Everyone went off to get Changed, they met back downstairs for Lunch, and were soon ready to go out, they had their wet suits on and walked out to the two minibus's, they got into them and drove to a river with a bridge over it.
"All right my group, we will go first" the instructor said to Rachels group, he handed then all harnesses, "Miss Mason, will you be joining us" he asked.
"Of course, I wouldn't be wearing this unflattering suit for nothing" he handed her a harness too.
"Now, what I want you to do, is to Abseil down this bridge and into the water" he called "So, who's up first" No one would do it, everyone was terrified.
"Ok, I'll go" Rachel said, just to show the kids their was nothing to be scared of, and if she did it , there was no reason why the other couldn't. A couple of seconds later she was down and in the extremely cold river.
"Is it Cold?" Holly called.
"Yeah, freezing, now whos next"
"I'll go" holly said and a couple of seconds later she was joining her mother in the ice water. Karla braved it and came next, she felt so glad that she had done it, and finally Aimee came in, the boys were still terrified.
"Come on boys" Rachel said, "if we can all do it you can too"
"Fine" Phil said and followed the rest down, Paul and Bolton finally did it too.
The instructor whispered to Rachel "Do they know they are going to be going down that Waterfall next"
"I don't think so, lets just keep going" Rachel suggested.
"Right, now, what I want you all to do is to get a kayak, and go down this rapid"
"No way" Bolton and Paul cried
"Oh come on, stop being such a wimp" Holly said teasingly to her boyfriend.
"Fine, you do it first" he said and Holly swam over the the Kayak "Ill go first" she said as she climbed in and off she went. She was half way down when it happened, it capsized, she tried to grab onto a rock, which she managed, but it was so cold and for a few seconds she couldn't breath. She finally inhaled a sharp breath, and looked round to her Mother who had tried to get down, but the water was too deep, the instructor had managed to get there from the other side.
"Are you Ok" he asked her.
"Yeah fine, how can I get out thought"
"All right,you need to climb out, it's a bit of a climb, but you'll be fine" he clipped a rope to her and she climbed out the River embankment.
"How do I get back in" Holly asked
"Either Climb in downstream from the rapid, or you can go back in via the bridge and come down the rapid again"
"Downstream" she said not wanting to go down the rapid again.
"Miss" Paul said, "how do we make sure that we don't do that?" he asked
"It just happens sometimes Paul"
"Well it ain't happening to me" Bolton said, I ain't going down"
"Bolton, the only way out is to go down, or climb up that bridge or down the rapid" Rachel said as Bolton groaned, he didn't want to admit he was scared, so he'd have to do it.
Everyone else managed to get safely to the other side without incident. Now it was time for Abseiling down the waterfall.
Rachel arrived lastly at the other side of the rapid.
"Are you OK" she said to her daughter whilst putting an arm around her.
"I'm fine, just a bit cold, but I'm guessing that once we abseil down the waterfall, your all going to be just as wet as me"
"Holly, how did you know about the waterfall?" Rachel asked
"Oh come on, you don't think I was going to say I would do canoyning, and not look it up first, I knew exactly what I was getting myself in for, but if an old person like you can do it, then I can too"
"Ohi, enough of the old" Rachel said to her daughter who smiled back.
The instructor quickly told the kids what they would be doing, Paul and Bolton were terrifed, they wanted them to abseil, down a waterfall, no way, it was bad enough abseiling down a dry wall.
"No way Man, I'm not doing that, get me out of here now" Bolton said
"Oh come on Bolton, your such a wimp, it's not that bad" Holly said
Rachel was more concerned for Karla, who looked a bit scared.
"Karla, it's going to be OK" Rachel reassured her "It's really safe, and just exactly like what you done earlier".
The Instructor could sense Karla's fear as well.
"Right, I want a brave person to go down first, so who's it going to be" he asked, no one volunteered. Rachel walked over to her daughter, who she was sure was the most experience abseiler out of them all.
"Honey, can you go first, I want someone down there to help Karla when shes down, if I'm up here and your down there I think it will help her"
"Fine" Holly shouted "I'll go first" so she did, she had a rope attached to her, and she walked backwards, her feet to the the edge and she leant back, still holding onto the rope, she gently lowered herself to the ground, but at the same time the rush of water was all she could hear. She couldn't look up, or the water would pour into her eyes, so she stared down. The rocks under her feet were slippery and she lost her footing, but she kept going, and soon enough she reached the bottom, she unclipped her Rope which went back up to the top and swam over to the edge to wait for the next person.
