Chapter 5 (Encounters)

Helen got out of her bed after spending a restless night of thought and contemplation, rolling around in the dark. She found she was hungry and lazy after her sleepless hours. She knew the chances of her eating something she prepared herself would be small. That left her with the option of cafeteria food. That would provide her with the opportunity of seeing a freshly woken Daisy.

She stumbled towards her shower and ran the water. She undressed slowly and stepped under the steaming spray. She emerged feeling awake and relatively energised. She tied her wet hair back and dressed before heading towards the kitchens.

The cafeteria was filling up steadily, but the Cliffhangers hadn't arrived yet. She received her helping from the cook and thanked her kindly. She sat down at the staff table with two other councillors. They were talking about late night television.

"As a talk show," the one was saying, "It has tremendous potential."

"Even so, it is unlikely that it will ever reach the same heights as Opera."

"Or Jerry Springer."

They laughed. Helen shook her head inwardly and began to eat. Was she doomed to become a talk show fan? Would she, five years from now, spend her nights alone, watching television, possibly guzzling cheap beer, an old Freddy lying at her feet, sighing with distaste?

She poked at her eggs and pushed their rubbery mass onto her soggy toast. There was movement and noise from the entrance. She looked up to see the Cliffhangers enter. Scott and Shelby headed straight for the serving lines, Auggie followed, Juliette headed to an empty table after delivering a peck on his cheek.

Ezra came in, scanning the cafeteria like a proud stallion. His eyes found her and his confidence seemed to falter. She pretended not to notice and sawed at a piece of egg and toast, she looked up. He was still staring at her. She smiled. Her grinned back cheesily and headed towards his friends as they gathered their cutlery.

Daisy followed. Helen guiltily smiled at her, she felt like a whipped puppy. She felt horrible for thinking the things she had all night. She felt as though she was trespassing in Daisy's space. She feared she was making the Goth into something she wasn't. She feared the deep depths of Daisy could see right through her and that she would know about the fantasy Helen had stopped before she even started dreaming it.

David came in behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He tried to bite her neck, but was met with a punch in the stomach. He staggered into the line for his breakfast.

Daisy stood for a moment, looking around the cafeteria. Her eyes finally found Helen again. Daisy swayed slightly and looked down at her feet. What was she doing? Helen wondered, what was she thinking?

"Daisy, hurry up." Ezra called. His eyes however, were upon the councillor, not on his friend. Daisy eased her way towards her friend. Helen pondered her gait, storing it in her mind. She was surprisingly graceful for her age. "Keep that in mind, Helen." She said to herself.

Helen's stomach tightened. She couldn't eat anymore. She got up and hurried out of the cafeteria. The smell of boiled cabbage and the presence of Daisy had made the usually cosy room oppressing.

She found Peter in his office with Sophie. "Morning." She greeted.

"Are you alright?" Sophie asked. "You look a little pale."

"I'm fine, really. It takes a while to wake up in the mornings, that's all."

Peter handed her a mug of black coffee. "Here, this should help."

She sipped at it, scalding her tongue. She shuddered. "Strong."

Sophie laughed. "Peter's speciality."

"Great. I think I just got over my caffeine addiction." She gulped down the rest of contents and put the mug down. "I suppose its time to get to work."

"I'll come with you, I have class in a few minutes." Sophie said and led the way out of the office. "Have you settled down yet?" she asked kindly as they entered the hallway.

"Yes, I have." Helen was about to ask her the same question, but realised it was a stupid idea. How have you settled, this being your second year here?

"And your group, how are you handling them?"

"Fine. I'm experiencing some resistance, but hopefully that wont last too long."

"Shelby will be your biggest challenge. She can be very cruel at times." Sophie continued with little pieces of advice as they walked towards the classrooms. Helen nodded. Nothing she hadn't worked out for herself already.

Daisy finished her glass of watered down orange juice and pulled her face. Sour. She slammed the glass down a little harder than she had intended. The group looked at her, surprised.

"Daisy?" Ezra asked carefully.

"What?" she snapped.

"A woman with an aggressive streak. I like." David smirked.

Daisy rolled her eyes.

