Cheers muchly for the reviews! I GOT OVER 200 REVIEWS! YOU ARE ALL THE BEST, I LOVE YOU! This chappy is dedicated to si-te-hace-feliz for being my first ever 200th reviewer!
I gotta say, the angst isn't here yet but EVERY LITTLE THING that happens in this chapter is significant, every detail (including the title) which is rare for me. I promise you angst next. I swear on my laptop :0
Also, no time to proof read again, sorry :( Its probably a big piece of s**t but oh well...
Read, Enjoy, Review!
Chapter Twenty Seven # All's Hell That Starts Well #
Thursday dawned a crisp, sunny day, and eighty Atwater students had arrived at 5am so that the buses could leave on time. They had discovered in the letter handout that despite the fact that Atwater was a relatively small school with two hundred or so kids a year, there were too many students to go on the same day, so the trip was spread out over two weeks, with certain groups going on certain days. The students who had already visited didn't say much other than it was amazing, so everyone was excited.
Much to everyone's delight, uniform wasn't compulsory for the trip so they all turned up in their own clothes. When the groups began to assemble, Grissom addressed the ones in his group already standing there.
"There's been a change of plan in your group." They all froze suddenly. "Mary-Jane has swapped places with Tony DiNozzo, I'm not entirely sure why."
"Tony DiNozzo?" Sara frowned.
"Yes." Grissom nodded.
Russell walked toward the group and clapped his hands together. "Okay, we got the minibus."
"Like, just our group?" Greg asked, shivering in the cold weather.
"Yep. That okay with you guys?"
They all nodded. A few minutes later Tony DiNozzo arrived. "Hi."
"Hi." They all responded.
"How come you switched groups?" Sara asked curiously.
"Because Jake Berkeley was in my group and the last time I saw him I punched him in the face. MJ offered to swap." Tony explained. He had sworn MJ and Catherine to secrecy - both girls thought it was adorable - and that was the chosen cover story.
"Fair enough. Why'd you punch him?" Sara asked.
Tony shrugged. Because he put foam in your locker... "He was pissing me off. MJ's better at keeping her temper than me anyway."
"Well, at school she is." Nick remarked and Tony grinned.
"Oh, really?"
"So you'd rather spend a day with geeky kids than Jake Berkeley?" Morgan asked suspiciously.
"You say geeky kids like its a bad thing." Tony grinned.
"I like him." Morgan nodded.
"Sorry I'm late." Catherine huffed as she jogged up.
"You're not late." Grissom shook his head and she smiled gratefully.
"Okay, everyone on the minibus. It's a two hour drive." Russell declared.
Greg groaned. "A whole two hours?"
"And a quarter, if we're being precise."
Greg sighed and got onto the minibus. Nick, Warrick, Ryan and Archie claimed the row of four in the back, Tali and Sara took the two in front of them with Sara calling dibs on the window seat. Morgan and Greg sat in the two seats in front of Sara and Tali and Tony and Catherine sat in two of the four seats directly behind Russell, the driver and Grissom who was supposedly navigating.
"What's all this stuff?" Archie asked curiously, poking some boxes in the back.
"Oh, I think its from a music trip." Russell glanced in the mirror, putting his seatbelt on.
Nick clambered over the backseat and began passing Warrick and Ryan the boxes.
"Nick, what're you doing?" Grissom asked suspiciously.
"Well," Nick climbed back into his seat. "Its a two hour drive, we might need some entertainment later."
"Just don't give anything to Greg, unless they have some maracas."
Greg made a face at Russell's comment. "Hey!"
They all cheered as the minibus started.
"We're going to Jamieson's manor!" Greg grinned, bouncing up and down on his seat. "Are we there yet?"
"How old are you, five?" Catherine laughed, taking off her long coat.
"Oh my god, you're showing!" Morgan squeaked, looking at Catherine's stomach.
Catherine smiled shyly. "Yeah."
"Aw, that's so cute!" Morgan grinned.
Catherine shrugged. "I hate feeling fat."
"But its not fat, its mostly baby." Morgan protested. "And it shows that you aren't fat because you're only what, two months and you're showing."
"Thanks." Catherine smiled.
"You're welcome." Morgan smiled.
"Wasn't Rosemary's Baby filmed in Jamieson Manor?" Ryan frowned.
"No, that was filmed in New York." Tony corrected.
"I didn't like that one." Tali shuddered. "Scared me."
"Do you like the same stuff as your sister?" Tony asked with interest.
"What, musicals?" Tali shrugged. "They're okay. Not my favourite though."
