Between Friends at Malory Towers Chapter 2
Title: Between Friends at Malory Towers Chapter 2
Series: Enid Blyton's Malory Towers
Rating: M-15
Summary: Alicia and Betty have always been ready with a sharp word for Gwen. But one warm summer evening, their jibes start a malicious chain of events no-one could have expected.
The last week of term seemed to fly past very quickly indeed. All the tension and hard work of the School Cert lay far behind the fourth form, and they determined to make the most of those carefree days. Summer holidays were the longest of the whole year and many would not see their friends again for two months.
'I can't think how these girls will survive without one another for more than a few hours,' thought Miss Williams, the fourth-form mistress, with a wry smile. 'Although in the case of Irene and Belinda, it may well do them good to spend some time apart!'
She was tidying the top of her desk in the study she shared with Miss Parker. During the course of the term, many items found their way to that desk, and at that particular moment she was staring at Irene's timetable. It had been at the bottom of a large pile of papers and must have lain hidden there for some time. Gracious, how had Irene managed without it?
Miss Williams could only shake her head in disbelief. She set the timetable aside to give to Irene at the next opportunity - along with a stern talk about the importance of such an item - and carried on with her task. As much as she felt great pride in most of her form, she wondered how they would fare in the lower fifth next term.
The mistress was not alone in her thoughts, however. Several girls were currently engaged in a conversation on the very same subject as they cleaned the North Tower common room.
‘I can't imagine any of us as seniors to the school,’ remarked Darrell, chuckling. ‘Except for Sally perhaps. You've always been jolly sensible.’
Sally made a face as she continued to wipe down a table.
‘I don't know about that,’ she said in her calm, unaffected way. She glanced across at her friend, and a sly smile appeared. ‘I rather think our head girl will make a fine fifth-former though.’
‘Oh, don't!’ groaned Darrell. ‘Even the sound of it makes me feel too old for words!’
Alicia, who had been listening to this exchange with some amusement, cocked her head.
‘Ah, but we shall have to buckle down now, Darrell,’ she began in a grave tone. ‘No more tricks, no more jokes. It's to be all hard work next term.’
She sounded so serious that Darrell looked round in astonishment. Her eyes went wide, searching Alicia's gleaming black ones for a hint of deception, but there was none. Darrell looked alarmed.
‘Surely it's not so staid as all that in the fifth?’ she asked, rather nervously.
Darrell had rather been hoping for a few terms of respite before the Higher Certificate loomed the following year. Yet it seemed there would be little chance of it if even Alicia was prepared to stop playing the fool.
The worried look on her face was too much for Irene, who did one of her explosive snorting laughs. This, of course, set everybody off, and Darrell was relieved to see Alicia's eyes twinkle.
‘No, I daresay it isn't,’ the mischievous girl grinned. ‘But you sounded so mournful about going up, I couldn't resist saying something!’
Darrell grinned back, and good-naturedly swung out at Alicia with her broom. Oh, it was so lovely to be able to stand around and chat and not have anything to look forward to except the holidays!
She and Sally had already arranged to spend part of the break together. Sally was to come and stay with Darrell's family for two weeks, and both girls were very much looking forward to it.
‘Well, we've got two months of holidays to enjoy first,’ Darrell said with a satisfied sigh. She glanced around at the others in the room. ‘What are you all going to do? Mary-Lou?’
Mary-Lou turned from where she was carefully dusting the shelves with Daphne. The girl looked happy and excited, and Darrell thought once again how glad she was that Mary-Lou now had a proper friend.
‘I'm going to stay with my aunt in Bath for some of the hols,’ Mary-Lou replied in her soft voice. ‘She's an artist, and I haven't seen her in an awfully long time.’
‘An artist?’ came the voice of Belinda, promptly followed by a loud thump!
The group looked around to see the girl sitting on the common room floor, holding her head. Her face screwed up in discomfort for a minute before she gave the cupboard beside her an irritated glare.
‘I do believe you've been waiting to do that to me all morning,’ she told it crossly, not worried in the slightest by the others' bemused faces. ‘Well, I wish you wouldn't. That jolly well hurt!’
There was a round of giggles and despite her annoyance, Belinda joined in, still rubbing her head. Irene left what she had been doing to help her up, though this nearly ended in the pair of them falling over together. Alicia's eyes were bright as she watched the riotous scene. She would miss these highly entertaining displays during the summer hols.
