Hello everyone!
I hope you liked the first chapter, and here I am with chapter two!
Enjoy!
-Estelle
"It feels so odd, doesn't it, to walk through the area of school, knowing we don't belong here any more?" Susan marveled as the three made their way to the fourth-form common room, successfully trying to go unnoticed.
"I'll say that it does." Nora agreed, "But a part of us will always belong here, at Malory Towers, whether we are still students or not."
"Goodness, Nora, you truly have grown up." Felicity laughed, "Though I think your words were choice, and I thoroughly agree with them."
"Here we are." Nora said, as the common room door came into view.
"Who else shall be coming? Us three, Pam, Bonnie and Amy, Julie and Lucy, June and Freddie, Gillian and Delia...?" Susan listed.
"Don't forget Alice and Lizzie!" Felicity reminded her, "If I'm not wrong, they should all be here already."
Nora pushed open the door, and at once, they were greeted by a flurry of happy, excited chatter, as if they were schoolgirls again, returning after the hols.
"Nora! My word, you've grown up!"
"Felicity! I was wondering where you were!"
"Susan, you haven't written in simply ages!"
Felicity felt a feeling of peace settle over her as she smiled at her best friends. There they all were, every single one of them, except...
"Where are June and Freddie?"
"On the way." Amy replied. Goodness, Amy had changed! She looked slightly haughty, still, but also had an air of dignity and responsibility about her.
And Bonnie had changed, too. Still small and dainty, but determined and mature.
The others looked mostly the same.
"I've missed you all so much." Susan said sincerely.
"And we've missed you." Lizzie replied, "We were just wondering where you three were, in fact. "
"I can't wait for June to get here! She deserves a proper hero's welcome. Our congratulatory letters are certainly not enough." Julie said earnestly.
"Oh, I know. I couldn't see her properly under all that lacrosse padding, but I can spot that smile from a mile away." Alice added.
Everyone laughed, but agreed, nonetheless.
They all sat around on the sofas, chatting idly about their lives now, reminiscing about their schooldays.
"How is it, Pam, being a teacher here?" Gillian asked eagerly, auburn hair swinging forward.
"Wonderful! I only teach English for the first three forms, and they are right monkeys. They don't prank me, though. They tried once, but I spotted it, thanks to June and Freddie." Pam laughed, "But in all honestly, I do so love it. How about your singing, Delia? I heard your duet with Mavis."
"That was fun, yes. It was so kind of her to have me at the concert to sing. She has a lovely voice, it was like a dream come true." Delia said.
"And now, Delia has started working on a tape of her own music." Gillian said proudly.
The other girls immediately called out their congratulations, with Delia blushing furiously.
"Marvelous, old girl!"
"I'm sure it will be first-rate!"
"I'm pleased for you!"
"It's nothing, really," Delia said modestly, "But I hope it's well liked."
"It's sure to be." Lizzie assured her, "You have an amazing talent."
After about half an hour, the door knob twisted again. The girls stopped talking, their attention on the door.
It swung open, revealing two young women, one with short, golden hair and laughing blue eyes, and one with long brown hair and bright hazel eyes.
The other girls forgot about maturity. They forgot about dignity. They forgot about being responsible young adults. They all rose together, shouting their greetings, hurrying forward to hug the newcomers, to celebrate that once again, after 5 years, the form was together.
"Come on, do take a sofa." Bonnie lisped, gesturing at the remaining empty sofa.
June and Freddie did so, both with wide smiles on their faces.
The two of them had certainly changed.
Freddie had an air of compassion and sensibility, still somehow managing to look impish at the same time.
And June! Goodness, if the girls hadn't known June since they were youngsters, they hardly would have recognized her!
She had worn her hair short during her school years, but now it had grown, and the straight locks hung neatly past her shoulders. She, like Freddie, had the familiar air of mischief, but nonetheless looked mature, dignified and responsible.
They had certainly grown into good-looking, well-brought up young women.
"Well, then." June said, "Sorry we're late, it was quite a drive from London. How are you all doing?"
"Don't bother about us! June, my word, you were fantastic in the Lacrosse World Cup! You were absolutely magnificent!" Felicity cried, quite beside herself with pride and excitement.
"Yes, oh my goodness, June, I knew you couldn't have possibly heard me, but I was screaming and dancing when I watched you lead England to victory. Julie and I both." Lucy said.
The rest of the form congratulated June with equal fervor.
"Did you spot me in the audience?" Freddie asked teasingly.
"Were you there?" Amy asked in surprise.
"Of course! I was sitting with June's and Alicia's families. I wouldn't have missed my best friend playing in the Lacrosse Championship for worlds!" Freddie exclaimed, "I took a week off from my studies to spur her on. And, of course, Alicia, Sam and I reached her first on the field when they declared England the winner."
"How wonderful." Alice said, "To be there for each other all the time."
"And June!" Nora said, "We wrote each other loads, and yet you never mentioned Wimbledon!"
"Oh!" June smacked her forehead, "Oh no, Nora, I completely forgot! Sorry. I'm hoping to practice here over the next three days as well."
"How could you forget something like that?" Lizzie asked faintly.
"I didn't forget it, I forgot to mention it." June protested.
"And you've changed in appearance as well. I like your hairstyle." Amy mentioned carelessly.
The other stared at Amy. June tugged at a lock of thick, dark brown hair, "Hmm. That's kind of you, I suppose."
"You don't know how to take a compliment, do you?" Amy smirked, "Well, one more. I like your ring as well."
The girls eyed June's hand, which was partly hidden beneath a cushion. They saw the glistening of a beautiful ring, and bobbed their heads in agreement to Amy's words.
"You've certainly changed your tune on jewelry, dear June." Pam grinned.
"It's only one ring!" June went slightly red, her eyes flying suddenly to Freddie. Freddie gave a quick jerk of her head. Before anyone had time to question them, June gestured to her friend, "Enough about me. Let's all congratulate this girl on her new job as an architect."
The girls gaped. Freddie hadn't mentioned anything of the sort! The room was soon abuzz with congratulations for Freddie, and the girl laughed and thanked them all.
"I start in a few weeks. I'm nervous, of course, but very excited, and thrilled to have been selected." Freddie said.
"Rightly so." Susan said firmly.
"Thank you, girls." Freddie smiled.
"Who else used to come to school with us? Several girls left after just a term." June said.
"Veronica Sharpe, remember? She went good at the end. And Esme! Goodness, Lucy, how is Esme?" Julie said.
"Very well. She's working in a writing business now, in Scotland." Lucy said.
"Good for her. Who else do we have? Sylvia, of course, and Olive...and then Millicent. I think that's it."
June let out a satisfied sigh, "Well, girls I feel right at home here. How about you?"
"Of course." Susan replied readily, "This is home."
Felicity felt as if her joy would bubble right out of the room! It really was wonderful to be back.
She was ready to relax with her friends on the peaceful grounds of Malory Towers.
But Felicity really should have known better...
After all, there was always something going on in Malory Towers.