The sun began to rise at 6 am sharp.  By a quarter past it had already illuminated Nick's room.  Brooke sat upright, the previous night's actions suddenly becoming apparent.

She wasn't at home.

She'd slept with Nick.

She had school in three hours.

She'd slept with Nick.

She had to get out.

Quickly, she put on her clothes, which had spent the night crumpled on the floor.  Hopefully Nick wouldn't notice her leaving, or Irene for that matter.  Before she left the room, she took a quick look at him.  He looked peaceful, happy even.  That had to change.

"Bye Nick, " she said as she left.

***

She had to see him.  Kirsty ran down towards the gym before school to see if Kane was there.  They had been separated all weekend and with all her schoolwork, she didn't want to leave the next time she saw him till the weekend.  She ran past the kiosk, making sure Dani didn't see her, and sure enough Kane behind the desk looking through the books.

"Kane!"  Kirsty ran towards him and hugged him.  "Where have you been?"

"Just around, " he said running his fingers through her hair.  "I'm sorry I haven't seen you I've just been busy."

"Not too busy to see Dani though?  She told me you had a chat, and she accepts us.  Isn't that great?  We can go on dates, maybe you could come over and  —?"

"I doubt they're ready for that Kirst.  Anyway, we won't be having any dates for a while."

"Why?  What's going on Kane?  And why did you give me that money?"

"I'll explain later, it's too complicated now.  All that matters is that you keep it safe."

Kirsty broke away.  "Kane, I want to know what's going on?  Why won't you trust me?  Does Brooke know?"

"No, " he lied.  "She doesn't.  Listen Kirsty just trust me —."

"How can I trust you when you can't even trust me?" said an agitated Kirsty.  "Just tell me what's going on?"

Kane needed to stop Kirsty drawing attention to herself; people were beginning to notice.  "Let's get married."

"What?  We are getting married."

"Not in two years Kirst, this weekend, " he said without thinking.  "We could get on a plane to Auckland on Friday night, be married on the Saturday and back the night before you go to school."

"You mean elope?  Are you serious?"  Kirsty wasn't annoyed anymore.  This time next week she could be Mrs Kirsty Phillips.

"Of course I am Kirst, I can book it all tonight.   Just use the savings to buy yourself a dress, Brooke as well if she'll come, but don't tell anyone."

"We're gonna need a ring."

"Another one?"  Kane wasn't using to planning weddings.

Kirsty nodded.  "The ring you gave me symbolises the engagement, now I need one for the wedding.  I'm so excited, " she hugged Kane again.  "Mrs Kirsty Phillips.  I've got to go to school now, I doubt I'll get any work done, but I'll call you tonight."  She kissed him on the cheek and left.

Kane wondered what he'd got himself into.  It wasn't that he didn't want to marry Kirsty, he loved her, it just seemed too much.  He now had a wedding to organise as well as a brother he couldn't stand up to.

***

Kirsty floated all the way to school that morning, new details popping into her mind as she took each step.  She needed a hen night, of course she couldn't call it that, but she needed to celebrate her last night of freedom somehow.  Brooke would have to be her bridesmaid, she'd need her hair done; there was so much to think of.

"What are you looking so pleased about?" remarked Jade in form time. 

"Oh you know, lots of fun couple stuff, " smiled Kirsty.

In contrast, Brooke hadn't floated so much as sunk.   She'd had to run home to change into her uniform and could hardly look Nick in the eye.

"Brooke, " he whispered as knelt by her desk.  "Where were you this morning?  You could have had breakfast."

"I wasn't hungry."

"Well I was thinking, since we were so acquainted, we could go to see a film sometime.  Whatever you want."

"The last thing I'm looking for is a boyfriend Nick, " said Brooke keeping her voice down.  "Last night was a one off."

"Fine.  Sorry for asking, " Nick went back to his seat, dejected, but trying not to show it.  Jade obviously misinterpreted this.

"Is she hassling you again, Nick?  I always thought she was a bit desperate."

Nick gave no answer, which Jade took as a yes.

Later that day in the school grounds, Brooke was sitting on a bench to meet Kit for lunch.  She was still having funny thoughts about her, they popped into her head quite randomly, and she wasn't sure if she could look her friend in the eye.  Jade, being in a vengeful mood, decided to approach her.

"So Brooke, how are we today.  Still pining after Nick?"

Brooke stood up to face her enemy.  "I don't pine.  Ever."

"Right, strange that, because Nick's sick of it.  He told me.  We're getting back together."  She wasn't lying; Nick had changed his mind earlier, deciding he'd had enough of flings.

"Well, I don't think he was so sick of me last night, in fact I'm sure he wasn't, " said Brooke as she raised her eyebrow.  "Explain that."

"He what?"

"I don't want to divulge details Jade, but I think you're just a rebound thing.   I had to turn him down."

Jade could feel herself going red, and now she wasn't thinking with her head.  She slapped Brooke with all her might.

Her cheek stung; she had to retaliate.  Brooke punched her enemy in the mouth, sending a waterfall of blood to her chin.  There was no stopping them now, though Jade was smaller, she attempted to wrestle Brooke to the floor.

"Jade what's going on?"  Kirsty could see her sister involved in something across the path, and soon enough a crowd was forming around them.  "Brooke, get off her!"

Mrs Fletcher had to pull the two girls apart, one clearly worse off than the other.  "What happened here, who started this?"

"She did, " said the girls in unison.

"I saw Jade hit her first, " said a voice.

"Right, " Sally was shocked. She'd expect this behaviour from anyone except Jade.  "I want you both at the medical room, and once they've checked out those cuts, I want you both in my office. We have a zero tolerance policy on violence here."

As Brooke walked behind Mrs Fletcher, she wondered how she could have lost control like that.  Sometimes she didn't know her own strength; it started off as retaliation but it soon turned into something else, something worse.

"Brooke, " said Mrs Fletcher turning to her, "I can't say I'm pleased with your behaviour today, but since you're making progress in your subjects, I will not recommend suspension.  Instead I would like you to write a written report and stay after school in detention every day for the next two weeks.  I can't say fairer than that."

"Thanks."  Anything was better than being expelled and having to start again.