It was quiet. Very quiet. Too quiet for st trinians. And I was worried. My first thought was that maybe the girls had really overdone it with the celebrations last night and partied themselves out. But I knew that wasn't it. Those girls could hammer themselves out of consciousness and still be up and running the next day. So what was wrong?
"Ella?" I shook her a little and she half opened her eyes.
"Time 's it?" She yawned stretching herself out before curling up into a ball by my side. I smiled at her
"Time to get up" I told her.
I sat up while she groaned to herself and pulled her up beside me. My fingers trailed up her cheek to the dark rings surrounding her beautiful eyes. She looked tired, worn. Hungry. I wrapped my arm around her back and pressed her close. She was still only half awake. Didn't know what I was doing.
"Whys it quiet?" I was relieved I wasn't the only one who thought that.
I ignored her question and coaxed her into leaning against me some more, knowing the moment she got comfy would be the moment she started to fall asleep again. I smiled and kissed her head, singing her a little song while she sighed into my throat. My right hand left hers on my lap and I slowly raised it up to my other hand on her shoulder. I stabbed my thumbnail into it and moved my arm around until my wrist was level with her mouth. Blood touched her lips and she opened them to swallow it out of reflex. It didn't take her long to drink properly and I had to smile. It was horrible and sneaky but it was the only way to make sure she stayed strong.
Eleanor's eyes snapped open after a little while when I started to feel a little lightheaded and she pushed me away.
"How could you?!"
"I told you I can't stand around watching you die," She glared at me and wiped her mouth, trying to rid herself of the blood, "Eleanor please just drink some more. Just a little. For me?"
She was watching me carefully. Maybe she thought I was trying to trick her again. But she knew how hungry she was, and how desperate I was to fix that. Eleanor let out a deep breath and relented with a long sigh. She avoided my eyes as she raised my wrist back to her mouth and I kept the smile away until she'd finished.
"There. Better?" She reluctantly nodded and I squeezed her into a hug
"Please don't let yourself get that bad again El. I worry for you. Greatly"
"Okay" I knew she didn't meant that. She'd gladly starve herself into collapsing if it saved her hurting someone. And I hated it. I didn't push her though. I stood up and frowned at the door. It was still quiet.
"What's going on?" I mumbled to myself as I wrapped my tie around my wrist.
Eleanor shrugged beside me with her own frown of confusion. There should be screaming girls making it sound like world war 3 out there, and there wasn't . And I definitely didn't like it. I crouched by the bed and pulled my laptop out. El watched me click the CCTV links on and we both stared down at the screen.
"Who is that?" She asked with a worried hitch in her voice as she gazed at the man, scared probably that it was another friend of the brotherhood's. I shook my head at her. I didn't know.
"Stay here"
She nodded and I left her on my bed while I went to the door to find Polly. We both jumped a little when I opened it and found the geek stood opposite me mid knock.
"Your sleuthing is getting really good" I told her in surprise. She rolled her eyes.
"Kel, we've got a-"
"I know. C'mon"
I pulled her into the dorm and over to her computer. Most of the girls were still asleep, crashed out where they'd collapsed last night. That explained the quiet. Polly nudged me out of my examining the room and I glanced down at her again. She must have been up a while, the desk was littered with notes. Like she'd been researching something. I frowned down at them all, trying to read past the shorthand scripts doodling the pages. Polly brushed them away before I could get past the first sentence on the second note.
"Pol, what's-"
"Later Jones. Do you know who he is?" I looked up, she was pointing at her computer screen. I shook my head. I honestly didn't know him.
"Think he's vamp?" I shrugged.
"One way to find out..." I trailed off when I noticed movement on the edge of the camera.
I nudged her and she panned it across the room to where Beverly was trying to kick some boys awake. I rolled my eyes. How many times did I have to tell the totties?!
"Bloody Chelsea!"
Pollys smile mirrored in the screen and I nudged her again. Her arm knocked and accidentally panned the camera across some more. She was about to correct it when I stopped her.
"What's Miss Fritton doing?" I mumbled in distraction.
Polly zoomed in a little more and we both watched as the headmistress walked casually into the foyer then freeze midstep on sight of the visitor. She gestured a little at Bev before attempting to tiptoe around the man without being seen. Polly frowned at the screen as he caught her and the two conversed. Then she looked back at me. I couldn't understand what they were saying, I'm no lip reader. But Polly was. And she'd just paled, like it was bad news.