‘Perhaps you could have a word with my bookcase over here,’ Irene put in hopefully, as she steadied herself against the offending cupboard. ‘It's being the most awful little beast right now.’
‘What's it doing?’ asked Sally, plainly surprised. Really, Irene and Belinda seemed to get more eccentric with each passing year!
The two were very good friends, though most of the mistresses agreed they probably shouldn't be. What Irene remembered to take with her, Belinda would forget to bring back. Sally admired both girls greatly for their artistic gifts, but was privately glad she did not share them. She sometimes felt the inconveniences they caused would be too much for her to bear.
Irene snorted. ‘It looks like it has been sorted according to Gwendoline Mary's alphabet!’ she said scornfully.
Irene did not bear malice, but she had not forgotten the conversation in the courtyard a few days earlier. Nobody had mentioned Gwen's poisonous attack to Alicia or Betty so far - in part because none of them felt it worth repeating, and in part because nobody had liked to.
Alicia, who regularly had a sharp word to say about Gwendoline, did not notice anything amiss about Irene's demeanor. She grinned wickedly.
‘Where is Mother's darling now anyway?’
‘Cleaning the dormy with the others,’ Darrell answered shortly, not keen to start a conversation which might somehow lead back to that particular day.
‘Dear Gwendoline Mary,’ Alicia went on in a smooth voice. ‘I’ll bet she's looking forward to the hols. Sleeping until nine o'clock. Mother making her bed, Mother wiping her chin. It's a wonder she survives at school at all!’
Darrell frowned slightly. She disliked Gwendoline as much as anybody for her selfish, petulant manner, but Alicia always sounded so scathing. It was exactly this kind of unmerciful taunting that had led to the outburst the other day. The girl sighed. Still, what was one to say when faced with someone like Gwen? She was so very thick-skinned about her failings, no matter how easily tears appeared in her eyes.
Alicia caught Darrell's look, and gave a cheeky grin as she headed towards the common room door. ‘Never fear, head girl. I'm taking my sharp tongue with me.’
‘Where are you off to?’ called Belinda indignantly. ‘We've not finished yet.’
Alicia chuckled in reply. ‘Well, you may not have, but I finished cleaning the windows a good ten minutes ago. I've been helping Darrell with her sweeping since then.’
‘Come on, Alicia,’ Darrell said mildly. ‘You know we've all got to stay until we finish the room.’
Alicia looked impatient. ‘Well, I have finished. The windows are absolutely spotless. I don't see why I ought to wait for everybody else.’
That was so like Alicia! She was funny and clever, but she never stopped to think of those who were slower or less capable than she. Darrell glanced at Mary-Lou and Daphne tending to the shelves, and then at Irene, who was surrounded by a pile of dusty books. The girl found herself feeling cross - after all, it didn't seem fair that Alicia should leave whilst they worked on.
‘Look, I don't want to be heavy-handed,’ she began, trying to sound pleasant.
‘Then don't,’ Alicia cut in smartly. She was beginning to feel annoyed about Darrell keeping her back. ‘I've done my share - and I've helped you with yours for that matter!’
Darrell's temper flared at this brash reply. Sally saw it, and quickly stepped in.
‘Where are you going?’ she asked calmly, wanting to give her friend a chance to cool her thoughts.
‘To meet Betty,’ Alicia said, and there was contempt in her voice. ‘Any objection?’
At this Darrell could not stop the anger boiling up inside her, no matter how badly she wanted to. So Alicia was leaving to lark about with Betty! When she ought to be helping one of the others!
‘None of us is to go until the common room is clean,’ she said hotly. ‘Alicia, go help Irene with the bookcase!’
The others now watched the exchange with bated breath. Everyone knew that Alicia did not take kindly to orders, and they wondered what she might say.
Alicia gave an icy glare, always a danger sign with her. ‘I'm not a first-former, and it's the next to last day of term,’ she said stiffly. ‘I've done my share of the work, so I'll jolly well meet Betty if I feel like it.’
With that, the girl turned on her heel and walked out. Darrell stared after her, almost shaking with anger at her defiance. The sound of whistling filtered down the corridor for a moment and then all was quiet.
Darrell didn't say any more, but her scarlet face spoke for her. She vigorously started sweeping and ignored the looks being exchanged around the room. How dare Alicia walk out like that! She hated herself for getting so worked up, but Alicia often had that effect on her.
