Chapter 6

Jo and Gary led the boys and Mr Manson to the beach. The students were sat in a group on the sand while police officers questioned everyone.

"What happened?" Mr Manson asked.

"I saw him in the water about an hour ago and now he's just gone and no one's seen him. The police are talking about getting the lifeboats and helicopter out." Mr Stamp explained.

"But everyone else is ok?" Mr Manson asked.

"Yeah I did a register and everyone's here. I didn't want them wandering off so I've made them all sit down within sight."

"I must thank Mr Hollis for getting us out of our lines." Phil said, stretching out onto the sand.

"Phil!" Sam said, slapping his arm. "He could be seriously hurt!"

"He'll be getting a cat out of a tree or something." Phil replied. "Any food? Jo and Gary interrupted our lunch."

"Phil! All you think about is your stomach!" Sam replied.

"It's an important part of my anatomy!"

"Shut up Phil!" Mr Manson snapped.

Everyone looked up to the sky as the police helicopter began to circle the area. A few minutes later, the lifeboats went out and scoured the water.

"What if he's found dead?" Sam asked. "We'll never see him again. Or what if he's never found?" Sam asked sadly. Phil slipped his arm around her shoulders.

"He'll be fine." Phil said. "Like I said, he's probably rescuing a cat from a tree."

"But the last time anyone saw him was in the water. He'd never be able to see a cat in a tree."

"Well maybe he got out and went for a walk and then found the cat in the tree." Phil suggested.

"What's with the bloody cat?" Jo asked.

"What do you think of the police men?" Sam asked.

"What do you mean?" Jo asked.

"Don't you think they're fit?"

"Not really. But I'm not into that kind of thing." Jo replied.

"I like a man in uniform." Sam grinned.

"Yeah she does. She used to love my school uniform." Phil grinned.

"Shut up Phil!" Sam snapped.

"Are you going to question me officer?" Sam asked, seductively lying out in the sand in her bikini.

"You are next on my list." The police officer replied with a flirtatious smile.

"Aren't you cold?" Jo whispered.

"No pain, no gain." Sam replied with a smile.

An older officer started to walk over towards Sam. "You're Samantha right?" He asked.

"Yes." She replied.

"PC Walker has a bit tied up with his statements so I'm going to interview you for him." The older officer said, gesturing to the officer Sam had spoken to moments before.

"Oh I don't mind waiting." Sam replied.

"We don't want you hanging around in the cold." He said. "Speaking of cold, aren't you cold in your underwear?"

"It's a bikini." Sam replied.

"When I was your age, girls never even showed their ankles." The officer replied.

"How nice." Sam replied with a fake smile.

"I bet its called ginger." Phil said randomly.

"What?" Jo asked.

"The cat that Hollis is rescuing." Phil replied.

"Phil, he's gone missing. If he was rescuing a cat he would have been back by now." Jo explained.

"It might be a big cat." Phil replied. "Or a tall tree."

"Shut up Phil." Jo snapped.

"Why's everyone so mean to me today?" Phil asked looking hurt.

"Awwww my poor Phil." Sam cooed, stroking his cheek.

"Sickening isn't it." Jo commented.

"Sir, can we go back soon? I'm cold and hungry." Sam asked.

"Yeah, it will probably be easier for the police if we're not here." Mr Manson said.

"Yeah I'm starving." Phil said.

"You're always starving Phil." Mr Manson replied.

Phil scowled but started to make his way back to the centre with Gary and Zain.

"Do you think Mr Hollis will be ok?" Sam asked.

"I hope so Sam." Mr Manson replied.

Silence resumed between them as they walked together at the back of the line back to the centre.

Mr Manson stopped quickly, bending down to pick up the folder that he had dropped. The papers had scattered and Sam bent down to help him. They both reached for the same piece of paper and their hands brushed against each other's. Each of them felt a spark of lust as their hands connected for a few seconds. But they both pulled away in embarrassment and continued to pick up the papers before walking back to the centre in an awkward silence.

Once they got back, Sam went straight to her room feeling very confused but what had just happened. The others were all at dinner but she didn't feel hungry anymore. She got into the shower and stayed there for half an hour. She had just wrapped a towel around herself when there was a knock at the door. She answered it, thinking it would be Honey who was always forgetting her keys. Mr Manson stood at the door with a tray in his hands.

"Sorry to disturb you." He said, watching tiny water droplets running off of her and onto the floor. "I noticed that you weren't at dinner. Are you feeling ok?"

"Yeah I just wanted to be on my own for a bit." Sam replied pulling her towel tighter around her.

"Well I brought you this; I thought you might be hungry." He said kindly.

"Thanks." She smiled, taking the tray from him. "I thought Phil might have done that but obviously he was too busy filling his own stomach. He probably didn't even notice I wasn't there." She said bitterly.

"I'm sure he did." Mr Manson said. "Well I'll leave you to it then."

"No wait …. Will you stay for a while? I could do with the company." She asked.

"Sure. Everyone's in the common room but I'm sure Mr Stamp can keep order for a while." He smiled stepping into the room and closing the door behind him.

"Oi!" Phil said, poking Gary in the arm. "Don't forget that they flooded our room with Terry's boxers!" Phil added.

"I'm only playing snooker with them. They're quite nice when you get to know them." Gary replied.

"Where's Sam? She'll back me up." Phil said confidently.

Sam and Mr Manson both sat down on the bed and faced each other.

"Thanks for bringing this up." Sam smiled, twirling noodles round her fork.

"That's no problem; I couldn't have you going hungry." He said. "Look, you know on the way here, we had a chat about your relationship with Phil?"

"Yeah."

"Well I hope I didn't embarrass you, that wasn't my intention. I just wanted to make you aware."

"I know." Sam smiled.

The common room fell silent as Mr Hollis appeared in the doorway looking dazed.

"Reg." Mr Stamp said. "We were so worried. What happened?"

"Were you swept out to sea?" Terry asked.

"Did you fall off the cliff?" Zain asked.

"Did you fall down a hole in the sand?" Gary asked.

"Were you rescuing a cat from a tree?" Phil asked.

"No, I was abducted by aliens." Reg replied.

Everyone stared at him in silence.

"I'll get Mr Manson." Phil said.

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Not since I've been divorced." He said. "I take it you heard about that."

"Yeah, it was all around the school." Sam replied. "Do you miss being with someone?"

"Yeah of course. When you live with someone for 5 years and then suddenly you're on your own, it's a bit of a shock. But I live with my brother now so it's not so lonely anymore …… What about you and Mr Hunter? Are you two serious?"

"I dunno, I thought we were but sometimes I'm not so sure. He says he loves me but it's easy to say, it's quite a different thing to mean it." She replied, looking him in the eye.

"That's a very grown up view. Maybe that's where I went wrong with my marriage."

"Well I could say that I love you." She smiled flirtatiously. "But do I mean it?" She asked, leaning in towards him.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter: emma172, PS4EVA, phoenixangelwolf, lil-skating-lindz, gemidodger, mandii, carrotlucky13, pettypunk, becca996, newsteadgirl, xxsamanthanixonxx and craxyamy005.