"Karla, you go now" Rachel said, she knew if she was scared it was better to get it over with, so she did. She walked backwards and got to the edge, but suddenly cried out. "I don't like it" she said "It's too noisy".
"It's OK Karla, I'm at the bottom, just lean back and walk, like last time" Holly shouted loudly from the bottom to get over the sound of roaring water.
"Your doing brilliantly Karla, and look, theirs Miss Campbell on that bridge taking your photo"
Karla closed her eyes and leaned back, she slowly, very slowly walked down to the bottom.
"That's you, at the bottom, well done" Holly said as she went over to unclip Karla and they swam over to the Edge. Soon everyone else done it, except Bolton, who was just refusing.
The Instructor shouted down that he would have to get carried out of the River and he did, Bolton walked over to the edge where someone attached a rope to his harness and pulled him out of the River.
"Aww Man," Bolton said "you lot are fearless"
"I can't believe you were scared" Paul said to Botlon
"Me, scared Nah, just didn't want to do it" Bolton said and Rachel chuckled to herself.
They all got handed some towels and went back in the bus to the Centre.
After going and having showers, washing their hair and so on they were all ready for dinner, they were all starving and ate quickly.
One of the instructors came into the Dining Room There are some Dolphins in the loch, if anyone wants to go and see them later. Holly did she loved Dolphins, so soon the entire class and teachers were out watching them. Slowly the group got smaller and smaller until only Holly was left. She loved the water, and she loved Dolphins, so she sat and enjoyed it.
The rest of the kids were in the Games room. "I know" Bolton said "lets play dares".
Some people groaned, and others cheered and it wasn't long before they were all playing.
Holly was still outside, she was thinking about lots of things and glad of the space away from her boyfriend, Cousins, Mother and Teachers. She sat on the sand looking out to the loch.
Everyone else was in the games room playing dares, while the teachers were all else where. Kim had gone for a sleep, her head was sore, Tom was outside on the phone checking up on Chlo, and Rachel and Eddie, they had disappeared somewhere, no one had any idea where they had disappeared too.
Holly came in and went into her mothers room, she knew she had hair straightners there, so she started to style her hair.
"All right, first dare" Bolton said "Aleesha go outside and run into the sea"
"No way Bolton, I'm not doing that" Aleesha said.
"you have to, it's a dare" Paul reminded her, and she got up and went outside and ran into the sea and back out, she was drenched before she came back into the building.
"Right Bolton," Aleesha said "It's your turn, I dare you, to get some of our clothes, put them on, and run around down the street where the houses are and shout Im gay Im gay"
"What, no chance, I'm not Gay"
"no one is saying you are Bolton, but it's a dare, you have to do it" Paul said.
"Right, fine" Bolton said as Danielle and Aleesha ran to their room to get some clothes for him, Botlon put the dress on and ran out the building into the street, shouting as the girls snapped some photos and got a video of him.
He arrived back and took the clothes off and sat back down.
"Right Paul, your turn, you have to kiss Tasha Lefton" Bolton said.
"I can't do that, what about Holly?"
"It's a dare Paul, you have to do it" Bolton repeated Pauls earlier words.
"No, he doesn't" Aimee and Phil both said.
"Fine" he said as he started to kiss her, it was a good kiss, but it wasn't his Holly, he loved his holly and this was jus some girl, he was hating it.
"Right, I think you should stop now" Philip said
Paul pulled away from Tasha, "can we please not tell Holly everyone" he asked
"What, no way, he kissed someone else, I'm telling her" Philip said
"What Phil, not don't" Aimee said, it was just a kiss, and you don't want to upset her, do you.
"But, look, they have filmed it" Phil pointed over to some girls, "she's going to find out"
Aimee knew he was right, and they thought they should tell her when they see her.
"Right Philbo, your turn" Danielle said
"Right, what am I don't then, streaking down the corridor or something" he joked
"Em no, gross" Aimee said "I haven't seen you naked since we were like 5 let's keep it that way"
"No, I think you should do an impersonation of Mr Clarkson, very loudly on that table" Danielle said as she noticed Mr Clarkson on his way in.
"Fine" Phil said standing on the table "My names Tom, and I love Woman, not just any Woman, but Woman who work at school. First there was Lorna, she died, then there was Izzie, she died too, and then there was lovely Miss Shakelton, now what happened to her"
"ENOUGH" Tom shouted "You, come with me" Tom said to Phil "the rest of you get to bed".
