To my lovely reviewers, Lilia-Rose, The-Despondant-Insomniac, XDanniiX. and Kaylenne. My first reviews, thanks so much. You made my day.
I'm trying to put up one chapter a day, so updates should be coming regularly.
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Kelly
Kelly smiled fondly after the departing first years. Their endless energy and exuberance just made them so easy to love. For a moment, she was reminded of her own childhood, and her face took on a distant expression. It was a while before she remembered Flash.
"Er, Kel?" Flash waved his hand in front of her face.
"Sorry Flash. I was miles away," She smiled. "Miss Fritton wanted to know if you could sell some of her paintings."
"Fake name?" Kelly gave one curt nod. "Yeah, alright. You girls struggling for cash again?"
"Oh, no nothing like that," Kelly grinned at him as she turned to go. "Miss Fritton wants to get back into the art business, that's all." As she reached the door, Flash called out to her.
"Kel…" He scuffed the floor with the toe of a pointy boot. "I wos just wondering, if you weren't too busy that is… Would you… er… only if you want to of course…" Flash trailed off. "Doesn't matter…"
Kelly shrugged and left, pretending that she was completely ignorant of what he was about to ask, and it was only when she reached the stairs that she wished he had.
***
Flash
Flash watched Kelly leave, disappointment heavy in his stomach. Was she blind? How could she not see what everyone else could? Rubbing his eyes, he mooched through a door at the back.
He had his own small set of rooms at St Trinian's for whenever he wanted to stay overnight, or for when he was lying low. The rooms weren't great. There was a bathroom, a kitchen/all purpose living area and a box room which served as a bedroom/storage cupboard.
Sinking onto his sofa, he flicked on the T.V, barely registering what was showing. An old western film by the look of it. Maybe he'd stick around for the party tomorrow, although he wasn't sure what they were celebrating.
Then again, St Trinian's girls' didn't seem to need a reason for a party.
***
Kelly
"MUMMY! MUM!" A girl was screaming. Kelly had to reach her. Stumbling through thick, choking fog, her hands closed on something soft.
The fog seemed to lift slightly A little girl sat curled against the wall, her pale face streaked with dirty tears, her raven hair tangled. Little Kelly. "Mummy!" she whimpered, hiding her face behind limp strands of hair.
Heavy footsteps sounded from behind Kelly. Little Kelly leapt to her feet, startled. The man unbuckled his belt and stepped forwards. "Your mummy aint coming back," he snarled. "And if you don't shut it, you'll go the same way,"
Little Kelly didn't know what had happened to her mummy. She just knew that she had vanished almost a week ago, leaving all her things behind. Leaving Kelly. "Don't hurt me Daddy," Little Kelly hid her face as the man raised his belt.
Kelly woke in a cold sweat, her grey tank-top sticking to her skin. Her throat felt dry and scratchy. Shivering, she jumped out of bed and slipped her feet into her school shoes - a pair of glossy black heels. She owned very few flat shoes, and they were all packed in her trunk under the bed and she didn't want to risk waking the other girls.
As quietly as she could, Kelly clopped across the dormitory and slipped out, hurrying down the attic steps. The air smelt slightly musty, like old clothes, and moonlight shone through the slanting windows, bathing the staircase in silvery light.
The Head Girl made her way to the kitchen, the clack of her heels reverberating into the stillness. During winter, the drinks always stood out in the porch which had been known to reach sub-zero temperatures. Cold air swirled in as soon as Kelly opened the door. She grabbed a pitcher of iced water and gulped straight from the jug.
The cold water sent shivers so violent they bordered on convulsions, but her thirst was quenched. Gratefully, the young woman slipped back into the main building. Her fingers were numb and blue, and her nose felt like it was about to drop off. She had barely reached the top of the stairs when a bang and a loud curse - a male voice - sounded from the entrance hall.
Spinning around, she lost her footing in her stupid shoes and slipped down several stairs. Hot white pain shot through her ankle, and she gasped. "Ouch! Who's there?" Kelly immediately regretted this. Now she was trapped, completely helpless on the stairs with an unknown male intruder. Great.
"Kel?"
"Flash?" The spiv stepped from the shadows, looking apologetic. "Bloody hell!" You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Kelly tried to stand, but her ankle collapsed and she leaned heavily on the banister.
