Nikki had appeared in the Assembly Hall, briefly, to support Mr Lowsley when he announced that the Resilience Camp and Resilience Education had been cancelled. After that, the teenager hadn't seen hide nor hair of her mother for hours. Waiting to be taken home, she had turned down the chance to go back to the School House and had made up her mind to avoid going to the gym with the others to get their own back on Gabriella. She assumed that Nikki would have enough on her plate without her getting herself into even more trouble.

But then she'd remembered all the things the blonde had done and changed her mind. When Dynasty had whipped up the crowd of teenagers to go in search of the blonde that had caused so many problems for them all, Hollie had decided she didn't care what happened to her; she just wanted a chance to get revenge. Pushing to the front of the group, Hollie exchanged a look with Dynasty and rolled up her sleeves determinedly.

The pair of teenagers strode into the gym and glared at the blonde who jumped and whirled around to face them. Gabriella fixed them with a look of complete and utter disdain, clearly having expected someone else to join her in the gym. Advancing on her, neither of the girls showed any sign of sympathy or mercy for her, their faces contorting into vicious, animalistic scowls as they stalked across the room.

"Let me past." Gabriella demanded, looking between them. When neither girl moved an inch she repeated her order.

Glancing sideways, Dynasty nodded and Hollie smirked. They stepped aside and let the other girl walk between them, making no effort to stop her. Before she reached the double doors, however, they burst open and everyone else walked into the room. From behind, Hollie couldn't see the expression on Gabriella's face, but she could imagine it.

"You know, Mr Reid's gonna be here any minute." Gabriella tried to convince them.

All she earned herself was a pitying smirk from Hollie and shakes of the head from the others around her. Dynasty pulled a face. "That's alright, 'cos we've got someone looking out."

The blonde glanced anxiously towards the door where Archie stood. He smiled sarcastically before heading out of the gym. Rhiannon closed the doors firmly behind him, before turning and facing the others with a determined scowl on her face. They closed in on the trouble-making teenager, all sending her merciless, irate glares as she looked between them helplessly.

Hollie cracked her knuckles, as she advanced, suddenly overtaken by the urge to pummel the girl until she felt her frustrations disappear. She was furious. Unsure whether it was simply the crowd-mentality affecting her, or her own feelings towards Gabriella, Hollie found she didn't care. She wanted revenge for all the times the blonde had caused trouble for them and she wasn't bothered about the consequences.

"Go on, Hols." Dynasty almost goaded her, seeing how wound up her friend was.

Not needing any encouragement, the teenager swung her fist towards Gabriella without any warning. There was a crunching sound as it made contact, the brunette feeling heat blossoming through her hand as the bones jarred. Gabriella gave a squawk of pain and surprise, not noticing Hollie's arm swinging back for a second blow.

After that it was a free-for-all, with everyone wanting to get involved. Hollie fell back, leaning against the equipment on the walls and cradling her fist against her chest. The initial anger and desire for revenge had subsided significantly and now she felt guilty. Not for hitting Gabriella, but for breaking her promise to her mother and aunt and everyone else that she wouldn't get into any more trouble.

"Reid and Boston are coming!" Archie announced suddenly, rushing in through the doors.

Hollie shot forwards, her eyes widening as she realised what he'd said. Blinking, she realised that someone had brought a hose into the gym and that Gabriella was lying on the ground, soaking wet. Hollie sent a slightly confused, slightly worried look towards Dynasty, who read the expression there clearly. Reaching out, she dragged her friend towards the doors by the hand as Nikki and Mr Reid appeared through them. For Hollie's sake, Dynasty hoped that there had been too many fleeing figures for the English teacher to realise her daughter had been one of them, although she very much doubted that they would be that lucky.

"Come on, Hols." She ordered gently. "Let's clean your hand up. Then you can go to the library and pretend you were there the whole time. We'll back you up, OK?"

"Dyn… I don't need protecting." Hollie told her firmly. "I don't want you getting yourself into trouble for protecting me. Besides, Gabriella will point the finger at me as soon as she can."

"But you're pretty much on your last chance here, ain't ya?"

"Don't worry about it."

The brunette shook her head and walked away quickly. She went into the nearest toilets, running her sore hand underneath the tap and dapping at the knuckles with a paper towel. There was no way her mother wouldn't realise exactly what part she'd played in the event, especially when Gabriella opened her big mouth and dropped her in it.

"Hollie Boston!" The teenager flinched at the sound of the deputy head shouting her name the second she stepped out into the corridor. She turned slowly to face Mr Lowsley. "My office, now!"

Almost as though walking to the gallows, Hollie did as she was told. When she opened the door, she found Dynasty already there, waiting for them to join her. The blonde sent her a look, which Hollie returned, before their teacher faced them seriously.

"Is she alright?"

"Yeah… no thanks to you." Mr Lowsley replied, looking between the teenagers. "You know, I dunno what to make of you, Dynasty. One minute you're a star pupil, the next you're smuggling in alcohol. Then in the woods you were outstanding; the way you took control, the way people looked up to you. And you, Hollie, you've tried so hard. You've worked so hard to leave everything else behind and become a fantastic student with such a bright future…" He shook his head and sighed. "I'll be speaking to the other ringleaders in the morning."

"Sir, it was all my doing." Dynasty told him as he headed towards the office door. "It was my idea."

"Our idea." Hollie corrected her, sending her friend a sharp look.

"And where you two lead others follow, right?"

"I'm sorry…"

"Sorry, Sir."

"Yeah… so am I. I'm sorry that a pair of girls I believed in would instigate a witch hunt… whip up a lynch mob… is that how you wanna use your leadership skills? You know, you could have a good career ahead of you… the both of you. But you need to decide fast. Are you those girls in the woods? Or those girls in the gym?"