"What they saying?" I asked nervously.
She didn't tell me. Just turned back to the computer with a sigh. I watched the man smirk, a greedy look in his eyes. And I felt myself tense a little. I'd seen that look so many times. And always it was associated with money. So it could only really mean one thing.
"Don't tell me-" The man shoved an envelope into Fritton's hand and walked out. Me and Polly stared at the screen. Shock didn't begin to cover it.
"Houston, we have a problem"
"Hmm..."
I left her without an explanation and walked quickly down to the front of school, using the advantage of the others sleeping to speed out. Bev barely glanced up when I blurred past. Too hung over to care too much.
"Kelly what're you doing?" Polly was walking after me, still in the school while I was just making it outside. I ignored her. I needed answers. And the only way to get them?
"Good heavens!" His heart was pounding mentally. And the adrenaline smelt too inviting. I simply smirked at him, finding it amusing that he was refusing to let his eyes wander over my barely concealed body.
"You look lost," I told him, slowly creeping closer, "Maybe you need a guide"
"Oh no I-I-I'm fine. Just..just leaving" He'd obviously heard the rumours about st trinians. His eyes kept darting everywhere, looking maybe for my backup. Definitely looking anywhere but me. I stifled a laugh. Silly bugger.
"Are you sure I can't help?," I stepped up to him and very subtly brushed up against him, "I'm a very very good guide"
"Look miss, I'm just-"
"Leaving?" He finally looked up at me and I smirked when his jaw fell slack. I clicked my neck and sighed.
"You know doing this first thing really stresses me out. So let's wrap it up quick," I grabbed his jacket and dipped my hand into his pocket, pulling his wallet out,
"Mr Stephen Wallace. Bank manager. Old, boring, no family, no friends," I glanced away from his driving license with a smile, "No witnesses"
I tossed the wallet over my shoulder and pulled him closer into me. He whimpered a little before his hands came up to my waist. I let him do it. I felt bad not giving them something. I smiled and bent down to him, trapping him further in with my eyes and smile.
"Do you want to kiss me?" I breathed leaning in for a second so his heart bounced.
"Why?" He said weakly back. I wanted to roll my eyes. He was too easy.
"In celebration. Of my wickedness" Old line, new guy. Some things never change.
I didn't kiss him though. I slid a hand up the back of his neck and pulled him to the side, making him lose his balance and tip perfectly for me. I smiled and let the ache in my mouth make me bend over him. A little voice in the back of my head said I shouldn't do this, I should e focusing on getting something else out of him. But he was so close. The blood was so close. And I was so hungry.
The school echoed with first bell behind us and I sighed against his neck when his startled jump set another rush of blood through his neck.
"Breakfast time" I was leaning in, holding him tight. My lips brushed over an inviting pulse and I opened my mouth to bite.
"Kelly!"
My eyes opened and I glared at the school gates. Why couldn't I get three seconds alone? I moved away from him and turned back to Polly with a smile
"Yes?" She stared at him then back at me, not believing what I'd been about to do.
"What in gods name are you doing?!" She hissed angrily. I laughed and shook my head at her.
"I don't believe in that rubbish Polly. And neither should you. In fact Stephen and I were just discussing wickedness. Weren't we Stephen?"
He didn't answer, didn't look like he'd heard me talk. He was glancing around with a confused and dazed smile. I rolled my eyes and pushed him away from us. Polly looked mad. Very mad. Eleanor level mad. I braced myself ready for it.
"Have you lost your mind?! You can't go around biting people!"
"Pol-"
"After everything you tell me about keeping away from the girls, the constant bloody lectures about our secret, and look at yourself! Three times in just as many days!," I looked away from her then, completely ashamed with myself "You promised Ella"
I closed my eyes then and took a few calming breaths. In my head all I could hear was El. You're a hypocrite! I sighed and nodded.
"You're right. It's just...I think I'm losing myself a little pol"
Her eyes softened a little with my lie and she stretched a hand out to my cheek. She didn't say anything but she didn't need to. I could read the forgiveness in her touch. Even if she was trying to hide it from her face. I leant into her palm and smiled at the familiar feel of her.
"We need to do something about him kel" she whispered, nodding at the bank manager staggering off towards the gates behind me. I glanced back at him and nodded again before taking a step forward,
"Going somewhere?"
