Chapter Text
“Outer perimeter has been breached; our guests should be at the main gates any minute.”
Polly’s voice echoed around the command centre, which more often than not doubled at the ICT labs on the ground floor. Kelly readjusted the headset before speaking aloud to the girls stationed in the room and others spread around the school connected via their own headsets.
“All right girls, everyone to their places. Remember to keep to the plan and can someone check up on Tabitha, make sure she doesn’t start up before I give the signal.”
Kelly stood in the command centre, hands on hips as she watched the various monitor’s sitting side by side, each and every one showing a different image. The approach to the school, reception even Miss Fritton’s office all laid out ready.
“On it Kel,”
One of the younger girls said before disappearing out of the room.
“The gates have been breached, T-minus 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 show time,”
Polly’s count down was in perfect time with the Rolls Royce pulling to a stop at the school entrance.
“Seconds years to their places, remember to stay out of sight.”
The command was given and the remaining second years filed out of the room to take position on the main stair case, just out of sight. On one of the monitor’s Kelly watched as a man that looked remarkably like Miss Fritton, exited the car followed by what must have been Annabelle. Kelly withheld the groan at the sight of the girl, who looked so straight laced she put even the geekiest geeks to shame.
The younger girl climbed out of the back of the car using the roof as leverage, Kelly’s first look at Amelia had her revaluating the Fritton girl’s sudden relocation. The younger teen looked like she’d been a few rounds with a pro wrestler; the black eye was a deep purple shade suggesting it was very fresh while the split lip looked barely healed and ready to reopen at any time.
The Fritton trio gathered their bags and entered the main doors of the building, but not before being caught off guard by a falling desk and papers.
“Nice touch, get me sound for the hallway and reception”
Polly didn’t bother answering she just did what she was asked; the sound came to life just as Carnaby was speaking,
‘…don’t know why you didn’t make the move earlier’
Because you said it was a young offenders institute masquerading as a school.’
Kelly felt her eyes narrow to glare at the small image of Carnaby; she had already assessed his character and found him to be little more than a bottom feeding, pompous, jackass with a highly overinflated ego. She was however impressed by the world class sneer from the younger Fritton, the look of distain on the Annabelle’s face as she spotted ‘Bunny Knight’ as the first years had taken to calling was disappointing.
'This is so unbelievably low rent.’
The condescension was ignored for the moment as Kelly was focused again on the younger girl who was eyeing the confiscated weapon box with amusement.
“We’re got a live one here Polly, we’ll need to keep a watch on that one.”
Kelly murmured aloud reaching forwards slightly to lean on the back of Polly’s chair, the two girls watched as Miss Fritton’s brother tried to get Bev’s attention and finally as Annabelle wandered away towards the staircase.
“Alright second years on my mark……… go!"
Just as the girl peered up the stairway, Kelly’s carefully timed command had the girl looking up into the looming faces all looking down at her from the double stairway. The timing worked perfectly as Carnaby’s phone rang catching Annabelle’s attention and the girls who had been waiting for Kelly’s second signal melted back out of sight. The image was disconcerting and they used it to mess with new girls to great success.
“We have Miss Fritton live in 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1”
Polly counted down to Camilla’s, the conversation between their headmistress and her brother didn’t take long, mostly as Camilla brushed aside Carnaby’s attempt to gain favour and instead focused on Annabelle. Both Kelly and Polly watched as the small group chatted, smiling at the unexpected whoopee cushion caught the elder Fritton girl by surprise; right down to the confused look the younger Fritton gave Camilla’s offered hand.
Kelly swore loudly when Carnaby’s smacked the younger girl in the head and sent her stumbling, the concerned look from Annabelle who had to go and help Amelia continue to Miss Fritton’s office. Amelia looked grey, as though she would either pass out or throw up at any moment. Biting back the urge to hunt Carnaby Fritton down and beat the living daylights out of him, Kelly forced herself to continue to focus.
As the group of Fritton’s entered the office, Kelly spoke down the headset,
“Ok Tabitha you are a go on my signal,”
“On it Kel,”
Kelly barely made out over the roar of the tractor starting up and the hushed protest of the victim being forced into place. Jessica had been caught with the missing C4 late last night and the twin’s had forgone the piñata punishment when Kelly suggested a way to aid their effort to get under the skins of the new arrivals. Tabitha had traded in the offered reward for capturing the first year, to be able to drive the tractor.
