Kelly swaggered straight into an empty classroom only stopping to grab two more vodka bottles. She meant to flop down into the teacher's armchair but missed and landed slumped on the wooden floor. She slouched there drinking vodka until her throat was burning and her lips were parched. She needed water but could not muster the strength to drag herself into the kitchen. She closed her eyes sleepily but remained awake, mulling over the events of the party in her muddled mind getting more confused every time she tried to straighten it out. She eventually passed out well after everybody else at five in the morning.
The next day was slow to start with everyone nursing hangovers. Nobody was at breakfast and only a handful of students appeared at lunch. Kelly herself didn't wake until late afternoon. She decided not to get up but to wait for assistance. She remembered nothing of the party only feeling its effects.
It was Taylor who found her and helped her up slightly warily being almost patronisingly nice to her. Kelly thanked her and strode off to her room. She chastised herself for getting that drunk and losing her inhibitions. She was always very careful about her alcohol consumption but she was unsure how much she had drunken last night, though she could use her throbbing headache as a clue.
She frowned as she perched delicately on the end of her bed, trying to recall what she had done to warrant all the odd looks and careful treatment she was getting. She changed into a clean uniform and swaggered downstairs. Most of the girls were clustered around a table in a classroom talking. They stopped when they saw her and visibly shrank away from her. Kelly gestured lazily to Polly, trying not to show how frantic and confused she felt.
'What is going on?' she asked Polly when they were alone. 'What happened last night.' Polly's eyes widened.
'You don't remember?'
'No. Tell me.' Kelly commanded, her voice rising.
'You aren't going to like this,' Polly warned.
'Tell me,' Kelly squeaked.
Polly squirmed and bit her lip, looking curiously at Kelly.
'I could force you,' Kelly stated flatly, raising her arched eyebrows.
Polly shook her head and sat down.
'Well, you see,' she started slowly.
'Just tell me,' Kelly sighed.
'You beat up Annabelle,' Polly eventually blurted out.
'What? No I didn't.' Kelly stared at Polly's serious face in alarm. 'I would remember that.' She paused. 'Why?'
'She, ummm, was, ummm, well...' Kelly stood up menacingly. Polly nodded and Kelly sat down opposite her again. 'She felt you up.'
Kelly's mouth fell open.
'She felt you up,' Polly repeated. 'And she kissed you.' Seeing that Kelly was actually speechless for once she decided to take advantage of the favourable situation. 'You went mad. You slapped her and whipped her and punched her in the face.' She cocked her head, testing her limits. 'You stripped her and threw paint on her. You cut her and spat on her.' Kelly was still gawping at her. 'She spies on you in her room. Most people agree that she deserved what you gave her.' She frowned. 'You were very drunk I think.' Kelly smiled at the last part and nodded ruefully. Then she grimaced.
'I whipped her?' she asked tentatively.
A noise made them turn round. Annabelle stood there, staring shyly at Kelly. Kelly saw the cuts on her face and welts on her neck and grimaced again. Annabelle winced at the look and nibbled at her lip. Kelly tore her eyes from Annabelle's wounds and glared at the girl, recalling what Polly had told her about the spying. Her eyes narrowed and her lips curled into a snarl. Annabelle took a step backwards.
'Kelly,' she stuttered. 'I can explain.'
'Explain then,' Kelly urged her. Annabelle looked at her. 'Well?' Kelly asked. Annabelle shrugged and Kelly dismissed her with a wave of her hand. Annabelle's eyes pleaded with her but Kelly stayed firm. She regretted the wounds she had inflicted on Annabelle but she had spied on her. That was unforgiveable. Annabelle had to suffer. Kelly nodded, persuading herself not to feel guilty.