He jumped and paled when I suddenly appeared in front of him. He didn't say anything though. I was beginning to wonder whether he had the ability to anymore. Polly stepped next to me and his eyes drifted away from me to her before snapping back. I smiled. Even with his brain in a muddle he knew I was the main threat. I guess some men were smart after all. Polly gently touched his wrist and eyed his expression before slapping my hand.
"Shock. You've bloody terrified the poor guy Kel!"
"He's lucky that's all I did" I muttered darkly while I listened to his pulse jump inside of him. It was so inviting it had me leaning forward a little.
Polly pushed me back and frowned down at him. I eyed the intense concentration in her eyes before I cracked a smile. I'd seen her try this so many times now, it was slowly starting to make me feel bad that I could do it and she couldn't.
"Polly-"
"Trying to concentrate" she mumbled annoyed.
I rolled my eyes before training them over her shoulder and on the man, forcing up the power she couldn't find herself. Polly smiled beside me when he relaxed with a dazed smile.
"Kel! I did it! I-" she stopped with a sigh when she looked back at me and saw what I was doing "Bugger"
"One day at a time pol" I said stroking her cheek before turning back to the man. She sighed and nodded, moving to his other side.
"Why are you here again?" She asked prodding his shoulder for an answer. He twitched a little.
"The school owes us money" I shared a frown with the geek before prodding him too.
"How much?" I asked when he turned back to me. He smiled.
"£500,000" My stare broke off with my shock and he came back to himself suddenly, "What on earth do you delinquents want?!"
Polly laughed then and he scowled at her. She sauntered towards him, "Just a little information. How about you share some more with us?"
"Information?! I don't have to tell you-" I grabbed his jacket and hauled him back to me, impatient and mad. He cowered a little and a little part of me, okay a massive part of me, was getting a pretty nice kick out of that.
"Oh but you do," I said staring him down until he went a little limp in my hands. I was overdoing it. A lot. I wasn't sure exactly what would happen to him if I kept it up but I didn't care anymore. If it killed him then good. One less money maniac in the world.
"So how about you shut up and get talking?"
Thump thump... thump thump...thump thump...
I couldn't take it. That heartbeat was just too maddening. She was driving me crazy! Every second of the day and every second of the night it haunted me. Teased me. Begged me. And it was getting real hard coming up with excuses to avoid her completely.
Thump thump...
"I can't take this anymore!"
"Don't be such a baby" Polly mumbled beside me as she clicked through her laptop.
I growled a little under my breath with frustration and felt the answering chuckle shake and tremble under her skin before it faded into mine. I sighed and bent my face down to her shoulder, gently caressing it with my mouth while she continued to click away. It annoyed me when she got like this. And it made me wonder if all geeks did this after sex, or if it was just her. Maybe if she wasn't on a mission to save the school she'd still be asleep with me. Maybe.
"Polly?"
"Hmm?" She didn't even look at me. Talk about being into your work!
I shifted a little closer to her on the bed and moved my kisses up the side of her neck. I wasn't sure what I had planned on saying to her. Was there really anything that would work in getting her to put the bloody computer down? Probably not.
Thump thump...
I closed my eyes to that bloody infernal heartbeat, trying my best to drown it out. But it didn't work. It never did. She was driving me crazy! I wanted it. I wanted to give in. To haul her out of her bed and out of that dorm and get my mouth on her. To simply drink her blood or more,I didn't care. All I knew was I wanted that damn girl. And I wanted her now.
My grip tightened on Polly with the teasing thoughts surrounding Annabelle. I was trying to lock myself down, freezing myself in place so I wouldn't up and run for the dorm. She looked back at me when she felt me tense beside her, and it hurt seeing the pity in those eyes. She stroked my cheek as I closed my eyes with a shiver.
"I'm really hungry" I moaned as I hid my face into her neck, lips grazing over her scar.
I heard her sigh and felt her hand come up to cup my head before I smelt blood. I glanced away from her skin to the wrist she had held out to me, fresh with a little cut gently oozing blood. I stared at it. And then I stared at her.
"Kel?" She was confused. Normally by now I'd be drinking. By now she'd be pulling me off her. So why wasn't I? I wasn't entirely sure.
I took her hand and pressed my mouth to the cut, letting the blood wet my lips before I kissed it.