While this was going on Kelly and Polly watched the monitor that showed Miss Fritton’s office, both of them intrigued as Annabelle retrieved some type of pills before forcing two on Amelia and taking one herself.
“Now Tabitha,”
Kelly gave the signal and almost immediately had to pull the headset away from her face as the roar of the tractor was drowned out by the piercing shriek’s and screams from Jessica as she was pulled behind the tractor out over the grounds and into plane view of Miss Fritton’s office.
‘Daddy…Daddy, you can’t expect us to stay here. It’s like Hogwarts for pikeys.’
Polly snorted under her breath and had Kelly raising an eyebrow in response.
“What? It’s true”
The red haired geek met Kelly’s gaze briefly before both girls returned their attention to the screens. They watched as Camilla and Carnaby bartered over fees before Carnaby finished signing the standard contract’s for both girls.
“Alright, everyone to their places, remember to get Emma in position.”
Carnaby left the office with Annabelle on his heals still trying to get the bastard to change his mind, Kelly watched as Miss Fritton interacted with the younger girl Amelia before
the headmistress handed the girl a cane to help walk with. Neither Kelly nor Polly missed the flinch the younger Fritton failed to hide or the strange look on her abused face.
“Ok Polly, I’m heading into position now, keep the link open I want to hear what they’re saying.”
Polly nodded, leaving to Kelly to slip out of the room and head to the side corridor just off and behind the main stair case. She listened as Miss Fritton led Amelia back to the hall and knew that Camilla was talking to her when she arranged for the girls luggage to be taken up to the dorm. Kelly didn’t actually need the headset to hear the two girls as they moved closer to the stair case, so she decided to forgo and trusted Polly to oversee the last part of the plan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~****/****\****~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The main door opened again and a dejected Annabelle made her way back inside, she immediately picked the two small bags up again slipping one over her shoulder.
“You can leave them, Auntie Camilla mentioned someone would come and show us to the dorm, and have our things taken up.”
Annabelle only looked at Amelia’s own disregard for that reassurance before sighing.
“He wouldn’t listen; I don’t understand why he’s being like this.”
“Honestly Annabelle I don’t understand why your being like this, do you really want to be stuck at home with Carnaby? You remember how brilliant that usually is; with how angry he is right now it’s only bound to be worse, just be grateful. I know I am, here is better than home in my book.”
The two girls began making their way to the bottom of the staircase, to wait for the escort up the dorms.
“I just don’t understand why here, he always said he’d never let us come here even when we asked…”
“Of course he wouldn’t, this is meant as a punishment Annabelle. The more you fight it the more he wins, look I’m sorry about Cheltenham; but there was no way in hell I was letting them get away with jumping you. Not after the spectacular end to last year, a month in hospital wasn’t fun you know.”
Annabelle sighed turning to look at Amelia, finally noticing the cane.
“I know, if her father wasn’t so important she’d have been expelled not us. Nice accessory by the way.”
Annabelle nodded towards the cane, as Amelia used it to reach the display cabinet.
“Thanks, Auntie Camilla gave it to me.”
“It’s Auntie now? Since when”
“I don’t know, she’s nice and she doesn’t look through me like I’m not there. It’s refreshing, there’s only so long being looked at like your pond scum doesn’t get on your nerves.”
The two girls shared a sad smile; Amelia had always thought Carnaby had sent her and Annabelle to Cheltenham because of the sheer animosity between them and St. Trinian’s. The two girls may not have ever attended their aunt’s school until now but they were Fritton’s. If you can’t beat the crap out of the rival school, beating the crap out of the headmistress’s nieces for that rival school will do just fine.
Annabelle with her once adventurous nature was left a meek shell having been mentally and emotionally beaten long before Cheltenham by Carnaby’s own brand of paternal abhorrence; she had withered beneath the constant stream of abuse and torment. Amelia who knew that she was too strong willed to allow Carnaby to break her, had internalised her rage and lived in a world of perpetual anger. Any trust in adult’s had been shattered soon after she started at Cheltenham and saw how badly the teachers allowed Annabelle to be treated.
In all honesty the two girls had only ever had each other to rely on; Carnaby had always been a none-entity in either girl’s lives, no matter how Annabelle longed for his approval they both knew it wasn’t ever going to come. The only regard they made for Carnaby was to avoid him if he was drunk or angry or thought you looked at him funny. Avoiding him in general had been one of the first things Amelia had learned.