'She's too strong-willed!' she fumed silently, 'Frightfully witty and amusing, but won't do a thing unless she feels like it!'
And Betty! She was just as bad, Darrell decided fiercely, as she remembered why Alicia had left. Betty was not so clever as Alicia, but she seemed to have far less regard for authority. Thoroughly irritated by them both, Darrell suddenly felt very glad the girl did not belong to North Tower.
In truth, Darrell was disappointed that Alicia had been so cutting and don't-carish towards her. They usually got along very well, and she disliked it when they didn't. Spats of that kind made her feel hot and bothered.
She sighed, her sudden anger now quite gone. They had all been having such a lovely time together too as they cleaned the common room. Chatting and laughing and looking forward to the hols. And then one row had spoilt it all! Darrell inwardly remonstrated herself for not handling the situation better.
‘Don't look so glum, old thing,’ she heard Sally say, and looked up to see her friend smiling reassuringly. ‘You can only do so much.’
Darrell saw Sally's calm, understanding expression and felt a weight lift from her shoulders. How did the girl always know the right thing to say to her? She managed a grin and nodded gratefully.
‘Yes, you're right as usual. Although I don't know why I can't control this terrible temper of mine,’ she said, sheepishly touching the side of her nose. It was something Darrell often did when she felt sorry about something, and Sally was glad to see it.
‘Well, I wouldn't change a thing about you,’ she declared loyally. Darrell felt herself go pink.
The activity in the common room went on then, and as boisterously as it had before. There was still much to be done before term ended. Indeed, none of them had the time nor the inclination to dwell on the bitter words exchanged just a few moments earlier.
Alicia, however, had dwelled on them as she went down the stairs to meet Betty. She resented Darrell's high-and-mighty tone, and intended to be very cool indeed when they met again at supper. It annoyed her that they should quarrel so soon before the holidays, but her pride would not allow her to apologise.
Betty was leaning against one of the walls in the courtyard when Alicia emerged from North Tower. She saw her friend's grim face and immediately asked what had caused it.
‘Nothing much,’ Alicia said smoothly. ‘Darrell taking her head girl duties too seriously, as usual.’
Betty laughed and looped Alicia's arm firmly with her own. ‘Well, Miss Good-Girl-Of-The-School is probably heartbroken to think they will end tomorrow. Isn't it just like her to carry on until the eleventh hour?’
Though she was still seething, Alicia couldn't help but grin at her friend. Betty never cared at all if she was cheeky or scornful - and yet she managed to avoid rubbing people up the wrong way. Alicia made up her mind not to think about the row with Darrell, and together the friends made their way towards the playing fields.
It was their usual custom to sit beneath a very large oak tree at the end of the first lacrosse field. The tree was quite hidden from view, and there they could talk and laugh and plan all kinds of mad tricks together.
They were dismayed when Miss Williams had declared the tree to be dangerous with a hive of wild bees. Now they would have to find another place to giggle and scheme! What a bother! But they did find one, of course, almost at once. For while Gwen was spreading her poisonous gossip, Betty had caught Alicia's hand and pulled her laughing towards the old gardening sheds, hidden beyond the tennis courts.
Alicia had been doubtful at first. There was a very strict rule about girls going to the old sheds. If the pair were caught, it would mean yet another black mark against her name with Miss Grayling. Still, there seemed to be no other place where they could truly talk without one of the others popping up.
They went there now, carefully surveying the playing fields for a stray mistress or head girl. After the trouble she had already endured, Alicia certainly did not intend to be put off her fun now. Both girls slipped past the tennis courts, behind the modern gardening sheds and stopped at their new secret place.
‘Your people will come to pick you up tomorrow, won't they?’ Alicia asked, and then gave a contented sigh as she sat down on an abandoned sack of grass clippings. It was half-filled and the girls had soon discovered that it was quite soft to sit on.
Betty nodded. ‘Yes, they always do.’ There was a pause as she settled herself against the other girl, and then a giggle. ‘Do tell me, though - what was the row with Darrell about?’
‘Oh, it's not really worth mentioning,’ Alicia replied, a bit vaguely. She did not want to think about it just then.
It had begun to occur to the girl that the others might be very cool when she returned, and she would end up having to apologise after all. How irritating! Alicia's downright nature dictated that she admit her fault in the matter, but she found it very unpleasant all the same.
