7
Chapter 23 poppets :D I just finished watching pirates of the Caribbean lol
It is a rainy day but what can I say, I'm shan't hold you at bay any longer, Flash is gay and that's how he's gonna stay.
This chapter is dedicated tah Ms. Adventure for her encouraging and perceptive reviews:) thanks!
Oh and BTW Kate will not be paired with anyone in this story that's the answer to some questions that were PM-ed to me…sorry but not in this story anyway…maybe the sequel…but yeah… ANYWHO!
Enjoy, Read & Review :)
"…ZOOOOOOOOOE! GE' ME OUTTA 'ERE YOU BLOODY CORPSE!"
Kate looked up from her laptop screen over the side of the roof. Bianca was still at it, screaming to be released. Kate figured, that since she had been their for almost two hours, Zoë was most likely going to leave her there over night and probably toss a blanket over her for warmth.
"You wanted to see me Kate?" Came a voice by the door, pulling Kate's focus from Bianca. Kate looked at Lucy through emotionless eyes. Shifting down the couch, Kate told her to come over.
"Thanks for coming." Lucy sat down on the chair, adjusting the pens in her breast pocket. "I believe I need two favors from you." Kate added, narrowing her eyes against the sun which shone on Lucy's back.
"Certainly Kate. What do you need?" Lucy's eyes twinkled, as she smiled.
Polly's protégé was having a good day so far, free from being exposed to the mindless babbling that was often Posh Totty.
Kate wet her lips, glancing at the door to make sure it was closed. Crossing her arms, she leant back, trying to relax.
"I need you to copy a document for me. Forge an exact likeness to the original."
Lucy's eyebrows rose, in truth she had expected more. After all, this was St Trinians and the usual favors were hacking into someone's online banking, stealing their money and clogging up their credit card several times over. At least that.
"And the other favor?" The tone of Lucy's voice suggested that she was becoming suspicious. Kate pursed her lips, She had already thought hard about this and the only way she could get it done was to have a Geek do the forging but the biggest obstacle that had kept Kate from proceeding was the trust factor.
Again, trust, something that she could not give easily or comfortably. Choosing Lucy as opposed to Polly was not through personal preference, not at all. Kate had approached Lucy because if she would have asked Polly, she knew that the Head Geek would go straight to Kelly. Polly was, after all, one of Kelly's best friends and everything went through Kelly's critical mind before being put into action. Kelly getting wind of this was a huge no no. However, Since Lucy was not close with the Head Girl, Kate would take the risk. With Lucy, she would only have to be concerned with the girl telling Polly.
"I want you to keep silent about this. Not tell anyone anything. It must be kept a secret from everyone in the school, Miss Fritton, the teachers, the girls, Polly…Everyone. No one must find out about this ok? Especially the Kelly/" Kate's tone dropped low, showing her seriousness regarding the matter which brought the two girls onto the roof. Kate watched as Lucy's expression changed from suspicion into worry. Kate noticed this and quickly told Lucy that it was nothing that would put St Trinians in direct danger. Lucy hesitated in her uncertainty. She always to Polly everything…but not telling Kelly…
"I don't know Kate… If Kelly were to find out…"
"No!" Kate spoke sternly. "Kelly will not find out."
She wanted to keep the Head Girl as far away as she could. At least that's what her jumbled up feelings were telling her.
"What's so important about this that it needs to remain a secret?" Lucy scrutinized Kate's face with a close eye.
"The content of the document, which in order for you to copy, you will end up seeing, there's no way to counter that. If you won't do this for a favor, fine. I'll pay you a certain amount…" Lucy's eyes lit up, Kate couldn't help but frown.
Why the hell are they so obsessed with money?
"If, however you will still not reconsider I am always able to talk with my connections in France and lets just say this John Claude joker won't be doing business for a while." Kate hated to resort to blackmail but she really, really wanted this done. She was bluffing about cutting John Claude off of course, she wasn't going to hurt anyone but she did have connections in the French Federal authorities thanks to her father who was owed many favors.
Lucy frowned at the mention of the empty threat against her business with John Claude, Black-market lord in the whole of the French nation. Lucy saw slight glimpses of desperation in the girl's eyes. Lucy thought that Kate would actually do something to John Claude if she were to refuse. John Claude was their biggest client and there was no way she was going to put her income on the line.
"Ok. No one will hear a word of this, I promise. This is strictly between us."
Lucy jutted her hand forward, palm facing down to emphasize her words.
Once again Kate was skeptical and this made her grow angry.
Why does it always come down to trust! Why can't I just trust people!