"Come on, guys. Class is about to start." Juliette said standing up.

"Can't wait." Shelby snorted.

The Cliffhangers left the cafeteria. Daisy went through their timetable in her head. Helen was teaching them math. That meant she had four periods to work out whether or not she had a headache and needed to lie down. Yet, at the same time she was going over theorems in her head, in case she was asked a question.

As they walked past the class Helen taught in, Daisy and Ezra turned their heads to glance in. she was sitting on her desk, with a textbook open on her lap, several strands of hair hanging over her cheeks. She didn't look up.

Daisy sped up, Ezra trotted to keep up. "Wait." He pleaded. She smiled at him. He was actually such a pathetic creature. A short legged, eager little Dachshund. That's a nice thing to think about your friend, she scolded herself.

She felt irritated; all she wanted was to be left alone. She needed to sort out her head. The shiver she had just felt ripping through her body needed to be controlled and eliminated, despite the pleasure is had caused. Her feelings were not a fire that needed feeding, they were feeding themselves.

That afternoon Helen had forced the group into a hike. She set the pace, pushing their vacation-fit bodies to the extreme. They jogged for two miles and had to keep up with her vigorous walking for two before she started jogging again.

At the top of a hill she waited for them. Scott was ahead of the others, followed by David, Auggie and Juliette. Shelby was hanging behind; Daisy and Ezra were running side-by-side. "Scott, carry on at that speed until you get back to the grounds. Then all of you shower before dinner."

Daisy's face was flushed and she breathed heavily. Helen felt her heart quicken. She felt cruel for forcing her into the run, which she had disguised as a hike. "If I didn't know better, I swear you've been smoking." She said jokingly to the Goth.

Daisy looked at her, but said nothing and jogged past. Oh, so smooth, Helen thought. She started jogging behind Shelby, trying to spur her on. At the more relaxed pace at the back, her thoughts once more turned towards Daisy. What was that? Smoking? Are you trying to flirt with her? You're going to make a fool out of yourself, Helen. Quit while you're ahead.

Daisy snuggled deep into her favourite chair in the lodge. Scott was fiddling with the piano, with Shelby, Auggie and Juliette watching. David had disappeared after they had eaten and Ezra sat against the wall with a note pad and a pencil.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

Ezra looked up. "I thought I might attempt some poetry."

"Let's hear it."

"It's not finished yet."

"Fair enough." She said and leaned into the cushions. She yawned softly, she was ready for bed. She felt stiffness setting in. She had imagined she could feel her muscle fibres tearing on the "hike". Did she resent Helen for it like many of the others did? No. Not at all.

"Okay, but don't laugh." He handed her the paper. Daisy began to read.

Her eyes have been plucked from the most northern heavens

Her hair is as dark as those very northern skies

Do I dare to keep up?

Could I?

I offer youth,

She offers wisdom

But my youth cannot compare with her energy

Perhaps one day I will muster such enthusiasm

"That's beautiful, Ezra." Daisy said. She smiled at him. "Dare I ask whom it's about?" she already knew. She wanted to hear it, know that she wasn't the only one with an interest in Helen. She also felt relieved that his attentions had been diverted. It was strange that hers were directed in the same direction. Her relief was quickly replaced with panic. She was allowing herself infatuation.

Helen came into the lodge and went over to the bigger group of Cliffhangers. She listened for a while, chatting to Juliette and Auggie.

"What do you think she's saying" Ezra asked Daisy as Juliette burst out laughing.

"I don't know." Daisy answered. She was more than dying to find out.

Helen looked over her shoulder at the two sitting in isolation and ambled towards them. "Are you two stiff yet?"

"Nothing I can't handle." Ezra said, closing his notepad.

"Nothing I can't enjoy." Daisy added.
"Actually, I wanted to apologise for earlier. I realise that I pushed you too hard. I should have…"
"It's alright Helen. That's what we do here. Besides, physical pain is grounding." Daisy said. That was the first time she had called Helen by her name to her face. She wondered how the councillor would react. She saw no distaste, no approval.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow. Keep an eye on the time, it's almost lights out."

"Goodnight." Ezra shouted after her.