"Not that kind of hungry" I whispered, opening my eyes to catch the amusement hitting hers. I smiled at her. She was tired and distracted but Polly wouldn't say no. She couldn't.
"You'll kill me one of these days kel" she sighed putting her laptop up. I chuckled and peeled her glasses off for her.
"Already did didn't I?" I was baiting her, trying to make her mad on purpose. And it worked.
Polly slapped me one and I smirked with the stinging in my cheek. I met the blue ice staring into me and I gave her a sly grin before pushing her back and crawling on top of her. I kissed her and she bit me, and I groaned.
"I love when you do that" I moaned shivering as she scratched her fingers down my back. She laughed back at me.
"You're impossible" she said gasping when I kissed her throat.
I was pushing hard with my lips, purposefully trying to hurt her. Trying to use her gasps to block out that bloody heartbeat. Her hands squeezed the back of my neck, dragging me down against her while I lingered my fingers around the inside of her thigh, smirking as I teased her.
"Kel don't-" She jumped beneath me when a shy rap hit the door and I groaned into her. Why couldn't I catch a break?!
Thump thump...
I looked back at the door. What was she doing here?! Polly tapped my arm and I nodded. We were dressed in just a few seconds. Polly sat back on the bed with her laptop, casual as anything, and I slowly approached the door as another soft knock smacked into it. I took a deep breath and opened it.
"Well well well, a midnight visit from her majesty herself. What do you want Fritton?"
She glared at me before glancing behind me at Polly.
"I just thought Polly would like to know a few of the second year chavs are playing on her computer"
"I had noticed. They won't get far with it though. Thanks for telling me Annabelle"
Annabelle frowned a little when Polly stayed seated on the bed and I leant against the door with an impatient sigh.
"Was there something else?"
She shook her head and turned away. The quick movement sent a waft of her scent through the air and I automatically reached out and caught her hand. She looked back at me, heartbeat racing under my touch. I felt the fire in my throat and the ache in my lips.
"Kel?" Polly stood up beside me, secretly brushing her hand against my side, knowing it would calm me down. It worked a little.
I pulled my eyes away from Annabelle's and glanced down at her hand in mine. I frowned a little at the light blue and purple marks ruining her perfect skin.
"How did this happen Fritton?" I asked brushing my thumb over the bruising on her knuckles. She looked down at it and then shrugged at me
"What do you care?" She pulled her hand out of my grip. I let it go and stepped back into Polly with a shrug of my own
"I guess I don't. If that's everything..." I nodded out the corridor and she gave us one last curious look before walking away. It took everything in me to stay still and not follow her. Polly even grabbed my arm, just incase.
"I think we need to start banning her from your room" Polly was saying as she kicked the door shut. A hand caught it though and we both looked up as Eleanor walked in.
"Did nobody ever tell you slamming the door in somebody's face is very rude?" She said closing it behind her with a smile. It faded a little when she saw our expressions, "what's the matter?"
I looked up at her then back at Polly. Polly nodded at me, trying to encourage me to tell her. I sighed. I couldn't keep it from her. I took her hand and stroked her cheek, "we have a little problem"
Eleanor's eyes narrowed and her brow creased, "What problem?"
"That man who came earlier-"
"Is from the brotherhood?!" She was panicking a little. I could see it in her eyes. I shook my head at her and squeezed her fingers.
"Worse. He's a bank manager" I laughed at the confusion on her face and kissed her head again before leaving her to sit on the bed. Polly sat next to me and looked up at El,
"He wants to close the school"
"But he can't!," El cried, tears in her eyes already, "What about all the girls?!"
"What about them?," They both stared at me then, "Look, I'm more worried about where we go once this place is shut"
"You're so selfish!," Ella angrily burst out, "This place has been just as good our own home these past few decades and you don't care if it closes?!"
"El-" Eleanor spoke straight over the geek's reasoning.
"If you won't help save St Trinians, I won't help you. You can move on without me Clara!"
I looked up at her and stared. The room went quiet while I thought it over. She wasn't serious was she? She wouldn't leave me again surely?! I was her mother!
"I'll help you Eleanor" I stared at Polly and she shrugged, "This was my first real home. I'm not giving up on it"
"But-"
"I'm sorry Kel. But that's my decision" Polly looked away from me after that and fiddled with her cardigan. I was a little surprised at her. That's the first time in a while she'd actually refused to look at me. Which could only mean she was serious.