Kate showed no sign of her inner battle while she shook hands with Lucy and still kept a calm face when Lucy left to collect her laptop.
A little voice in the back of Kate's head whispered a response to Kate.
Because everyone you've trusted let you down…that girl you asked to ring the police when your best friend was stabbed…and Kelly…
"NO! Kelly didn't betray my trust! She didn't…she just lost control…we all loose control…shut up!"
But the little voice kept going making Kate frown and move to cover her ears and shut her eyes tight.
Please, you're being pathetic. Admit it, you like Kelly. You like Annabelle… you don't need them…Kelly attacked you just like Boris does…you don't need anyone Katie…You've survived perfectly fine on your own…you don't need friends. They just create more problems. Staying detached is the key…They will drag you down if you let them in…Keep away.
"SHUT UP!" Kate cried, pulling open her eyes. Breathing frantically, she looked around. It was quite. No voices no one up here but her. Kate looked over the side, even Bianca had shut up. Kate broke out in a shiver. Wrapping her arms around her knees, pulling them up. It was a comforting, self assuring position. The only thing missing was a warm, loving hug from her mum, her sister or her dad.
"I'm going mad." Mumbled Kate from between trembling lips.
Lucy returned with her laptop and another contraption which had resemblance to a scanner of some sort. Kate dropped her hands from her knees and pushed her feet back to the ground, thankful that Lucy was checking over her equipment while she spoke. "I presume you have the document in question about your person?"
"No not on me but I have hidden it in a safe place…one that will remain a secret between you and me…ok?" Kate lifted an eyebrow and fixed green orbs on Polly's protégé, demanding Lucy's vow. Lucy nodded vigorously, finding herself a little scared of Kate. Once the 16 year old had the Geek's reassurance, she left her seat and strode towards the brick wall, eyes scanning the surface for the slight depression where she had removed and brick rolled up the envelope several days ago. Kate ignored the burning feeling in her back or Lucy watching her.
Bits of old cement were dislodged and fell to the ground as Kate pulled the brick out.
Lucy watched with growing interest as Kate worked with her back towards the geek.
"What exactly do you want me to duplicate?" Lucy chimed, nodding her head towards the wall where Kate was. Kate hissed in exertion as the brick slowly came out of the wall. Lucy waited patiently until Kate turned back towards her, an envelope in one hand and the brick in the other. Kate placed the brick on the arm of the couch and sat down next to Lucy, opening the envelope.
"This…it's a will and the content is what you have to keep secret." Kate let Lucy take it and proceeded to rub her hands together to get ride of the dust and grit from pulling out the brick. Lucy's fingers reached into the envelope and pulled out 3 pieced of A4 legal documentation folded up in one. The paper crinkled and crackled as the Geek unfolded it, treating each piece like a fragile artifact.
"Oh my!" Lucy gasped and pushed her nose further into to papers. Kate stifled a sigh and leaned back. It's not like no one has seen that number before. It's not even much.
"Two Million pounds! Kate! It's your money! Now I see why you want it kept a secret!" Gasp Lucy, slapping her knee. Kate's head turned swiftly towards the geek, shock radiating from her eyes, thinking Lucy knew everything.
Lucy let out a giggle and shook her head light heartedly.
"Golly, if Chelsea and the other slags got wind of this, you'll never be left alone. It'll be pleas for Vera Wang and Gucci for the rest of the year!"
Kate's chest sank with relief. It brought a smile to her face knowing now that she had been wound up for nothing. Lucy laughed when she saw Kate smiling. Thinking she had made a successful social remark.
"When can you get started Lucy? I need the forgery as soon as you can get it done."
Lucy pursed her lips. Looking down to her hand, she began checking things off via tapping her fingers. "Hmm. Putting aside a false experiment that I will have to set up in order to throw people off what I'll really be doing, the commandeering of a secluded classroom and the amount you pay me…and for all three pages, the equipment and liquids….I have an estimate of 3 days... the best I can do."
Kate looked on with a growing frown. Damn. Not quick enough.
Pulling out another wad of notes from her inner jacket pocket Kate separated two hundred pound notes. "Two days plus a deposit of 200 pounds." Lucy looked up to see Kate waving the money past her face. Lucy debated the pros and cons as quickly as her brilliant mind could.
With a friendly and satisfied smile, Lucy stretched her hand out and grasped Kate's hand in a shake. The moment their hands touched, Kate flinched and pulled away as quick as she could without Lucy noticing and possibly getting offended.
"I set to work after Quantum Physics…" Kate's brows dipped for a split second before she chided herself for losing control of her emotions.