The silence stretched between Annabelle and Amelia as minutes seemed to tick by. Annabelle was patiently waiting at the foot of the stairs while Amelia wandered around the displays looking at the strange collection of objects in each. Suddenly the entire school seemed to tremble as though a heard of wildebeests was steadily growing closer. Amelia began move back towards Annabelle but decided to stop at the elegant scroll of the banister. The natural flow of the wood would provide protection if the hoard of girls descended all at once
The tension seemed to build as the rumbling grew closer, Amelia watched as Annabelle gazed up the stairway. As suddenly as it started the shaking stopped and a single girl with a teddy came skipping down the stair case as she sang to herself, Annabelle let out a sigh of relief but Amelia held her breath. If there was anything she knew about St. Trinian’s it was that they loved messing with your head, Annabelle needed to remember that if she was going to survive.
The sigh of relief was short lived as when Annabelle stepped forward to move closer towards Amelia every entrance came alive at once. Where the girls had been hiding Amelia didn’t know but the execution was masterful as the girls shouting and screaming as they buffeted Annabelle. Maybe naming them a hoard hadn’t been for off the mark. Strangely enough the growing number of girls never once touched Amelia, it was so well orchestrated that she was left smirking.
Of course Annabelle was left grimacing in pain as girl after girl smashed into her jarring her ribs, she was lucky that the wrapping Amelia had done for her was solid enough to give some support but she was sure to bruise even more. Finally the hoard seemed to dissipate, leaving Annabelle turned around and the bags knocked and kicked aside. As quiet descended once more a voice sounded from a nearby, an older girl stood leaning against an open doorway
"Your old man’s roller looks like it’s seem better days"
The voice while still young had an assured quality that Amelia recognised as coming from someone used to being in charge and able to complete at that level with little effort. The girl it belonged to was stunning, tall and slim her pencil skirt emphasised her shape. While the capped sleeved shirt left open at the top with the loose tie was brought together by the choker and neat perfectly maintained bob all leant weight to that assessment. Annabelle however, missed all of this as her natural reaction to defend Carnaby resurfaced and Amelia found her eyes rolling in exasperation
“No. It’s a classic. Daddy’s an expert on the finer things. He has an art gallery in Mayfair."
Amelia found herself sneering at the mention of said ‘art’ gallery Carnaby wouldn’t be able to appreciate art as more then pound sign’s if it could jump out and tap dance. Annabelle was art illiterate, but only in the sense that she hadn’t dared form her own opinions in order to avoid Carnaby’s wrath. The older girl began walking towards them, her impossibly long legs stalking across the floor with all the grace of a hunting cat stalking its prey though she seemed to be focused on Annabelle leaving Amelia time to evaluate and assess.
“I’m Annabelle… this is Amelia, we’re Miss Fritton’s niece’s”
Amelia only smirked as her sister continued to disregard the threat this girl obviously represented. The older girl finally reached where Annabelle was stood, Amelia was torn by the need to protect Annabelle and the desire to see what this girl could really do. Amelia recognised power and who had it, and this girl had it in spades.
“I’ll have someone come fetch your bags.”
The shear condescension on Annabelle’s face almost had Amelia reaching out to smack her, ‘know your place’ had been drummed into both girls since birth while Annabelle felt the need to test that in an unfamiliar, obviously hostile environment left her baffled.
“I’m sorry; I didn’t get your name.”
My GOD Annabelle must have a death wish, either that or the mixture of pain and pain medication had seriously warped her mind. Amelia stepped forwards drawing the older girl’s intense gaze for a split second, before her gaze flickered to the cane then back up to meet Annabelle full on.
“Kelly Jones, I’m Head Girl.”
Amelia didn’t know whether to congratulate herself for pegging the girl as in charge or strangle Annabelle for the scoff at the revelation. Although to be truthful the head girl didn’t remotely resemble the slobbering animalist bitch that had been hinted towards at Cheltenham so Annabelle’s disbelief at the mix-mashed imagery could have caused the started ‘really’ of disbelief but the once over with contempt left Amelia wondering if she wouldn’t wake up one day an only child.
Kelly Jones, Head Girl walked past Annabelle her eye meeting Amelia’s with a slight nod that Amelia found herself returning.
“Welcome to St. Trinian’s.”