I glared at the floor and tried to calm myself down. I felt a little abandoned and betrayed. Couldn't they see the easy thing for us was to go? Why did they have to love this place so much?! It was just an old building. After all that begging to leave before you'd think they'd be happy to go. Personally I couldn't wait to move on. Anything to get away from her and that heartbeat.
"Clara?" I thought through my options and after a long moment of dead silence I sighed with a relenting nod. I wouldn't leave Eleanor again. If it meant that much to them then I'd stay.
"You two will be the death of me" I muttered. They both grinned and hugged me. I just sighed and wondered what an easy life would feel like.
"So what's the plan?"
"First we tell the girls..." Was not looking forward to that at all.
"And then?" Polly asked. I looked up at El and smiled at the untrusting look she was giving me. She could read me so well.
"Then we tell Flash"
"Well?"
Eleanor was leant against the door, arms crossed with a stern look while I walked up to her and straightened my shirt. She didn't look happy at all. She'd begged and begged that I use Chelsea or one of the other totties. But that wouldn't work and we both knew it. Flash had a thing for me especially.
"Safe to say we've got him on side" I replied with a tiny smile while I rubbed my eyes. She walked up to me and pulled my hands down
"You didn't...you know.." She blushed then and I smiled before I shook my head
"No sweetheart. As far as Flash is aware I'm still a sexy little virgin he can't bed"
"So what did you do exactly?"
"Had a staring competition" I winked at her and she breathed with relief. I laughed and hooked my arm around her neck while we walked away. Polly was waiting for us by Bev's desk.
"How'd it go?" She asked eyeing our laughing smiles with a fond gaze. I shrugged at her and her smile fell before I nodded
"He'll help"
"Brilliant! Now it's just the girls...have fun kel"
"What? I thought you-"
"You're the leader so you break the news" She grabbed my shirt and tugged me over to the rec room, smirking evilly as she did. I resisted her tugs and called El for backup. With no answer.
"El?" El was already gone when I glanced back, and I realised with a frustrated huff that they'd planned this. I knocked Polly off me and tipped her face up
"You two devils are going to pay for this" I warned smiling despite myself when she leant up to me
"And I'm sure you'll think up a suitable punishment. But for now..."
She leaned in like she was going to kiss me, and I knew I should have seen it as a distraction. She laughed and pushed me towards the door again and I sighed. Polly walked away when I reached out for the handle and I took a deep breath before opening the door.
"Girls?"
Nope nothing. I may have well have spoken to a brick wall. They continued laughing and screaming around the room while I tried to catch their attention. In the end I had to climb up onto the coffee table and whistle at them, trying my hardest not to laugh when they all snapped their heads towards me.
"St trinians is closing down" I said with a heavy breath. It took all of five seconds for it to sink in. Then they cheered. I rolled my eyes. Bloody children.
"You realise if this place closes we'll have to go to other schools. And by that I mean normal schools" Another five seconds and...
"I give up" I muttered leaving them to complain and whine to themselves. Polly was laughing with Eleanor somewhere upstairs. Probably watching it all on Polly's laptop. I glanced up at the nearest camera and flipped it off.
"Rude kel"
"You'll get over it" I muttered back to her. I walked down the hall and approached miss Fritton's office.
"You're going in there now?!" Polly questioned. I could hear footsteps approaching from the floor above and knew she was on her way.
I nodded to myself and knocked on the headmistress' door. I might as well hit all three problems in one go.
"Enter" it wasn't a bark like normal. She sounded resigned and exhausted. I even felt a little sad.
I shook myself and told myself to get a grip. I left the door open as I entered her office and Polly walked straight in behind me. She sat herself down on the sofa opposite miss Fritton's desk but I stayed standing with my arms crossed. Maybe miss fritton saw that as an opposing stance because she let out another long sigh and gave us a guilty smile.
"And what do I owe this visit girls?"
"We know" Polly said softly.
Miss fritton hung her head and we watched the usual defiant strength leave her. She looked so fragile and vulnerable. And I didn't like it.
"We just wanted you to know-"
"That you think your old headmistress is stupid and deserves this trouble? You don't need to say it. I already know"
I could feel pollys concern for the old woman but I couldn't help but smile at the helplessness in Camilla's voice. I strode up to her and touched her shoulder.
"We wanted you to know that we're working on it miss"
