Annabelle's eyes flicked open and closed several times before she realised where she was. She found herself lying in bed next to Simone, in a tangle of limbs, that familiar feeling of bare skin against hers… it was comfortable. She felt at home.

Simone felt an arm around her waist tighten and pull her closer, feeling the warmth of Annabelle behind her. It awoke her, and she too needed a moment to process what was happening. She wriggled in bed and put some distance between the two of them.

Annabelle let out a pained noise and attempted to pull Simone back in. She was met with resistance. "What?" she whispered, firmly.

"Annabelle…" Simone replied, huskily. "No."

Annabelle was now wide awake and sat up straight in bed, frustrated. She stared down at the lifeless figure below her, hoping to get some sort of further indication as to why she was behaving like this. With no luck, she sprang out of bed and began changing into last night's clothes.

Simone felt her eyes involuntarily clench shut as she listened to the clink of the belt on the floor and the shuffling of jeans being put on. She desperately wanted to say something but felt paralyzed. She clung to her sheet as footsteps resounded through the room and the door echoed with a bang. She wanted to stay in bed, but she knew that she couldn't.

It was Saturday brunch at St Theresa's and the dining room was buzzing with activity. Annabelle weaved her way through a sea of students, finally finding a seat and focusing on her meal. She had rushed back to her room to change and freshen up, because she knew she could trust Gemma to be observant of her every move, even wearing yesterday's outfit. She stared at her bacon and pancakes and shuffled them around the plate with her fork. Strangely, her appetite wasn't really there. Knowing time was of the essence before Simone showed up, she swallowed whatever she could manage and stood up to leave.

As she was racing out the door and into the adjoining hallway, she was met with a surprising thud. She instinctively put her arms around the figure to steady herself, and felt the familiar fabric of Simone's suit blazer. She backed off and looked Miss Bradley in the eye, who looked a little shaken yet sad. "Sorry," Annabelle muttered and continued her swift path upstairs.

Simone had decided to call Lucy into her office, in order to discuss whatever issues she was dealing with at the time. She felt she needed to get a handle on it herself and see if what Annabelle was telling her was correct. Besides, it was her duty as headmistress to take care of her students. She heard a faint knock on the door and welcomed Lucy in.

The pair looked at each other for a while as if they were in a staring contest, neither of them quite knowing how to begin the conversation.

"I understand you've been going through a rough time lately," Simone stated, leaning on her desk.

"I guess you could say that," the student replied, slumping in her chair.

"Anything I can help you with?"

"Not that I can think of," she said stubbornly.

"Listen, I'm here to help. But I can't do that if you're not willing to be honest with me. Miss Tillman mentioned you were having some issues with… sexuality?"

"I'd rather talk to Annabelle about it."

Simone could feel herself getting agitated. "First of all, you are to address her as Miss Tillman. Secondly, it is not appropriate for you to confide in her solely with these kinds of issues. She has spoken to me about it and is feeling uncomfortable, so this is to stop now, okay?"

Lucy gave Simone a steely glare. Another side of her that no one had seen yet was about to come out. "I know that YOU might want me to stop talking to her, but she doesn't. You broke her heart, and now you don't want her but you don't want anyone else to have her. Everything was fine before you showed up." She leaned forward in her seat, maintaining eye contact with Miss Bradley. "You can punish me if you like, but on what grounds? The headmistress who slept with her student, criticizes student for TALKING to teacher. Won't go down too well I don't think." She shoved her chair out from behind her and stormed out of the room.

Simone took a deep breath. Somehow she had managed to be walked out on twice today.

Annabelle was outside taking a dip in the pool, the warm summer heat was scorching and this was the place where she liked to get away from everything and think. It was down the bank and out of sight, surrounded by trees, her own private little haven. She lay on her back and let the water lap past her ears, temporarily deafened from any outside distraction. As she drifted backwards in the water, she became aware of a shadow being cast over her, and rose to see who it was. "Oh, Hi Lucy…"

Without acknowledging Annabelle, Lucy began to strip out of her clothes and down to her underwear. She obviously hadn't been planning a swim, but nevertheless, here she was. Without warning she bombed into the pool, causing a big splash and causing Annabelle to close her eyes, laugh a little, and wipe the chlorine from her face. Before she even had a chance to come to her senses, she felt her body being pulled in close to Lucy's and the crash of lips onto hers, drawing her into a passionate kiss. Without even thinking she responded, unable to resist being touched like this by someone new and exciting. She placed her hand on the small of Lucy's back, and eliminated all distance between them. She felt her hair being combed through by the younger girl's hands, and broke the kiss temporarily to gasp. She hadn't known she'd wanted this, but she did now. Annabelle lifted Lucy up, who responded by wrapping her legs round her teacher's waist. She led her to the edge of the pool and pushed her up against it. The pair paused to smile at each other, Annabelle in disbelief, Lucy having got what she'd wanted all along. There'd be consequences, yes, but neither of them had that anywhere in their mind. Annabelle shifted her weight into Lucy and initiated another steamy kiss. The seductress in her had been there all along, and was not to be tamed. "Are you sure this is what you want?" she breathed.

"Yes," Lucy replied.

"And you won't tell anyone?"

"No."

No one was going to find them today. No Gemma, no Simone… no one.