"Sorry Kel. Er… Couldn't sleep." It took a moment for him to register her position. "Hey Kel… Are you, um… ok?"
"Fine," Kelly muttered, righting herself. She tried to put weight on her ankle and gave a small gasp of pain.
"You're hurt!" All awkwardness seemed to leave Flash as he all but ran to Kelly's aid. Slipping and arm around her waist, he half carried her to the top stair. He eased her shoe off gently, but she still winced.
"Wot you doing parading 'round in these at this time of night?" Flash held up the stiletto, slightly amused.
Kelly ignored the question. "Shit, I broke the heel." She took the shoe from the Spiv and turned it in front of her.
"The heel? You might've broken your ol' ankle," Flash carefully took her bare foot in his hand, rotating the ankle slightly.
Kelly bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut, lights popping in front of her eyes. The pain was almost unreal, but she didn't want to cry out and wake up the whole school.
"Does it hurt?" Flash gently laid her injured ankle across his own leg.
"No, it feels bloody fabulous," She muttered, rolling her eyes. Truth be told, the pain had lessened slightly as he pulled her closer. Or maybe she had just been distracted by his proximity.
***
Flash
He looked anxiously at Kelly's ashen face. He was pretty sure her ankle was broken, or at least badly sprained.
He pulled her closer; Her feet and hands were like ice. For the first time, he noticed her attire. Who wore shorts and a top in December? "Flash?"
She spoke so softly he couldn't be sure that she had said anything at all. "Yeah?"
"It hurts…" she buried her face in his shoulder. He was alarmed at her lack of composure. She was normally a total ice queen. Still…
Tearing a strip from his shirt, and bound Kelly's ankle tightly, trying not to cause her anymore discomfort. He slid his arms around her and lifted her carefully. She was fairly tall, but she felt feather light to him.
Flash felt her head rest against his chest and her breathing was coming ragged and uneven. Slowly, taking care not to jolt her anymore than was necessary, he carried her towards the San.
He knocked on the door with his elbow, glancing anxiously at Kelly. He face was streaked with tears and her eyes were closed. Her face had taken on a greyish tinge and her lips were pale. A far cry from the bright scarlet they normally were.
After what seemed like an age, Matron appeared at the door, her cap askew over her hair. She had evidently been asleep, judging by the long white nightgown under her quilted dressing gown.
"Can I help you Flash?" she mumbled, still half asleep. Then she took in the Head Girls lifeless form. "Oh dear, bring her inside, quickly."
Flash lowered her cautiously onto one of the hard white beds. Kelly's eyes fluttered open. "Stay… Please," she gripped his hand with suprising strength, and he slid down to his knees beside her.
"Anything for you," he said in mock solemnity.
She laughed feebly and leaned back against the pillows.
"Here." Matron thrust a glass of water and two aspirin towards her, before bustling off for bandages. When she returned, she cast an expert eye at Kelly's ankle and pronounced it a bad sprain.
"But she was in agony," Flash protested.
"Did she try to move it?" Matron asked. She might be a drunk, but there was no denying, she was a good nurse.
"I-" Flash had barely opened his mounth when the head girl interuppeted indignantly.
Kelly
"I'm injured, not dead," she snapped. "I can answer myself." Most of her anger was aimed at Matron, partly because if Flash hadn't found her, she would have been stuck on the stairs al night, and partly because Matron had an annoying habit of not addressing her patients if there was someone else present. "I tried to stand, then I tried to walk," Her eyes flashed, and for a moment she looked like the old Kelly.
"That would explain it then. This is a grade three ankle sprain," Matrons diagnosis was greeted by two blank faces. "It means the ligaments either completely torn or pulled completely off the bone," she explained. Then she addressed Flash. "Hold this against her ankle," she handed the Spiv an ice-pack wrapped in an old cloth.
The ice lessened the pain in her ankle and Kelly almost sighed in relief. It wasn't just the ice, Flash was leaning over her, and the smell of him was driving her insane. Wait.. What? Flash… driving me crazy? I don't like him that way… I don't…" However, the events of the night had exhausted the young woman and she sunk into a natural sleep.
***
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I'll try to update again ASAP.