Nine2Five
That Friday was Flash's first business visit since the heist. He hadn't set foot at St. Trinian's since delivering the cash, just in case anyone was watching. This also meant it was his first time back on campus since Kelly and Annabelle had become an item and the bets were flying. The bookies were going nuts trying to keep up with the rising odds of each wager and variable.
Kelly tells Flash 17- 1
Annabelle tells Flash 30 - 1
Annabelle punches Flash for hitting on Kelly Evens On
Apparently the other girls had picked up on Belle's distaste for Flash early on. The garage was unusually full of activity that night as Flash arrived. He was surprised by the sheer number of girls milling about - unaware that he was top billed for the evening's entertainment. Kelly and Belle leaned against the trade counter. They exchanged brief smiles as Flash was swarmed by all the girls congratulating him on his role in the art scam and thanking him. Peaches was especially effusive.
"Well, good job all 'round, I say." Flash smiled nervously and detached himself from the nymph to approach the two most beautiful girls in the school. It made him extra nervous having Belle here since he'd only last week realized she was a looker. It had taken him back, spotting her at the funeral fully made up and suddenly gorgeous. If things never worked for him and Kelly, maybe he could try her next?
"I suppose now we can get back to business as usual?" Kelly's voice broke him from those thoughts, favoring him with one of her rare smiles. It was her version of thanking him for his help with Trinian's crisis.
"Right, absolutely, couldn't agree more! Back to basics. That's what I say." Flash enthusiastically agreed, stammering over his own thick cockney accent.
Belle could tell Flash was avoiding eye contact with her and he was having just as much trouble with Kelly's obsidian gaze. Was he ever going to grow a pair? The poor man never knew where to look; he couldn't meet their eyes, was trying not to check out their figures (which their clothing made difficult) and really couldn't let his eyes wander towards any cleavage.
The two girls stepped away from the counter, allowing him to assume his usual seat. The massive audience was a bit disappointed to see that (true to Kelly's words) it was indeed business as usual. It was even a bit boring. Except for Kelly and Belle, who were both thoroughly entertained by everyone's frustration.
They'd talked it out earlier and decided there was no reason for either of them to tell Flash about their involvement. A tiny piece of Belle wanted to tell him just so he'd stop hitting on Kelly but the Head Girl had coolly pointed out that would just be taking him more seriously than he deserved. She could easily ignore his advances to the end of time.
He'd find out soon enough (probably from Taylor since she couldn't keep her mouth shut) and Flash was far too spineless to actually confront Kelly. Besides, it really wasn't his concern. It wouldn't change their business relationship and it would take all of one week for him to pick a new object of adoration. There were at least 7 girls that would happily give him their virginity if he just breathed at them.
"Now you're absolutely sure this ain't gonna kill no one?" Flash was eyeing the Emo's bag of drugs. Andrea and Janie exchanged glances.
"Nah, might even help 'em break the habit." Andrea smiled wickedly. Flash nodded happily and slid the homemade meth into his crate of goods.
The Posh Totty had hit on the idea of combining sex bracelets with mood rings. The color of the ring indicated the act she was in the mood to perform.
"And black means all of them!" Chelsea summed up her explanation.
"I thought black meant no one was getting lucky?" Peaches gave her a bewildered look.
"No, I thought that white meant you weren't in the mood." Chloe argued back.
"White means you're dead, Chloe." Chelsea was looking irritated - a slip she seldom made since irritation was a sign of intelligence.
"Ah, then that'd be anything goes, wouldn't it?" Peaches smiled victoriously.
"Is white even a color?" Chloe asked curiously as they walked away from the counter, leaving Flash with his mouth hanging open in wonder.
Last up were the Chavs. Taylor slapped a folder of photos onto the counter.
"Trinian's is famous right now, yeah? What with School Challenge and that git rewarding us on telly. So, strike while it's hot. We got pics of all the girls to give the tabloids to run, let 'em get to know us better and all." Taylor explained.
"Swell idea, I like it. Media darlings and whatnot." Flash agreed, going through the photos one at a time. Everyone clustered around him, looking over his shoulder at the various shots, making appropriate sounds of admiration.
"Aw, that's sweet, that one is," he smiled at the picture of the twins, "But you might want to pose them away from the weapons locker."
"Told you." Taylor glanced over at the Twins, who both hung their heads sadly.
"And you probably better redo Peaches with just a bit more clothing, yeah? It's tabloids, not Heat." Flash cleared his throat, moving quickly past the nearly naked Totty.
"Right." Taylor made notes for the corrections. The Emos had been the hardest to get. They'd only gotten half of Andrea's face because the other half was obscured by her upraised middle finger.
"That's a cover shot right there, eh?" Flash held up the pic of the head Emo, bringing laughter from the girls. His own chuckles died as his eyes fell on the next pic. Much grainier than the previous. Kelly leaned closer and recognized the screen capture of herself and Belle kissing. She shot a warning glance at Taylor.
"Oh my. How'd that get in there?" the Chav feigned innocence.
"Your computer girls getting into doctoring photos now?" Flash handed the picture to Kelly to examine. He was actually willing to believe it wasn't real? Christ, he was even more delusional than anyone thought. Jones made a show of scrutinizing the photo as though she hadn't already seen it hundreds of times around the school.
"It's not very good is it? Must've been working with pretty low resolution material." the Head Girl shook her head and handed it to Belle. The answering spark of laughter in her hazel eyes visible only to Kelly. She pursed her lips, playing along with the gag. The entire room was dead silent as the students waited to see how the girls were going to play this one off
"Shoddy at best. I would've expected better quality from the Geeks." Belle tsked.
"It really looked more like this." Kelly pulled Belle into a steamy kiss. The roar of laughter and clapping was deafening at the performed punch line. Belle snuck a peek at Flash from the corner of her eye - the only thing wider than his eyes was his mouth. This should stop his flirting. She smiled, opening her mouth into the kiss.
They broke apart once Kelly was sure her point was made (and before she could forget she was making a point) and neatly wiped away any lipstick that might've gone errant. She made a mental note of Belle's exhibitionist tendencies. Maybe they'd get a bit more adventurous with their snogging locations.
"I -uh - well, I guess it's - that is, you're sort of real, then, innit?" Flash stumbled on his words, trying to get his tongue back in his mouth.
"Quite, but not for the tabloids." Annabelle crumpled the picture and tossed it to the rubbish bin. Flash stared back and forth between the two girls, realizing everyone was waiting for his reaction. He didn't see that the Twins had grabbed their cricket bats on the off chance he lost his temper.
"Figures," he mumbled, then grinned, "Just my luck the two best birds would pick each other. Couldn't have happened to a nicer pair an' I mean that."
The relief was palpable and ripples of laughter and admiration moved through the room. Flash was a better guy than they thought. They cheered him for being the best sport.
"No hard feelings then?" Belle smiled, extending a hand.
"After that show? No guarantees!" Flash's grin grew wider as he shook the hand and then pulled both girls into a hug.
"You're a top ace, Flash." Kelly kissed his cheek once, Belle doing the same on the other side.
"I know it, I know it. Tried telling you for ages! But there's one thing very important for you both to remember." he looked quite serious, glancing back and forth between each girl on either arm.
"What?" Belle asked in genuine concern.
"I'm first in line for the threesome."