"I watched Annie Get Your Gun a couple of times with my mom." Sara shrugged. "She likes it."
"There's only like, one decent song in that film." Tony grinned.
"I agree. Anything you can do I can do better." Sara sung. "I can do anything better than you." She was shocked when Tony replied.
"No you can't."
"Yes I can."
"No you can't."
"Yes I can." "No you can't."
"Yes I can, yes I can!"
Tony started to sing. "Anything you can be
I can be greater.
Sooner or later,
I'm greater than you."
Sara made a face. "No, you're not."
"Yes, I am."
"No, you're not."
"Yes, I am." "No, you're NOT!"
"Yes, I am. Yes, I am!
I can shoot a partridge
With a single cartridge."
"I can get a sparrow,
With a bow and arrow."
"I can live on bread and cheese."
"And only on that?"
"Yep."
"So can a rat!"
Tony smirked "Any note you can sing
I can sing higher."
"I can sing any note
Higher than you."
The others watched like a tennis match as they got higher and higher in pitch.
"No, you can't."
"Yes, I can."
"No, you can't."
"Yes, I can."
"No, you can't."
"Yes, I can."
"No, you can't."
"Yes, I can."
"No, you can't."
"Yes I CAN!"Sara sang, clearly but highly.
Tony stuck his tongue out "Anything you can say
I can say softer."
"I can say anything
Softer than you."
"No, you can't."
"Yes, I can."
"No, you can't.
"Yes, I can."
"No, you can't."
"Yes, I can. YES, I CAN!"
"I can drink my liquor
Faster than a flicker."
"I can drink it quicker
And get even sicker!"
"I can open any safe."
"Without bein' caught?"
"You bet!"
"That's what I thought-
you crook!"
Tony grinned. "Any note you can hold
I can hold longer."
"I can hold any note
Longer than you."
"No, you can't."
"Yes, I can"
" No, you can't."
"Yes, I can"
"No, you ca-a-a-a-a-a-n't."
"Yes, I can
Yes, I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I- I-I- I-I- I-I- I-I- I-I - I-I - I-I - I-I - I-I -I-I - I-I can!" Sara finished after long seconds.
Everyone looked at each other and joined in with DiNozzo. "Yes, you ca-a-a-an!"
"Wow, that was pretty impressive." Catherine smiled.
"Thanks." They both grinned.
"Are those guitars in tune?" Tali asked.
"Sure." Nick passed her one and she whispered something to Sara. Sara leaned over the seat to whisper to Morgan and Tali stretched out to pass the whisper to Catherine. The other girls grinned and Tali began strumming and singing.
"I remember when we broke up, the first time
Saying this is it, I've had enough, 'cause like
We haven't seen each other in a month
When you, said you, needed space, what?"
Morgan took up the song. "Then you come around again and say
Baby, I miss you and I swear I'm gonna change
Trust me, remember how that lasted for a day
I say, I hate you, we break up, you call me, I love you."
Sara took over from Morgan "Oooh we called it off again last night
But Oooh, this time I'm telling you, I'm telling you-"
All four girls burst into song. "We are never ever ever getting back together
We are never ever ever getting back together
You go talk to your friends talk
To my friends talk to me
But we are never ever ever ever getting back together!"
Catherine took a deep breath "I'm really gonna miss you picking fights
And me, falling for it screaming that I'm right
And you, will hide away and find your piece of mind, with some indie record
That's much cooler than mine"
Sara and Morgan sang together. "Oooh you called me up again tonight
But oooh, this time I'm telling you, I'm telling you-"
"We are never ever ever getting back together
We are never ever ever getting back together
You go talk to your friends talk
To my friends talk to me
But we are never ever ever ever getting back together! Ooh, ooh, ooh!" They all sang.
"I used to think, that we, were forever ever
And I used to say never say never..."
Tali trailed off.
"Huh, he calls me up and he's like, I still love you
And I'm like, I'm just, I mean this is exhausting, you know like
We are never getting back together, like ever!" Catherine said.
"No!" Sara sang loudly.
The boys joined in with the girls as they launched into the chorus. "We are never ever ever getting back together!
We are never ever ever getting back together!
You go talk to your friends talk
To my friends talk to me
But we are never ever ever ever getting back together!
"We, oooh, oooh, not back together, we
Oh, getting back together!
You go talk to your friends talk
To my friends talk to me
But we are never ever ever ever-"
"Getting back together!" Tali finished.
Grissom and Russell clapped, laughing.
"Nick, your turn." Tali laughed.