Betty caught the rueful look on her friend's face, and grinned. ‘Don't worry, dear,’ she said impishly. ‘They won't burn you at the stake!’
And with that, Betty turned her head slightly, from her place sprawled across Alicia's lap, and caught the other girl's lips briefly with her own.
It was a sudden, playful kiss, but unmistakably grown-up in its intention. Somewhere at the back of her mind, Alicia marvelled blindly at how perfectly identical it was to the first Betty had given her. That had been sudden too, but the feel of Betty's lips had lingered long after.
The sensation ended as quickly as it had begun. Betty's dark eyes sparkled back at her now, daring her to object. Alicia laughed softly - at the sheer audacity of it - and pulled the girl back towards her.
At once there was the wetness of Betty's mouth again, her rather dry lips parting to accommodate the slide of a tongue. It ran along her own, maddeningly evasive in its tactics, and all the while Betty's lips moved firmly between pressing and releasing.
Alicia could feel an almost unbearable warmth where Betty's frame pressed against her own. The girl was holding her tightly now, under one arm and over the other, and a pleasant shiver ran down Alicia's spine. Bursts of Betty's hot breath filled her mouth and throat in an abrupt rhythm.
It occurred to her, at one point, that her lungs had become rather uncomfortable in her chest. Alicia ignored her suffocation. She suddenly wanted to pull Betty's entire mouth into her own, however impossible that might be.
Not long after, though, they did separate. Betty was faintly pink, as she always was, and Alicia idly wondered if she too flushed after each kiss.
They sat there then, talking and laughing. Trying to remember where Betty might have left her bottle of invisible ink - ‘Oh, blow! I must've put it in the cupboard with the others!’ - and pouring scorn on those whom they felt invited it. They kissed too, several more times that afternoon. Betty's wicked grin teased her at every turn and Alicia willingly indulged it.
As they walked back towards the dormitories in fine spirits, Alicia carelessly promised Darrell her apology.
'Let the girl crow', she thought, 'Yes, and Sally - and even Gwen for that matter!'
In the splendor of that lovely afternoon, it all seemed to matter so little.
END CHAPTER TWO
Series: Enid Blyton's Malory Towers
Rating: M-15
Summary: Alicia and Betty have always been ready with a sharp word for Gwen. But one warm summer evening, their jibes start a malicious chain of events no-one could have expected.
The last week of term seemed to fly past very quickly indeed. All the tension and hard work of the School Cert lay far behind the fourth form, and they determined to make the most of those carefree days. Summer holidays were the longest of the whole year and many would not see their friends again for two months.
'I can't think how these girls will survive without one another for more than a few hours,' thought Miss Williams, the fourth-form mistress, with a wry smile. 'Although in the case of Irene and Belinda, it may well do them good to spend some time apart!'
She was tidying the top of her desk in the study she shared with Miss Parker. During the course of the term, many items found their way to that desk, and at that particular moment she was staring at Irene's timetable. It had been at the bottom of a large pile of papers and must have lain hidden there for some time. Gracious, how had Irene managed without it?
Miss Williams could only shake her head in disbelief. She set the timetable aside to give to Irene at the next opportunity - along with a stern talk about the importance of such an item - and carried on with her task. As much as she felt great pride in most of her form, she wondered how they would fare in the lower fifth next term.
The mistress was not alone in her thoughts, however. Several girls were currently engaged in a conversation on the very same subject as they cleaned the North Tower common room.
‘I can't imagine any of us as seniors to the school,’ remarked Darrell, chuckling. ‘Except for Sally perhaps. You've always been jolly sensible.’
Sally made a face as she continued to wipe down a table.
‘I don't know about that,’ she said in her calm, unaffected way. She glanced across at her friend, and a sly smile appeared. ‘I rather think our head girl will make a fine fifth-former though.’
‘Oh, don't!’ groaned Darrell. ‘Even the sound of it makes me feel too old for words!’
Alicia, who had been listening to this exchange with some amusement, cocked her head.
‘Ah, but we shall have to buckle down now, Darrell,’ she began in a grave tone. ‘No more tricks, no more jokes. It's to be all hard work next term.’
She sounded so serious that Darrell looked round in astonishment. Her eyes went wide, searching Alicia's gleaming black ones for a hint of deception, but there was none. Darrell looked alarmed.