Phil followed Tom "What they hell was that all about" Tom asked
"Sorry Sir, it was a dare" Philip said as they walked into Rachel.
"Tom is everything OK" Rachel asked.
"The Kids, they were playing dares, this one was pretending to be me, going on about Izzie and Lorna dying and wondering where Davina was"
"Look, I'm Sorry all right" Phil said worriedly.
"Phil, you come with me, I'm Sorry Tom"
Philip followed Rachel "Where are we going Aunt Rachel?"
"To my room to have a chat" she replied
Rachel opened her room door to find Holly there, with hair straightners on.
"Mum, I was just, em" Holly said before Rachel interrupted her.
"You what, just thought you would break the rules and use hair straightners"
"Yeah Mum, cos your doing it, and you weren't supposed to use them either, one of the Centre rules" Holly said
"Fine, but this is your last time using them" Rachel warned, now off you go, Philip and I need to have a chat" Rachel said.
"Rachel, please, I didn't really do anything, just a stupid dare"
"Its not what you did Philip, but what you said, now tomorrow please apologise to Mr Clarkson tomorrow, off you go"
Philip left and found Holly outside.
"Holly have you seen Paul?" Philip asked
"No, not in ages, why"
"Look, it was just a dare, but I think you should find out, Paul kissed Tasha"
"Oh Philip are you sure"
"Yeah, he did it, look ask anyone else if you don't believe me"
Holly looked and seen Paul coming into the room.
"So, is it True, did you kiss that slag" Holly said to Paul
Eddie could hear the commotion outside and came into the room.
"What's going on" Eddie asked as Holly started to cry and ran to him.
"Holly, what's wrong" Eddie asked her.
"Paul, he kissed someone else" she said starting to cry.
"I didn't mean it, Holly please talk to me" Paul said
"No, just leave me" she screamed and ran into her room.
"Please Holly" Paul shouted running after her.
"Ah, No you don't" Eddie said "she doesn't want to talk to you, you heard what she said" He blocked Paul from going into the girls corridor.
"But, I love her" he said, he was visibly upset, he never meant for this to happen, and he knew exactly who was to blame.
"Well you should have thought about that before getting off with her" Philip reminded, although Paul didn't need reminding.
"Look Paul, I'm pretty sure that Holly likes you, but she is upset, and the best thing you could do is give her some time to cool off, besides its time for you all to be getting ready for bed, so off you both go" Eddie said and pointed the 2 of them through to their own rooms.
Holly ran into her bedroom, she as angry and slammed the door shut.
"Oh, I take it you heard about Paul and Tasha" Aimee said
"And what, were none of you going to tell me" Holly said angrily.
"I haven't seen you yet" Aimee said "But I know your upset, and if its any consolation, he didn't want to do it".
Holly was trying her hardest not to cry, she didn't want them to know she was upset, but she just wanted them to leave her be, but no, they were all going on giving their own pieces of wisdom.
"You should dump him" Michaela said
"Yeah, I mean he's an idiot" Danielle said
"Come on, it's Tasha, which boy wouldn't shes so hot" Aleesha said.
Eddie walked through the girls corridor and knocked on Rachels room door.
"Come in" she called expecting it to be one of the girls, although she was pleasantly surprised when she seen Eddie come in"
"Are you back for more" Rachel said laughing as she kissed him.
"Rachel, I'm here about Holly"
"What, why is she Ok" Rachel asked concerned.
"Yeah, she's fine, but Paul, he kissed Tasha Lefton, and I think she is a little upset"
"He did what, I warned him not to hurt her, why the hell did he do that, and with that little slapper" Rachel said
"Rachel, that doesn't sound like you to judge a student"
"I know, I don't mean it, I'm just angry, I better go see if shes OK, Thanks Eddie".
Rachel left her room, she needed to check on the girls anyway, give Holly and Karla their medicine. She knocked on their door and waited till they said she could come in. She immediately turned round to her daughters bed, she was pale and could tell she was upset. Rachel sat on her bed and Holly threw her arms around her, she couldn't keep the tears back now.
"Mum, Paul he …."
"I know honey, you go through to my room, I'll be there soon" Rachel said, and Holly left her bedroom taking her duvet with her.
"Shes really sad Miss" Karla said as Rachel handed her, her medicine.
"Yeah, she is" Rachel replied.
"Pauls a dweeb" Aimee said
"All right honey, that's enough, now time for lights out"
Rachel kissed Aimee and turned the lights out before leaving the room. She went into her room and found Aimee on the bed opposite the one her Mother had been using.