"Nah, I'm not signing."
"Oh, come on Nick!" Sara complained.
"Please?" Greg wheedled.
"Come on, Nick." Tony added. "I heard you're not the worst singer in the world."
"Well..." Nick sighed.
"Please, Nicky?" Nick glared playfully at Tali and he took the guitar off of her.
"Beauty queen of only eighteen
She had some trouble with herself
He was always there to help her
She always belonged to someone else
I drove for miles and miles
And wound up at your door
I've had you so many times but somehow
I want more
I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
She will be loved
Tap on my window knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful
I know I tend to get so insecure
It doesn't matter anymore
It's not always rainbows and butterflies
It's compromise that moves us along, yeah
My heart is full and my door's always open
You can come anytime you want
I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
I know where you hide
Alone in your car
Know all of the things that make you who you are
I know that goodbye means nothing at all
Comes back and begs me to catch her every time she falls
Tap on my window knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful
I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved..."
"That was really good." Tali smiled, her voice quiet and Nick grinned. "Thanks."
"I have a song!" Greg declared.
"Hold on!" Grissom turned around. "Wait for me to find my earplugs!"
"Grissom! What happened to encouraging your students?" Greg cried, aghast.
"Sorry Greg, but I know your taste in music."
Greg huffed and took the guitar off Nick. He quickly emailed around the lyrics. "Everyone has to sing. Otherwise the effect is totally lost."
"We sing together out of key,
Although we try it seems we just can't find our harmony,
We just don't fit each others frequencies,
That makes you out of reach,
And I am finally accepting that,"
Nick, Morgan and Warrick joined in. "About you and me, it's plain to see,
We only ever want to stay inside and watch TV,
Because that's just as good a memory,
You're just good company,
And I am finally accepting that,"
Archie, Sara, Morgan, and Tali joined the others "Remember the time when we stole the whole day?
And nobody knows it, we took it away,
And it will be forever mine,
And it will be forever yours
Now we own the night, and it can't be undone,
We'll never forget how it feels to be young,
Cos it will be forever mine,
And it will be forever yours...
Come on darlin'
Have some indecency,
You know there's nothing you could say that would embarrass me,
I heard a song tell me that talk is cheap,
But it's all you do with me,
And I am finally accepting that,
It's just our routine,
We try and dream,
And buy the things we said we'd buy when we had more money,
All in the name of making memories,
That's what you want with me,
And I am finally accepting that,
Sara prodded Tony and Catherine who joined in, slow smiles spreading across their faces. "Remember the time when we stole the whole day?
And nobody knows it, we took it away,
And it will be forever mine,
And it will be forever yours
Now we own the night, and it can't be undone,
We'll never forget how it feels to be young,
Cos it will be forever mine,
And it will be forever yours
Remember the time when we stole the whole day?
And nobody knows it, we took it away,
And it will be forever mine,
And it will be forever yours
Now we own the night, and it can't be undone,
We'll never forget how it feels to be young,
Cos it will be forever mine,
And it will be forever yours
This will be forever mine
This will be forever yours
Now we own the night, and it can't be undone!"
They finished with a flourish.
"Who wrote that?" Catherine asked.
"Alex Day. He's this English youtuber." Greg explained.
"Cool." Catherine nodded.
"Have you had any scans or stuff yet?" Morgan asked Catherine.
Catherine nodded. "I'm doing good."
"That's good." Morgan smiled.
Greg turned to his girlfriend suspiciously. "Why do you keep asking about Catherine's stomach?"
"Well, Greg, when a girl gets with a boy-"
Greg threw his coat at Sara. "I'm just worried about why you're asking."
"All girls get excited about babies, its like a law of nature." Nick rolled his eyes.
"Not all." Tali shook her head. "Zee tends to avoid them."
"Okay..." Greg sounded resigned.
Morgan huffed. "Why don't you trust me?"
"My cousin Katrina started going all cooey over babies and two months later she was so desperate to have a kid that she cheated on her boyfriend and got pregnant. She had triplets when she was sixteen."
"Yowch." Tony winced.
"I'm not gonna cheat on you. You have no faith." Morgan shook her head.
"Are we there yet?" Greg changed the subject.
"Greg, we've been on the road twenty minutes."
Greg sighed. "Let's do truths. Take it in turns to ask a question that everyone has to answer."
"Fine." Nick shrugged. "Why not?"
Greg cleared his throat. "I'll go first. Have you ever gone skinny dipping? Like, not in your garden, like in public."