‘Surely it's not so staid as all that in the fifth?’ she asked, rather nervously.
Darrell had rather been hoping for a few terms of respite before the Higher Certificate loomed the following year. Yet it seemed there would be little chance of it if even Alicia was prepared to stop playing the fool.
The worried look on her face was too much for Irene, who did one of her explosive snorting laughs. This, of course, set everybody off, and Darrell was relieved to see Alicia's eyes twinkle.
‘No, I daresay it isn't,’ the mischievous girl grinned. ‘But you sounded so mournful about going up, I couldn't resist saying something!’
Darrell grinned back, and good-naturedly swung out at Alicia with her broom. Oh, it was so lovely to be able to stand around and chat and not have anything to look forward to except the holidays!
She and Sally had already arranged to spend part of the break together. Sally was to come and stay with Darrell's family for two weeks, and both girls were very much looking forward to it.
‘Well, we've got two months of holidays to enjoy first,’ Darrell said with a satisfied sigh. She glanced around at the others in the room. ‘What are you all going to do? Mary-Lou?’
Mary-Lou turned from where she was carefully dusting the shelves with Daphne. The girl looked happy and excited, and Darrell thought once again how glad she was that Mary-Lou now had a proper friend.
‘I'm going to stay with my aunt in Bath for some of the hols,’ Mary-Lou replied in her soft voice. ‘She's an artist, and I haven't seen her in an awfully long time.’
‘An artist?’ came the voice of Belinda, promptly followed by a loud thump!
The group looked around to see the girl sitting on the common room floor, holding her head. Her face screwed up in discomfort for a minute before she gave the cupboard beside her an irritated glare.
‘I do believe you've been waiting to do that to me all morning,’ she told it crossly, not worried in the slightest by the others' bemused faces. ‘Well, I wish you wouldn't. That jolly well hurt!’
There was a round of giggles and despite her annoyance, Belinda joined in, still rubbing her head. Irene left what she had been doing to help her up, though this nearly ended in the pair of them falling over together. Alicia's eyes were bright as she watched the riotous scene. She would miss these highly entertaining displays during the summer hols.
‘Perhaps you could have a word with my bookcase over here,’ Irene put in hopefully, as she steadied herself against the offending cupboard. ‘It's being the most awful little beast right now.’
‘What's it doing?’ asked Sally, plainly surprised. Really, Irene and Belinda seemed to get more eccentric with each passing year!
The two were very good friends, though most of the mistresses agreed they probably shouldn't be. What Irene remembered to take with her, Belinda would forget to bring back. Sally admired both girls greatly for their artistic gifts, but was privately glad she did not share them. She sometimes felt the inconveniences they caused would be too much for her to bear.
Irene snorted. ‘It looks like it has been sorted according to Gwendoline Mary's alphabet!’ she said scornfully.
Irene did not bear malice, but she had not forgotten the conversation in the courtyard a few days earlier. Nobody had mentioned Gwen's poisonous attack to Alicia or Betty so far - in part because none of them felt it worth repeating, and in part because nobody had liked to.
Alicia, who regularly had a sharp word to say about Gwendoline, did not notice anything amiss about Irene's demeanor. She grinned wickedly.
‘Where is Mother's darling now anyway?’
‘Cleaning the dormy with the others,’ Darrell answered shortly, not keen to start a conversation which might somehow lead back to that particular day.
‘Dear Gwendoline Mary,’ Alicia went on in a smooth voice. ‘I’ll bet she's looking forward to the hols. Sleeping until nine o'clock. Mother making her bed, Mother wiping her chin. It's a wonder she survives at school at all!’
Darrell frowned slightly. She disliked Gwendoline as much as anybody for her selfish, petulant manner, but Alicia always sounded so scathing. It was exactly this kind of unmerciful taunting that had led to the outburst the other day. The girl sighed. Still, what was one to say when faced with someone like Gwen? She was so very thick-skinned about her failings, no matter how easily tears appeared in her eyes.
Alicia caught Darrell's look, and gave a cheeky grin as she headed towards the common room door. ‘Never fear, head girl. I'm taking my sharp tongue with me.’
‘Where are you off to?’ called Belinda indignantly. ‘We've not finished yet.’