The Head Girl began climbing the stairs with a sultry grace that Amelia found herself admiring. Following after Kelly Amelia hobbled up the stairs, a grimace across her face, the climb up the double staircase was torture and Amelia found herself out of breath and sweating slightly because of it. Annabelle was at her side instantly fussing but Amelia snarled in silent contempt at the display.
“You alright there Amelia…is it?”
Kelly must have noticed the trouble she was having and Amelia had to fight the urge to snarl at the head girl. Weakness was not to be tolerated, and being weak made you vulnerable something neither Amelia nor Annabelle could afford right now.
“Yeah, hurt’s is all.”
“Look, I was going to give you two a tour of the school before dinner. Your beds haven’t been set up yet but if you want you can use my room to rest and I’ll come get you before we eat.”
The genuine concern left Amelia uncertain, and searching for Annabelle’s opinion.
“Go and rest, and take these with you.”
Annabelle fished the pain pills out of her pocket and slipped them into Amelia’s before the younger girl could protest. Kelly was already snapping her fingers and as if by magic two young girls appeared. They didn’t look old enough to be anything but first years; each dressed as though they had put their cloths on in the dark then found a way to scuff every available surface of them.
“Janey, Lisa I need you to show Amelia here to my room. She’s going to rest before dinner, if I find out anyone has disturbed her before then there will be hell to pay am I clear?”
“Crystal Kel,”
With a nod the two first years came over to where Amelia stood leaning heavily on her cane, one last look towards Annabelle’s retreating form Amelia turned and let the first years lead her. Obviously more stairs were involved and by that time Amelia was almost ready to down the entire bottle of pain pills if it would just stop hurting. The room was obviously a double, with a tiny en-suit bathroom, designed for the head girl to have a little privacy; it had four separate locks and a bolt on the door that had Amelia smirking even if the smirk was a little unsteady.
“Could you girls do me a favour? I really need an icepack or something for my leg you think you could do that for me and I’ll let Kelly know how great you’ve been.”
Amelia could shelve her usual attitude, hoping that she had judged how much influence Kelly Jones had over the younger girls here. They looked at each other for a minute before silently coming to some sort of agreement. One left and Amelia wandered into the room, as she slipped the laptop bags from her shoulders she spotted the small sink and the private bathroom tucked away in one corner so grabbing a glass she opened to pill bottle and shook out two. Taking them felt better this time, sans water was okay in a pinch but they left a horrible taste in your mouth and irritated your throat.
“What’s that?”
The little voice at the door asked, pointed at the pill bottle, Amelia didn’t answer at first making her way to the bed and sitting down.
“You Janey or Lisa?”
“Janey, Lisa went to get your icepack.”
The little voce now had a name but Amelia could still tell the girl was curious.
“Vicodin. Pain medication, that is very strong which I shouldn’t be taking again so soon, but am going to anyway.”
“Why?”
Amelia thought about answering but settled for show and tell instead, she managed to pull her combat boots off and slip her out of her trousers without too much effort thankful she was wearing shorts underneath. Without the black fabric however the leg brace and the mangled mass of barely healed stiches and freshly blooming bruises was easy to see. The young girl gasped but didn’t back away as Amelia worked her way back onto the double bed and the pillows that seemed to be waiting for her. Grabbing a spare pillow she carefully worked it under her damaged right knee, once she had the knee propped she undid the leg brace. The constant rubbing and pressure against the healing skin could cause as much hurt as it prevented.
“What happened?”
Janey’s little voice was quiet and Amelia sneered at the thought she could only get one word out past the bubbling rage.
“Cheltenham,”
She spoke with almost a vicious snarl, as though it was a swear word that surpassed any other. So focused on the rage inside Amelia didn’t notice the look of admiration on the first years face, she obviously didn’t know about the group of girls waiting silently out of sight waiting to gain any advantage over the new girl. And so she wouldn’t have noticed the surprised looks passed between them as they processed this new piece of information. It didn’t take much longer for Lisa to reappear with a battered icepack and a quirky smile.
“Thanks Lisa, you too Janey I appreciate it.”
The first years nodded and exited the room, shutting the door behind them before taking up sentry positions either side. The gathering girls huffed in annoyance at obviously being denied before flouncing off, the two first years only shared a glance and a grin that would have made Kelly proud.
Amelia was left alone in the quiet room; the icepack seemed to help almost instantly taking the burning ache away. Spotting the light on the bedside table Amelia slipped it off, before settling down into the bed enjoying what was bound to be the last time this year she got to sleep in relative safety.