"I'll add another 20 if you start within the next 10 minutes?" Kate patted her jacket pocket where her last note was hiding. Lucy blurted out that they had a deal and bounced off to start, money in hand.
The twins finished with their Chemistry class, there topic of choice being demonstrations. They raced towards the dorm to carry on with bet collection. They had almost met their deadline set by Kelly and the inspection of the Trinski yesterday had set them back a few hours. Their feet hit the ground hard as they skidded around the corner, straight into Kelly Jones with an 'oof'.
"SOWY KEWL!" blurted Tania, jumping back and pulling Tara with her.
Kelly coughed as the impact of TnT left her partially winded.
"S'ok girls… just next time, slow down of put a mirror there or something."
The twins beamed, knowing they weren't in trouble and took off once more, at a lesser pace.
Kelly straightened her self and tugged the hem of her blouse, keeping up a neat but deadly appearance. Brushing a stray piece of hair from her face as a result of her collision, Kelly set forth a-pace to Miss Fritton's office with a request for the annual town trip to be brought forward to this weekend, 2 days from now. Annabelle had over heard the Tottys drooling over the catalogue and had taken a sneaky peak.
She had returned to Kelly telling her that they had to get into town that weekend because several pairs of heels demanded their attention. Kelly immediately agreed since she was in need of stocking up on her make up. Besides, she knew Kate would have a lot of money by the end of today from the bet collections and she figured Kate would want to go shopping.
Kate was left to her thoughts again while Lucy was probably scanning the document into her computer somewhere in one of the classrooms. In the silence, Kate's thoughts drifted to what Annabelle had said to her early this morning.
"…I thought I could handle it, by slipping away…" Annabelle's voice echoed in her head, Kate turned her head away from the rails to the wall as if trying to get away from the words in her head.
"..When shit happens, its unwise to try deal with it yourself because 9 times out of 10, you'll get it wrong and end up even more lost and in trouble…"
Kate scowled at the wall now. She tried to block out the thoughts, wanting her head to be clear and free of annoying voices. Never failed me.
"…But then I realized that I couldn't get over my fear alone…"
Bunching her fists tightly in anger, the Franko- Russian pressed them against her forehead, balancing her elbows on her knees.
"No, I don't need any help. I can do this myself. I've been doing it for the last several years, I'm a pro."
"…I needed help from someone when I was to upset to think straight or was lost. Kelly set me on the right track and helped me win my confidence back…"
Kate growled angrily, pressing her fists harder against her forehead in an attempt to drive away the thoughts which caused turmoil and unbalance in her head.
"…That's what friends are for. To help each other when the going gets tough. Everyone needs someone to turn to. To help them. To set them on the right path…"
"I don't need anyone, I can do this on my own. I don't need anyone, Keep by myself then Kelly can't get hurt…Annabelle won't get hurt because of me…I don't need anyone to turn to…"
Kate kept repeating those words like they were a mantra. She was so focused on the repetition of those words that she wasn't aware of a third, soft, more emotional voice speaking to her.
"You do need someone. You can't do this on your own…you've seen enough to know…you have reached your emotional limit Katie…If you care so much about Kelly and Annabelle then you wouldn't let them get hurt…just let them in Kate…they care about you…let them in…trust Kelly again…trust…trust.."
Kate squeezed her eyes shut further, unaware that the words of her mantra had changed to agree with the soft voice.
The twins had finally finished the bet collection and the counting. Kate had amassed to eight hundred, forty three pounds and fifty pence after the grand total had been divided. Since Kelly had gone to see Miss Fritton, they hurried off in search of Kelly's second in command, a girl who had made her mark on St Trinians and was adored and even idolized herself. Annabelle Fritton.
Tara clutched one half of Kate's winnings and Tania the other while they scooted down the stairs and to the first classroom, Annabelle's art class seeing as Annabelle had inherited her Aunt's talent for painting.
Annabelle daintily stroked her paint brush against the canvas, applying a dash of orange when her art coat was tugged upon.
"Belle, Belle we have finished the winnings. We couldn't find Kewl so we thought you'd find her." Annabelle displayed her brace-free teeth into a affectionate smile at the two devils in disguise and cleaned her fingers.
"Help me with my coat girls?" asked the younger Fritton.
The twins were only to glad to oblige. They loved Annabelle as much as loved Kelly. Like sisters and woe-be-tied anyone who messed around with them.
When Annabelle was freed of her white and splotchy coat, she accepted the money from TnT and gave them each a big hug as was their payment for their messaging service. "Thanks girls. You did good. Go back to what ever you were doing and Tara?"
"Yeah?"
"No touching the field mines. You might kill Bianca." Annabelle rose a sculpted eyebrow and tilted her chin down to get her authority across, just like Kelly had taught her.