Alicia chuckled in reply. ‘Well, you may not have, but I finished cleaning the windows a good ten minutes ago. I've been helping Darrell with her sweeping since then.’
‘Come on, Alicia,’ Darrell said mildly. ‘You know we've all got to stay until we finish the room.’
Alicia looked impatient. ‘Well, I have finished. The windows are absolutely spotless. I don't see why I ought to wait for everybody else.’
That was so like Alicia! She was funny and clever, but she never stopped to think of those who were slower or less capable than she. Darrell glanced at Mary-Lou and Daphne tending to the shelves, and then at Irene, who was surrounded by a pile of dusty books. The girl found herself feeling cross - after all, it didn't seem fair that Alicia should leave whilst they worked on.
‘Look, I don't want to be heavy-handed,’ she began, trying to sound pleasant.
‘Then don't,’ Alicia cut in smartly. She was beginning to feel annoyed about Darrell keeping her back. ‘I've done my share - and I've helped you with yours for that matter!’
Darrell's temper flared at this brash reply. Sally saw it, and quickly stepped in.
‘Where are you going?’ she asked calmly, wanting to give her friend a chance to cool her thoughts.
‘To meet Betty,’ Alicia said, and there was contempt in her voice. ‘Any objection?’
At this Darrell could not stop the anger boiling up inside her, no matter how badly she wanted to. So Alicia was leaving to lark about with Betty! When she ought to be helping one of the others!
‘None of us is to go until the common room is clean,’ she said hotly. ‘Alicia, go help Irene with the bookcase!’
The others now watched the exchange with bated breath. Everyone knew that Alicia did not take kindly to orders, and they wondered what she might say.
Alicia gave an icy glare, always a danger sign with her. ‘I'm not a first-former, and it's the next to last day of term,’ she said stiffly. ‘I've done my share of the work, so I'll jolly well meet Betty if I feel like it.’
With that, the girl turned on her heel and walked out. Darrell stared after her, almost shaking with anger at her defiance. The sound of whistling filtered down the corridor for a moment and then all was quiet.
Darrell didn't say any more, but her scarlet face spoke for her. She vigorously started sweeping and ignored the looks being exchanged around the room. How dare Alicia walk out like that! She hated herself for getting so worked up, but Alicia often had that effect on her.
'She's too strong-willed!' she fumed silently, 'Frightfully witty and amusing, but won't do a thing unless she feels like it!'
And Betty! She was just as bad, Darrell decided fiercely, as she remembered why Alicia had left. Betty was not so clever as Alicia, but she seemed to have far less regard for authority. Thoroughly irritated by them both, Darrell suddenly felt very glad the girl did not belong to North Tower.
In truth, Darrell was disappointed that Alicia had been so cutting and don't-carish towards her. They usually got along very well, and she disliked it when they didn't. Spats of that kind made her feel hot and bothered.
She sighed, her sudden anger now quite gone. They had all been having such a lovely time together too as they cleaned the common room. Chatting and laughing and looking forward to the hols. And then one row had spoilt it all! Darrell inwardly remonstrated herself for not handling the situation better.
‘Don't look so glum, old thing,’ she heard Sally say, and looked up to see her friend smiling reassuringly. ‘You can only do so much.’
Darrell saw Sally's calm, understanding expression and felt a weight lift from her shoulders. How did the girl always know the right thing to say to her? She managed a grin and nodded gratefully.
‘Yes, you're right as usual. Although I don't know why I can't control this terrible temper of mine,’ she said, sheepishly touching the side of her nose. It was something Darrell often did when she felt sorry about something, and Sally was glad to see it.
‘Well, I wouldn't change a thing about you,’ she declared loyally. Darrell felt herself go pink.
The activity in the common room went on then, and as boisterously as it had before. There was still much to be done before term ended. Indeed, none of them had the time nor the inclination to dwell on the bitter words exchanged just a few moments earlier.
Alicia, however, had dwelled on them as she went down the stairs to meet Betty. She resented Darrell's high-and-mighty tone, and intended to be very cool indeed when they met again at supper. It annoyed her that they should quarrel so soon before the holidays, but her pride would not allow her to apologise.
Betty was leaning against one of the walls in the courtyard when Alicia emerged from North Tower. She saw her friend's grim face and immediately asked what had caused it.
‘Nothing much,’ Alicia said smoothly. ‘Darrell taking her head girl duties too seriously, as usual.’