"Mum, why did he do it, am I not good enough for him" Holly said.
"Oh Darling, you are good enough for him, too good for him"
"Are you glad we split up?"
"No, and have you split up yet?" Rachel asked
"I don't know, what should I do, I still Love him" Holly sighed, she was so confused.
"I think you need to talk to him, find out what happened" Rachel said.
"Mum, Dad, he had an affair didn't he?" Holly asked, she had heard people talking about it before, and could vaguely remember the arguments, even remembered Aunt Mel being at her house all the time when her Mum was out.
"Who told you that?" Rachel asked, she had always try to hide this from her daughter
"I just remember some stuff, that's all, I remember you and Dad arguing, and Aunt Mel was at our house all the time. He had an affair with her didn't he"
"Yes Holly, he did, I didn't find out about it for a long time and when I did, well I took him back"
"But he did it again, didn't he?"
"Yes he did, but no matter what your Dad did, he loved you"
"Mum to Philip and Aimee know?"
"No, and right now I don't think they need to do they" Rachel said
"Well, it's the truth, lies and secrets always come out, surely it's better to tell them"
"OK, but honey lets do it at home, at least OK, now you and Paul, you know I do believe that he is actually very sorry, and I'm certain that this is a one off, I think he really does love you"
"So, I should give him a second chance"
"That's your decision, have a sleep and try and think about it, now close your eyes and go to sleep"
Holly shut her eyes, but something was niggling at the back of her mind.
"Mum are you awake" Holly whispered not wanting to wake her mum up, but hoping she was still asleep, there was something she wasn't quiet getting. She took her locket off and looked at the photo inside, it was her Dad. Now everything was clear. Rachel stirred in her sleep, still in a deep sleep so Holly crept out of the room and into her own room, she seen Aimee sleeping she too was sound, she grabbed her phone.
"Meet me in the games room, we need to talk" she sent, she felt her phone vibrate instantaneously and looked at the reply. "On my way XX"
Holly crept out of the room, down the corridor to the TV room where she met Paul coming out of they boys corridor.
"Hay" he whispered, they were still very close to the bedrooms.
"Lets go downstairs where no one can hear us" Holly said and Paul followed behind. They got to the games room and Holly sat on the couch with Paul next to her.
"Look Holly, I'm really really sorry, about what happened" he said, Holly could tell he was upset, he was actually sorry for what he had done.
"Paul, do you love me, I love you, I really do, that's why I'm so upset, I mean if I didn't really love you, then I wouldn't really care, but I do love you"
"So, are we Ok" he asked
"No, we are not OK, promise me, you won't do it again, I mean really promise me"
"I won't it was just Bolton and his stupid dare, I don't know why he asked me to do that anyway"
"Cos he's an idiot, and you, your as bad for doing what he tells you" Holly said
"Yeah, whenever we are in trouble, its always him that causes it" Paul admitted.
"Well, doesn't that tell you something, anyway I'm not going to tell you who your friends can be, but you do owe me some sucking up I think presents maybe, dinner, movies, you know the score"
"Yeah, whatever, I'll do anything"
"Anything, Can I have a good night kiss then, and make it a good one" Holly said
Paul moved towards here and kissed her, it was a good one all right.
Rachel woke up, she looked over to Holly's bed, there was no one there, she got up and went into the girls room, they were all fast asleep, but Holly was not there. So Rachel went down stairs, it was quiet, but the lights were on in the games room, and there she was with Paul, kissing him, she smiled glad they had made up, but at the same time they were supposed to be in bed.
"Ahm" Rachel said so they knew she was there.
"Mum, I just wanted to talk to him, and we've sorted things" Holly said
"I'm glad" Rachel said "but, its late, so off you both go to bed" Rachel said and Holly followed her Mum up to her room.
"Mum, you know Dad and Aunt Mel, when did they have an affair?" Holly asked
"Darling it was a long time ago, and it's late, now go to bed" Rachel said, she didn't want to talk about Mel and Rupert, she knew what Holly was getting at, and yes she had though the same, she still didn't know the answer and liked it that way.
Holly went to sleep and the next morning they had to pack, they were all going home. Holly went through to her room and started to pack her case, Rachel did the same and it wasn't long before Eddie was packed and in Rachels room again.
"So, how's?" Holly he asked.
