through knowing Harry Hacket crumbled.
"It it?" mouthed Flash from behind Brittmore, his eyebrows raised.
"It is!" declared Camilla, "Harry here has been engaged to our Head Girl, Kelly Jones, for about a month."
"He has?" exclaimed Brittmore, his jaw dropping as he look scornfully over at the so called 'Head Girl' with her short shorts, low cut top and bright lipstick.
"I have?" mouthed Harry, his jaw dropping further.
"He has," said Camilla firmly, "would you like to meet her?"
At this point, Andrea, who had been listening in on the conversation, hurried over to Kelly and the others, to complete her part in the plan.
"Hey Rea," smiled Annabelle as the emo approached, "what are they talking about over there?"
Andrea and Taylor were impressed; Annabelle seemed genuinely curious despite having told her aunt what to say nearly word for word.
Andrea smiled devilishly, "You won't believe this, to cover why Flash, sorry, Mr. Harry Hacket, has given us so much money, Miss F just told the bank bloke that he and Kelly are engaged!"
"No!" gasped Taylor, laughing, "no wonder Flash looked like Christmas had come early a moment ago!"
This last comment caused Kelly to blush and she quickly turned away to hide it. As she turned she noticed Miss Fritton beckoning her over. Ignoring the laughter of the girls behind her, she casually strolled over.
As she approached she saw Miss Fritton whisper something to Flash and Kelly quickly shot him a smile and a wink, to let him know that she knew what was going on.
"Act engaged!" Camilla hissed into Flash's ear as Kelly walked over.
Turning towards Kelly he almost sighed in relief as he saw he smile and wink; at least she knew what Miss Fritton had been saying so he wouldn't get clobbered for 'acting engaged'.
"Hello Harry," said Kelly warmly, stretching up and planting a kiss on his cheek, leaving a smudge of red lipstick.
"Hello Kell," he replied, smiling lazily down at her as he draped an arm around her shoulder, simply because he could.
"Miss Jones," cried Brittmore, with fake enthusiasm, still hoping to win Harry's favour, "it is a pleasure to meet the lucky lady who has managed to ensnare the most elusive man in society today."
Kelly forced a smile as he kissed her hand while she tried not to gag, there was something about the man that gave her the creeps.
"That is where you are wrong," returned Flash,, taking Kelly's left hand in his right, "it is I who am the lucky one."
Feeling something small and cool pressed into her hand, Kelly glanced down and her eyes grew wide as she saw the ring that Flash had placed there.
"Of course," Brittmore continued, "the Hacket ring in quite legendary, if it's OK I would love to see it."
Flash nodded as Kelly slipped the ring onto the correct finger before offering her left hand.
"Incredible," breathed Brittmore and Kelly was inclined to agree with him.
The gold band twisted several times around Kelly's finger before spiralling upwards to clasp a large diamond. Carved into the gold bellow and magnified by the stone was the Hacket coat of arms. It must have been hundreds of years old and was truly beautiful.
"You know," Flash spoke conversationally but his eyes were fixed on Kelly, "it is said that the ring will only fit the person who is next destined to wear it, and no other will be able to fit it on."
Kelly tore her eyes away from the ring to stare up at Flash. You know, spoke a tiny voice in her head, now would be the perfect time to kiss him, you are supposed to be engaged after all and no one would question it. You may not get another opportunity, after Brittmore leaves you stop being a couple, then you won't be able to kiss him.
Kelly stretched up on her toes, fully prepared to act on what the little voice in her head had said. There was something in Flash's eyes that told her he wouldn't mind. Flash leaned down towards her and Kelly eyes fluttered shut, all she had to do was reach up that little bit further...
"ALL PLAYERS TO THE PITCH!" Bursar's voice crackled through the megaphone, causing everyone to jump and turn towards him.
Kelly dropped her head onto Flash's shoulder in annoyance, before quickly kissing his cheek for Brittmore's benefit (or so she told herself) and headed towards the pitch. They could hardly start the game without the captain after all.
"Hey Kelly," whispered Taylor, "did I just see you and Flash nearly kiss?"
"Focus on the game, Taylor," replied Kelly, deliberately ignoring the question.
The game progressed rapidly, the other team didn't know what had hit them and quickly found themselves down on points and players as several were carted off for medical attention.
By half time, under half of the other team was fit to play, causing their headmistress to forfeit the match and begrudgingly pay Miss Fritton the money she had wagered.
"Go and see Flash!" hissed Annabell as she hugged Kelly in celebration, "You're supposed to be engaged!"
Jubilant with success, Kelly ran over to Flash, laughing loudly when he picked her up and spun her round in celebration
"Fantastic, Kell!" he exclaimed, still not putting her down, "that big lass on the other team was a right psycho though!"
Kelly laughed again but had to agree, there had been one player on the opposite team who had quickly labelled as a complete nutter and so naturally the girls of St. Trinian's had gone out of their was to aggravate her; aiming for her more than they aimed for the goal. Loud cheering broke put every time someone hit her and Kelly noticed that the twins were awarding points for head and body shots.
"Yes, congratulations, Miss Jones," the couple both turned to see a rather pale Mr. Brittmore, who had evidently been rather shaken by the levels of violent during the game.
Flash put Kelly down and turned his attention back to Brittmore, seemly as uncomfortable in the man's presence as Kelly was.
"Now Kylie," cried Miss Fritton, thumping him on the back and nearly knocking the man over, "you said you had something to ask us."
"Yes!" he cried triumphantly, "Well as you may know, my bank holds its annual celebrations next week, it's week long event including the business man's ball which is the highlight of the social calendar. It's a highly prestigious event with many big names in attendance as well as representatives and the owner's of every major company. It's both an amazing social event as well as an excellent opportunity for business deals and relations to be established. Mr. Hacket, I'm aware that you often send representatives but that you never come yourself. Well I was wondering if yourself, your delightful fiancée and Miss Fritton here would like to attend?"
"No," stated Flash bluntly, in a tone Kelly had never heard him use before.
Brittmore was unperturbed, "It would be an excellent opportunity for you introduce Miss Jones to society."
"Well I think it sounds like jolly good fun!" exclaimed Camilla, making Brittmore wince, he had obviously only invited her to be polite.
"What do you say?" he asked, this time directing his question to Flash and Kelly.
If we go to this event, we would have to keep up the pretence of being a couple. For an entire week, including a ball. And what's going on with Flash? Who is this Mr. Harry Hacket? Is that Flash's real surname? If so why does everyone know him? Come to think of it I think I've heard that name before and this celebration would be the perfect place to find out more. Plus I'd have to act like his fiancée for four whole days...
"We'd love to come!" stated Kelly, a slow smile spreading across her lip.
"Kelly..." she heard Flash murmur behind her, for some reason he really didn't want to go.
Turning around Kelly wrapped her arms around Flash's neck, then leant in to whisper in his ear, so that her lip ghosted against his ear lobe, "Please Flash, for me?"
He grumbled hesitantly so she added huskily, "Don't you want to spend time with me?"
"It would be impossible to find accommodation this late," he protested weakly, but Kelly could tell his resolve had already vanished, he never said 'no' to her.
"I would be happy to take care of all arrangement for you," supplied Brittmore, ecstatic that Harry was coming at all.
"See," said Kelly smiling slowly up at Harry, "everything is being taken care of."