A/N: Thanks for the reviews. I hope this update is okay and up to standard as I'm not so sure myself - I've rewrote this a few times and yeah. If you have a few moments, I'd really appreciate it if you, left a review. :)
~Mini Peacelet~
Born To Fly - Part 10
"Gabriella!"
The teachers and students had divided into two groups and were trekking through the Scottish countryside, hunting for the affluent blonde. Dusk was rapidly approaching, it was now a race against time to locate the adolescent before night fall really set in.
"Look! There she is!" The recently qualified science teacher exclaimed as she gestured into the direction of where she had spotted the wealthy teen subsequently to perceiving the muffled shrieks.
Everyones eyes followed to where Sue was pointing, frowns of perplexity refining all of their features simultaneously as they observed their superior - arrogant - classmate squeal in terror, marooned in the centre of a murky loch in a rowing boat. Some of the kids erupted into laughter at how stupid Gabriella appeared, whilst the former army captain's expression amplified in horror as she continued to run towards the waters edge.
"Why's she in a boat?!" Kacey puckered her brow in confusion as she halted in her pace and observed the entire situation.
"I have no idea." Nikki shrugged, equally baffled by everything. She glanced momentarily at the red head who now paused to her side, "One of us is going to have to go in and get her." She added a look that hinted that she desired for Sue to be the one that dived into the icy water, confidentially concerned for the well being of her unborn child if she was the one to enter. The cold would evidently be a shock to her system and she was reluctant to allow unnecessary pressure on her body.
"What sort of a bimbo goes in a boat and loses her oars!" Dynasty scoffed and crossed her arms dramatically as she saw one of the wooden oars floating near the surface by the lake bank.
Sue scowled and screwed her nose up in disgust, "Well don't look at me, there is absolutely no way that I am getting in there." She stepped back, "It's filthy in there and there's loads of algae plant stuff growing too! It's just gross."
"Help me! Help me! Please help me!" Gabriella's strangled cries were erratic as she waved her arms desperately to attract attention to herself. A suppressed scream escaped her glossy lips in the midst of her sobs as she clutched the edge of the old, rotted boat sway dangerously.
The brunette rolled her cornflower-blue orbs, "Fine, I'll go." She hissed as she swiftly removed her jacket and deposited it onto the long grass, "Phone Simon or Hector." She instructed before she plunged skilfully into muddy mere, emerging a few metres away after recovering from the initial reaction as the glacial water temperatures contacted with her skin and beginning to swim fiercely.
"That was a well good dive, Miss!" Kacey complimented with a cheer.
"Gabriella, just stay still." Nikki requested, breathing heavy, as she heaved herself up and grasped the edge of the boat, wanting a moment to catch her breath and allow her heart beat to regulate.
The posh blonde refused to comply, springing around clumsily with high pitched squeals and causing the rowing boat to rock violently until it finally inverted into the loch. They both materialised from beneath the water, the English teacher grasping hold of the Wark's offspring and starting to swim back to the shore.
"Are you okay?" Nikki descended to her knees and brushed her drenched hair from her face, then rubbing Gabriella's back as the girl coughed and spluttered over the pond water she had ingested.
"Gobby looks like a drowned rat!" Darren exclaimed with laughter, causing amusement to his cluster of friends.
"Darren, shut up!" Simon scowled bluntly, then diverting his attention back to Gabriella and his colleague.
The affluent teen slowly nodded and hauled herself to her feet, clenching the former army sergeants dry jacket that had just been enveloped around her shoulders for some warmth. She glared at her fellow students who were enjoying her humiliation before dipping her head and walking with Sue and Simon back to the base camp.
"What about you, Nik? Are you okay?" Upon hearing Hector's irritating voice, the brunette raised her head from where she had been gazing vacantly at the ground, wiping the beads of water that rolled down her face from her soaked locks away, "I'm fine. Just leave me alone, Hector. Go back to camp, I'll come in a moment." Her tone was hostile and bitter towards the PE teacher, still angry at earlier events.
"Okay, I'm going." He held his hands up in defence, a smug smirk remained plastered across his face, "But please, take my jacket. You're freezing. I wouldn't want you to risk catching a cold anymore than you already have." Her shivers were extremely noticeable.
Christine's wife rose to her feet abruptly, "What part of I said I was fine and leave me alone didn't you understand?" She snapped harshly and paced away. Once out of sight from Hector, and anybody else, she grasped her phone from her pocket and dialled Christine's number; she had promised to report if anything happened.
"Nikki, a word please." Fury laced Simon's tone, gaze narrowed and fixated on the brunette who was perched on the edge of one of the make shift log seats, nursing a milky hot chocolate as she relished the heat source from the sizzling fire in attempt to raise her body temperature and obstruct the violent shudders.
Reluctantly, the deputy head regained her equilibrium and followed Simon away from the others. Her orbs flickered nervously as she raked her fingers through her damp, chestnut-coloured hair, "Simon?" She pursed her lips together momentarily, already suspecting what the topic of this conversation was going to be.
He crossed his arms, visibly agitated, "Why did you phone Christine?" He demanded to know the reasons behind the phone call that Nikki had secretly made behind his back.
Exhaling a deep sigh, she then responded, "She needed to know." She stated bluntly, not in the mood for this discussion and his opinions on her actions.
Simon scoffed, "Technically yes, but in reality no. And if anyone was going to tell her then it should have been me! You undermined me." He huffed juvenilely, "But I hope you're happy now, because she has cancelled the resilience camp and has commanded that we pack up camp and return to school!"
Nikki's mouth parted marginally, faltering over her reply, "Simon...you know that was never my intention. I wouldn't do that to the kids." Her voice was a feeble whisper yet slurred with defence.
The PE teacher strolled over when her overheard the tense chat transpiring between his colleagues and detecting that his crush was stressed with the whole situation, "What's going on?"
"Nikki called Christine behind my back and told her about the incident with Gabriella. She has ordered that we call off the entire camp, pack up and get back to school as soon as possible." Simon ranted, sulking grumpily about having to inform the kids who had been so excited for weeks about this camp.
"Oh, well I'm sure she was only doing what she thought was right. And Christine's probably right, Gabriella should be checked over really." Hector shrugged, conceitedly irritating the brunette by protecting her against the other deputy head and leader of the resilience initiative.
The female shot daggers at Hector after Simon wondered off back to the group, "I don't need you to fight my battles, I'm perfectly capable myself." She retorted austerely, "Did Gabby phone you?" She inquired candidly, wanting to know if the problems that had occurred could have been prevented. Although, now the prospect of returning to a heated and cosy home tonight sounded like bliss. She was freezing. And she could escape Hector's uncharming company.
"No! No, she didn't." He lied convincingly, "I asked her and she told me that she lost her phone, therefore couldn't phone for help." He explained. It was half true; Gabriella had claimed to have lost her phone, but she had tried to call a couple of times prior.
Nikki nodded and treaded across to the others who were all moaning about having to leave and return to school. "This is all your fault!" Kacey yelled at the posh adolescent. "Why do you have to ruin everything!" Darren added. "It's alright for you, you have a nice house and can afford to go away whenever you like. For some of us this is the only chance we'll get of a holiday!" Rhiannon sighed. "You'll pay for this." Dynasty warned.
"Girls, it was no ones fault. Stop sniping at each others throats and get on with whatever Mr Lowsley has told you to dismantle." Nikki's attitude was assertive, the students gathered that now wasn't a good time to try and push their luck. But they were certain of one thing; Gabriella was going to pay for this.