"Nawww ok Belle." They pouted. Stealing another hug, the left Annabelle with Kate's money, knowing that it would be delivered and that they wouldn't have to chase after someone with their hockey sticks which they knew would happen if they gave the money to Chelsea, Peaches of one of the less tamed girls.
Kate sat back blood draining from her face. Realization hitting her in the face like a slap to the face.
"Belle was right." She gasped to herself. The 16 year old felt miserable now knowing that she had pushed everyone away and it was true. "I do need help. I can't do this on my own. I need someone." Kate removed her bottom from the seat and proceeded to pace about, one hand on her hip and the other, recently healed, half combed her fringe out of her face. "How can I have been so blind not to understand it when it was sitting right infront of me…I've got to apologize to Kelly!"
Annabelle had stopped behind the roof door when she had heard Kate talking out loud. She knew Kate would be on the roof, it was the only place she went to now. Kelly had vacated the spot ever since her promise to Kate so it had basically become Kate's space.
Kate rushed over to the door with the intent on finding Kelly when it opened, making direct and painful contact with her nose and forhead.
"AW FUCK!" yelped Kate, clutching her nose and staggered backwards. Hot pain erupted through her nose and into her face. Stars blotched infront of her eyes.
Annabelle resembled a goldfish as she hurried through the door way and shut it behind her. Both hands over her mouth.
"OMG Kate! I'm SO SORRY! Are You ok?"
Kate flopped down on the ground, her back against the chair. A trickle of blood oozed out between her fingers as she cupped her nose.
"Mother fucker!" She hissed.
Annabelle ran over to Kate's side and knelt down.
"OH god I'm so sorry Kate! I didn't know you were behind the door, I'm so sorry!"
Annabelle rambled off apologies. Her hands jutted out everywhere, not knowing where to put them. A tear of pain escaped Kate's eye and she removed her hand from her face displaying a little bloody on her fingers.
"Oh god your bleeding! I didn't break your nose did I? Oh god oh god…"
Kate couldn't help to find Annabelle's babbling amusing.
"Its.. ok Belle, don't feel bad… honestly, I probably needed that…" Kate chuckled dryly and tilted her head back, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Here let me help you." Offered the sorry Fritton and grasped Kate's hand with one of her own and with the other, she put it around the back of Kate to her waist and helped up a disorientated Kate who was chasing stars with her eyes.
Kate kept her head back and held onto Annabelle's shoulder as she shakily got to her feet. Annabelle's eyebrows were furrowed and raised, showing her apologetic thoughts. Kate stood, leaning against the couch stemming the blood flow, grimacing at the taste of her blood as it ran down her throat.
"Why would you say that you deserved that? That's fucking painful girl!"
Kate let out a distorted chuckle.
"Not lying about the pain but seriously, I needed that Belle. A wake up call."
Annabelle looked mystified. "For what?"
Kate lowered her eyeballs as far as they could go so she could see Belle.
"You were right. I can't do this on my own…ugh…yuck…I need someone to help me. I was confused and caught up in my own mind to realize, I shouldn't have pushed you and Kelly away… I'm sorry."
Annabelle's eye softened. She smiled sympathetically and gave Kate a shoulder hug. She didn't flinch.
"Its ok Kate. It took me a long time to. Were only human."
"Do you…bleugh….do you think Kelly will forgive me? I..I know I said some hurtful things when I was angry." Annabelle squeezed her a little tighter.
"Course she will. Kelly knows what its like to be in your position with emotions. She got mentally stuck when Alex passed away. Kels will be relieved to know you're not angry at her."
Kate smiled. She welcomed the hug, a gesture that she outlawed within herself. She knew it was a gesture of kindness and sisterly affection. It was not a threat. It was just Annabelle, being her friendly self.
"Thanks Belle." Kate coughed.
Annabelle took back her arms and took hold of Kate's free hand.
"Come on, we better get matron to have a look at that. Your nose is huge!"
"What?" Shrieked Kate. Annabelle let out a chuckle.
"Relax Steel, just yanking your chain. Come on."
Annabelle led a skywards staring Kate down the stairs slowly, dictating the steps as they descended down into the school building again. Kate's heart glowed. She had finally understood. Everyone needs someone to talk to. It had taken her a long time and literally, a smack in the face. Through the pain, Kate grinned widely.
NAAAW!
You know that actually happens to people! I got all confused and denied what my head was telling me then I got smacked in the face and I realized…a bloody uncomfortable way to realize but hey, it worked.
I hope you enjoyed and all you visitors who don't click that handy dandy review button, please do!