"When I was like five, yeah." Ryan nodded. Archie just shook his head.
"I have." Nick nodded.
"Never in my life." Warrick shook his head.
"No way!" Tali shook her head.
"Two months ago." Tony shrugged.
"Really?" Sara raised her eyebrows.
Tony shrugged. "Yeah."
Sara glanced at the floor and pursed her lips cheekily. "I have."
"Really?" Tony asked back.
"I haven't." Morgan declared and turned to Greg.
"Not since I was seven."
Catherine grinned. "Yeah, I've been skinny dipping."
"I have a question." Tony announced.
"Keep it clean, DiNozzo." Russell called mildly.
"Yessir." Tony nodded. "Who here has had a major crush on someone who they're pretty sure would never have them?"
There was silence for a moment.
"Me." Nick coughed.
"Me." Warrick nodded.
Catherine swallowed. "Yeah..."
"I have." Sara sighed.
"Well I did but it actually happened." Greg smiled slightly.
"Ditto." Morgan nodded. "Have you?"
Tony nodded. "Hell yeah."
"Honestly?" Sara was intrigued.
Tony nodded seriously. "Yeah."
Two hundred and twenty four questions later by Archie's count they pulled into a large, ominous driveway and parked up behind the large bus carrying the other seventy students visiting on the Thursday.
"Wow...its huge!" Sara breathed.
"Greg, calm down before you wet yourself." Nick teased the second youngest member of their group. Greg stuck his tongue out at Nick.
"Alright, everyone off the bus, you can leave your stuff here the minibus isn't going anywhere." Grissom said.
"Stay together, people." Russell added.
They scrambled out of the cramped space into the freezing early morning air. There was a dense forest surrounding the manor and a cast of people dressed in old fashioned clothes were assembled at the front, not moving. They held their hands in front of their bodies, patiently waiting. Morgan pulled her hat further over her ears as the wind attacked them and Greg stepped closer to her. The teachers assembled for a minute and then led the students over to the people outside.
"Welcome to Jamieson Manor." A tall man announced with a smile. "Today, each of the eight groups will take a tour guide, but two of your groups have been offered special privileges as a reward for school behaviour within your school. Would the groups of Dr. Grissom and Mr. Russell and of Mr Taylor and Ms. Danville please step forward."
Excitedly they shuffled forward. A young woman dressed in expensive old fashioned clothes stepped forward and looked at both groups. She stared for a long moment at Catherine, and then turned back to the man.
"This young lady is pregnant. This is the group of my choice."
"Very well. Mr. Taylor, would you be so kind as to lead your group to the back entrance with Susannah? Dr. Grissom and Mr. Russell, please follow me."
They looked at each other, grinning and followed the man into the house.
"My name is Lord Oswald." The man said, and Greg had to bite his lip to stop himself from laughing.
The man continued. "As a mother, Lady Madeline is very sympathetic to those with children, or those with child." The man smiled at Catherine, inclining his head slightly. "Your two groups are being given the opportunity to experience the house as guests would have when it was first built during the morning. In the afternoon you and the other group chosen will have an opportunity to visit the film making parts, but for the morning you will be acting like visitors in the 1800s, one group in the role of rich visitors and the other will be shown the sights that the poorer guests would see. We don't expect you to conduct yourself in an 1800s style manor, but please, don't touch the actors and respect the artefacts. You have been chosen to be the more wealthy visitors."
Someone squeaked with excitement as they entered a large room.
"Now," Lord Oswald declared. "These aren't dressing up clothes. These are genuine clothes from between 1800 and 1832, so our helpers will assist you in changing. It is of course optional."
No one wanted to be left out as the man began handing out clothes of silk and satin. The boys and girls entered two different changing rooms and came back in full 18th century attire, apart from the headphones hanging around Greg's neck.
"This is so cool!" Sara whispered to Tali who nodded.
"I thought I'd feel like a kid playing dress up, but I don't." Tony frowned. "This is awesome."
"Now, as gentlemen and ladies, there is one more problem. A lady would very rarely travel alone, especially a pregnant lady, so..." The man took Catherine's hand and placed it in Warrick's. Both of them blushed, but the man moved on, pulling Greg and Morgan gently to the side and pairing up those standing closest to each other – Nick and Tali and Tony and Sara.
"Do you two mind being bachelors for the day?"
Ryan and Archie grinned, shaking their heads.
"Then let the tour begin."
I know there were lots of songs, but like I said, foreshadowing and significance peeps! Bear with me!
Angst as soon as I update, assuming I get reviews?