"She's made up with Paul, but theres something else, Eddie, if I tell you, will you promise not to say anything at least yet"
Eddie could tell she was upset, there was something annoying her.
"What's wrong, come on you can tell me" Eddie sat on Rachel's bed and patted the space next to him for Rachel to sit.
"My husband, Rupert, he had a few affairs, when I say a few I mean like 3 or 4 over our time together, I was too scared of being on my own, so I just let him away with it, you have to understand I was weak back then"
"Oh Rachel, that's terrible, I promise you, I will never"
"No, I know that's not the problem, it was Mel, she was with him all the time, I forgave her, I needed my sister"
"Melissa, does she just ruin everything" Eddie said angrily.
"Well, the thing is, Mel and her Husband, they had been trying for kids for a while, and nothing happened, and Rupert, well he had twin brothers" Rachel paused "Can you see where I'm going"
"Yes, I think the twins are Rupert's kids, meaning Holly's brother and sister"
They got onto the bus, Holly and Paul were sitting on the back seat together and Rachel and Eddie were on a seat close to the front holding hands where no one can see them.
They finally arrived back at school and once everyone was picked up by parents, they all went back home in Eddie and Rachel's cars and went home
"Right Kids, it's time for bed" Rachel said "Oh, and Eddie's staying tonight if that's OK"
Aimee hugged her aunt and went to bed as did the others.
Eddie and Rachel went up to bed, they didn't go to sleep straight away though.
The next day they all arrived at school, a tanoy system had been installed, and Rachel was having great fun calling Eddie to her office at least once every half hour, she was missing him, so wanted to do it again, she pressed the on button.
"This is Miss Mason, would Mr Lawson please come to my office" she spoke.
Holly was in Maths with Eddie, she looked at Aimee and laughed.
"And what are you laughing at Miss Mason" Eddie said to Holly
"Me, nothing, just you getting called like a little puppy dog, you better not keep her waiting" she said laughing again.
Eddie glared at her.
"Just you get on with your work and that goes for all of you, test time tomorrow remember" Eddie said leaving the class. Once everyone was sure Eddie was gone, the class erupted into laughter and talking.
"Is there something going on between your Mum and Lawson?" Bolton asked
"What don't be stupid" Holly said.
Eddie walked into Rachels office.
"All right, what do you want this time, my kisses or my body" Eddie said as Rachel laughed.
"Actually, I wanted to ask you about Holly?"
Rachel pushed her paperwork to the side accidently pressing the tanoy on.
"Holly, Rachel, she's fine, why?"
Holly and everyone else in the schools ears pricked up to hear what was going on, they were sure they were not meant to hear this
"I just was wondering, I think she has an idea somethings not right, you know with Mel and Rupert, and I think the twins deserve the truth, I just don't think it's my place to tell them what might or might not be true"
Aimee looked at Holly "What is she talking about?" Aimee asked Holly
"My Dad he had lots of affairs, one with your Mum" Holly whispered back
"Why, didn't you tell me" Aimee shouted
"I only just found out yesterday, and got told that I was to keep it quiet just now, Mum she doesn't know for sure, shh, lets keep listening" Holly said, although she didn't want the whole school to know.
"Karla, go tell Miss Mason she's left the Tannoy on" Holly asked.
Karla got up and walked quickly to the head teachers office.
"If you think Rupert is their father, maybe you should tell them? Eddie said
"What the fuck, No, Holly, you never told us that" Philip said
"I didn't know, I just knew your Mum and my Dad had an affair, I thought it was after you were born"
"I think Miss Mason and Miss Ryan like sharing" Aleesha said.
"Shut it" Aimee shouted,
"I don't know if he is or not, before he died they both said that they were definetly not his, I got back together with him and had Holly, then when he died 4 years later, Mel admitted that they were possibly his"
"I've heard enough" Phil said and stormed out the class, he passed an empty class room and seen no one there, he could listen in peace there, and besides Karla would be there soon and stop it anyway"
"I don't even care" Aimee said, "I never had a proper Dad, what difference does it make"
"Aimee, we're still OK, right, I mean if anything we might be sisters" Holly asked
"Yeah, course we are, you've always been like my sister anyway" Aimee said
"Miss, that Tanoys still on" Karla said as she came running through the door.
"Oh no" Rachel said placing her head in her hands.
"All right, Thanks Karla" Eddie said. "Rachel I better get back, do you want to come take the kids out?" Eddie asked.
"Eddie can you just send them to me, I don't think I can face the school yet" Rachel said, and Eddie left for his class.