Signalling the conversation was over, Mr Lowsley held open the door for them to leave. Both girls went without argument, wrapping their arms around themselves and walking out of the office deep in thought. Neither spoke, contemplating what he had said. Hollie felt more for her friend than herself. She knew that Dynasty had been serious about wanting to join the police and she was sure that she would make a brilliant officer. She, on the other hand, still had no idea what she wanted to do when she left school. Although Mr Lowsley's little speech had made her feel slightly guilty about her behaviour, it hadn't had anywhere near the effect on her that it had on Dynasty.

"You alright, babe?"

Dynasty nodded slowly. "He's right, you know. I have to start making the big choices... thinking about my future."

"You'll be fine… amazing, even." Hollie told her with a warm smile. "Whatever you put your mind to, you can do, Dynasty. Mr Lowsley might have had a point about our behaviour… but don't let it put you off or make you think you can't do something."

"I know…" She smirked. "I reckon we should join the police together; you and me taking down the scum."

With a laugh, Hollie shook her head. "They'd never let me join up; I've got a record, remember? There's no way I can be a cop."

"But that was before… you're different now."

With a shrug, the brunette sighed. "Doesn't make a difference. I still did it and I still have a record. It's not an option for me. But you should go for it… they'd be lucky to have you."

"Yeah… maybe." Dynasty agreed weakly. She glanced at the time on her phone. "I'd better go… I'll catch you later."

Watching her walk away along the corridor, Hollie wondered whether her mother would be ready to go home yet. She visited her classroom in search of her, but found it completely empty. Assuming she was still talking to Christine or Mr Lowsley or something, the teenager headed to the common room to wait a while until she was able to leave.

Hollie stared at her phone in complete and utter surprise as a text came through from her mother, telling her that she was caught up with something and that she'd asked Tom to pick her up instead. Gathering her things as her phone started ringing, Hollie listened as her stepfather informed her that he was in the car park.

Tom had no more idea than the teenager did about why her mother couldn't take her home, but they didn't dwell on it for long. Stopping for a takeaway on the way home, he listened as she told him exactly what had gone on since he'd last seen her that morning. Hollie winced as Tom chastised her for her behaviour, reminding her – as Nikki had done – that she was better than that.

"Tom!" Hollie shouted from just inside the front door the next morning, stamping her feet agitatedly. "Come on! It's Kevin's interview at Edinburgh today! I wanna see him!"

"I'm coming!" Her stepfather called back, thundering down the stairs to join her. "We've just got to drop AJ–"

"I'll take AJ if you want?" Emily suggested, bouncing the baby on her hip. "I can drop him at the childminder's on my way to the office."

"You sure?" Tom asked, rushing around the living room looking for something or other and trying to do his tie at the same time.

"We'll have time, won't we?" Hollie asked bluntly, holding out her arms for her brother.

"I thought you were in a hurry." Tom reminded her, arching an eyebrow.

"I am, so get your arse into gear."

With a chuckle, he kissed Emily on the cheek and ruffled Hollie's hair before rattling his car keys and nodding towards the door. Grabbing her school bag and keeping a firm grip on her brother on her hip at the same time, Hollie followed quickly, pulling the front door closed behind them.

Once they were nearing the school, Tom turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow. "So? Are you going to explain what that was all about? Why didn't you want Em taking AJ to the childminder's?"

"Mum wouldn't like it."

"Really?"

"What? You think she'd be happy to know that you'd let her take him? She's been your girlfriend for five minutes."

"I bet Vix looks after him."

"She doesn't, actually." Hollie replied with a shrug. "He was sick on her skirt once and she kinda avoids him now. Mum asked her to hold him while she answered the phone the other day… I think Vix would rather have held a snake."

Tom chuckled, glancing sideways to work out whether she was being serious. "And Nik doesn't say anything?"

"She gets annoyed sometimes… like the other day Vix pretended her phone was ringing just as Mum asked her to go and check on AJ. He was crying and Mum was in the middle of marking some essays. Mum told Vix she was a selfish cow."

"Did she?"

"Mmmhmmm… Vix just said she's not good with kids and Mum can't expect her to be Mary Poppins."

Pulling up in the car park, Tom killed the engine. "Maybe she's not." Hollie made a dismissive sound in the back of her throat and shrugged. "I thought you liked her?"

"I do."

"So what's with the attitude?"

"I don't have an attitude."

"You do."

"I don't!"

"Hollie Joanne Boston, you have a massive attitude." Tom informed her with a smirk.

She swatted him on the shoulder and opened the car door. Climbing out, she leant down to speak to him through the gap before heading away. "I don't have an attitude, you're just imagining things in your old age."

"Oi! I'm not old!"

"Whatever you say, Mr Clarkson." She teased. "I'll catch you later."

Turning away, Hollie spotted Kevin and Maggie making their way up the slope towards the school and grinned, breaking into a jog to catch them up. Kevin beamed at her, throwing his arms around the girl and kissing her soundly, causing the housemistress to tut good-naturedly at them.

"He's going to wear Grantly's favourite suit for his big interview." Maggie said with a proud smile.

"That's lovely, babe." Hollie told him, favouring the boy with another quick kiss.

"I know, right." He agreed with a cheeky grin.

"When is your interview?"

"A couple of hours…" Kevin replied, suddenly looking nervous.

"You'll be fantastic. They'll love you. You'll get a place in Edinburgh no problem."

"And if they don't love me?"

Hollie grinned and kissed his nose. "Then I'll go over there and sort them out."

"Good enough for me." Kevin laughed.

"Get a room, you two!" An all-too familiar voice called from behind them, causing the trio to look towards the sound with broad grins on their faces.