Betty laughed and looped Alicia's arm firmly with her own. ‘Well, Miss Good-Girl-Of-The-School is probably heartbroken to think they will end tomorrow. Isn't it just like her to carry on until the eleventh hour?’
Though she was still seething, Alicia couldn't help but grin at her friend. Betty never cared at all if she was cheeky or scornful - and yet she managed to avoid rubbing people up the wrong way. Alicia made up her mind not to think about the row with Darrell, and together the friends made their way towards the playing fields.
It was their usual custom to sit beneath a very large oak tree at the end of the first lacrosse field. The tree was quite hidden from view, and there they could talk and laugh and plan all kinds of mad tricks together.
They were dismayed when Miss Williams had declared the tree to be dangerous with a hive of wild bees. Now they would have to find another place to giggle and scheme! What a bother! But they did find one, of course, almost at once. For while Gwen was spreading her poisonous gossip, Betty had caught Alicia's hand and pulled her laughing towards the old gardening sheds, hidden beyond the tennis courts.
Alicia had been doubtful at first. There was a very strict rule about girls going to the old sheds. If the pair were caught, it would mean yet another black mark against her name with Miss Grayling. Still, there seemed to be no other place where they could truly talk without one of the others popping up.
They went there now, carefully surveying the playing fields for a stray mistress or head girl. After the trouble she had already endured, Alicia certainly did not intend to be put off her fun now. Both girls slipped past the tennis courts, behind the modern gardening sheds and stopped at their new secret place.
‘Your people will come to pick you up tomorrow, won't they?’ Alicia asked, and then gave a contented sigh as she sat down on an abandoned sack of grass clippings. It was half-filled and the girls had soon discovered that it was quite soft to sit on.
Betty nodded. ‘Yes, they always do.’ There was a pause as she settled herself against the other girl, and then a giggle. ‘Do tell me, though - what was the row with Darrell about?’
‘Oh, it's not really worth mentioning,’ Alicia replied, a bit vaguely. She did not want to think about it just then.
It had begun to occur to the girl that the others might be very cool when she returned, and she would end up having to apologise after all. How irritating! Alicia's downright nature dictated that she admit her fault in the matter, but she found it very unpleasant all the same.
Betty caught the rueful look on her friend's face, and grinned. ‘Don't worry, dear,’ she said impishly. ‘They won't burn you at the stake!’
And with that, Betty turned her head slightly, from her place sprawled across Alicia's lap, and caught the other girl's lips briefly with her own.
It was a sudden, playful kiss, but unmistakably grown-up in its intention. Somewhere at the back of her mind, Alicia marvelled blindly at how perfectly identical it was to the first Betty had given her. That had been sudden too, but the feel of Betty's lips had lingered long after.
The sensation ended as quickly as it had begun. Betty's dark eyes sparkled back at her now, daring her to object. Alicia laughed softly - at the sheer audacity of it - and pulled the girl back towards her.
At once there was the wetness of Betty's mouth again, her rather dry lips parting to accommodate the slide of a tongue. It ran along her own, maddeningly evasive in its tactics, and all the while Betty's lips moved firmly between pressing and releasing.
Alicia could feel an almost unbearable warmth where Betty's frame pressed against her own. The girl was holding her tightly now, under one arm and over the other, and a pleasant shiver ran down Alicia's spine. Bursts of Betty's hot breath filled her mouth and throat in an abrupt rhythm.
It occurred to her, at one point, that her lungs had become rather uncomfortable in her chest. Alicia ignored her suffocation. She suddenly wanted to pull Betty's entire mouth into her own, however impossible that might be.
Not long after, though, they did separate. Betty was faintly pink, as she always was, and Alicia idly wondered if she too flushed after each kiss.
They sat there then, talking and laughing. Trying to remember where Betty might have left her bottle of invisible ink - ‘Oh, blow! I must've put it in the cupboard with the others!’ - and pouring scorn on those whom they felt invited it. They kissed too, several more times that afternoon. Betty's wicked grin teased her at every turn and Alicia willingly indulged it.
As they walked back towards the dormitories in fine spirits, Alicia carelessly promised Darrell her apology.
'Let the girl crow', she thought, 'Yes, and Sally - and even Gwen for that matter!'
In the splendor of that lovely afternoon, it all seemed to matter so little.
END CHAPTER TWO