FLASH

I dream they've found me. It's dark and quiet and I think I'm in the basement at St Trinian's, and they're calling- calling my name.

'How'd you find me?'

'Oh, we find everyone,' a man says, his voice is posh-like but it sounds sinister and I shake in my boots. The scene changes and I'm on the street, and people, faceless people are all around me, and there's no way out.

'We'll find you, Harry, you can't hide forever!' and they close in on me- the last thing I see is the only thing I'm scared of, the symbol of all that's evil.

The Black Jaguar.

I wake up in cold sweat and leap out of my bed, my heart hammers and I realize it was just a dream, and I'm standing in a defensive way like a right twat. I'm overcome by relief. The Black Jaguar is in the past, it's all in the past and I'm safe now. I've got me a new life with St T's, it's miles away and they all call me Flash, not Harry and I'm covered; I can change the colour of my car any old time and I can make a living easy. There ain't no way those bastards can track me down.

I lay back in my bed trying to think of stuff that'll help me sleep. My job. The innocent (don't think so) looks on the twins' faces when I tell 'em there's a problem with the Trinski. And then there's all the girls, my family, they really are.

And Kelly. Thinking about her does my head in. Her impish little smile when she wants me to do her a favour or summat.

I'll be seeing her tomorrow. I gotta ponce about as that Gerhardt mug one more time- just waltz into the gallery, pick up the cash and then…she's giving me a lift. I'm gonna grit my teeth and ask her again. Who knows- I'll have just scored her half a bar, she might go easy on me. She might even say yes.

Fat chance. But I'm still gonna try. And that's summat to look forward to tomorrow.

Summat to hope for.

TAYLOR

The party's only starting to die down but me and my mates don't wanna stop now, we just saved the bleedin' school, we should be entitled to another dance or two. I'm looking for another bottle to start on when I run into them slags- the Posh Totty, flinging their hair about like everyone wants to get stuck in it. They're giggling like kids, if I wasn't in a good mood I'd go over there and slap their smiles off.

'No!' I hear Chloe say. They're dishing the goss on someone, I can tell by their voices and I end up listening in even though I don't wanna.

'I swear, it's the truth! I heard her tell Annabelle when she got back in!'

'She isn't!' Peaches says. I'm getting impatient here. Who ain't what?

'She is!' Chelsea says. I wanna run over there and scream, 'WHO?'

'I never thought Kelly would actually accept Flash's offer!' Chloe squeals. What? Kel's gonna go out with Flash?

Chelsea looks happy she's got the news first, not that it'll do her much bleedin' good, everyone'll know by tomorrow anyways. 'Well, I heard her say that she didn't know why she agreed to go out with him, she was just caught up in the moment!'

Chloe giggles. 'She's probably going to pretend it's for business, or something silly like that, I'll wager!'

'Ooh, I wonder if it'll turn into anything!'

'You know, it could, a similar thing happened with my last boyfriend…'

Oh, shut up about your endless line of boyfriends! I wanna hear more about Kel, but the Totty have gone off into dithering slag land and I get bored of waiting and go back to looking for another bottle of scotch.

KELLY

I've finally found myself a few moments alone in the dorm- not an easy feat with this lot- and I'm left to marvel at myself, standing in front of the mirror, prettying myself up for Flash. Flash of all people!- whom I decided long ago never to get mixed up with. Being Head Girl means I have a duty to St Trinian's, and to all the girls. I have to be strong- and yet somewhere along the way, I let my guard down and said yes to him. Maybe it was the rush of adrenaline I felt after we successfully pulled off the Heist, or the fact that Flash had just embarrassed himself, dressed as a gay German for our sake, and I felt I owed him. I try to convince myself of these excuses, but neither one of them sounds like something I'd do. I'm just not that kind of girl.

Never again, Kelly Jones, I tell my reflection sternly. It gazes back at me, wide-eyed and confused, makeup and hair done with the utmost care. I've never gone to so much trouble for any reason- why now? A thought occurs to me, and I dismiss it in horror. I can't like Flash! I can't allow myself to- not that I do! I don't mix business with pleasure. And this is just business- Flash deserves something for his troubles.

That's ALL IT IS.

'Well, look at you!' Taylor lounges in the doorway with an irritating expression on her face. She waggles her eyebrows and I roll my eyes at her.

'You've right tarted yourself up, aincha?'

'Shut up, Taylor. It's just a business arrangement.' I fix her with a threatening stare, raising my eyebrows as high as they'll go. She takes no notice.

'Yea, righ'. Business arrangement- oi! Watch it!' she dodges the hairbrush I hurl at her.

I don't know why my stomach gives a jolt as I step out into the corridor- I meant what I said about the business arrangement. I can hear whispers all around me- cameras on hockey sticks lurk around doors, heads disappear from view when I come close, but I know they are reappearing once I've gone past.

A group of first years are openly discussing the likely outcomes of the evening, and Tania and Tara are blatantly taking bets. I purse my lips at them and stand there, tapping my foot until they notice me and disperse, running off in all directions in such a hurry they forget their blackboard.

FLASH

I've been waiting at the foot of the stairs for about ten minutes. A group of nitwits are staring at me. I'm still unable to believe my luck- after nearly two years of wishing- asking- pleading, even- to go out with her, she's actually said yes.

I fiddle nervously with my hat, taking it off, putting it back on, taking it off again, thinking for some stupid reason that doing this will prove that this is real, and I'm not just drunk or high or hallucinating.

'Course I know she's most likely just humouring me, 'cause I flogged the 'Vermeer' for the girls, but still a yes is a yes. Better make the most of it.

I think Camilla's come out to watch, her office door's open just a bit. And them all of a sudden Kelly's standing at the top of the stairs, and my eyes nearly pop out of my head, 'cause she's just so stunning. She's done herself beautiful, obviously taken a lot of time and I look down at myself for a second and feel like an idiot.

I'd gotten off work as early as possible and charged through my flat trying to make myself decent, and I'd ended up looking exactly the same as I always do.

Kelly smiles at me and walks down the stairs

s-l-o-w-l-y.

'Hello, Flash.'

She looks at me weirdly and I realize I'm gawping like a fish and quickly say 'Hey, Kel.'

KELLY

I walk with composure out onto the landing, ignoring the titters and giggles that come from all manner of hiding places. Flash is already there, resting one elbow on the banister, twisting the brim of his hat around.

I let him fidget for a while, watching with amusement until he looks up at last and spots me there.

I revel in his reaction when he sees me- I'd anticipated one, deliberately picking a dress I knew he'd find alluring, and I'm not disappointed when his eyes expand to twice their usual size. He's made an effort too, I can tell, and the sight of him sends a strange sensation straight to my heart. Nerves, probably.

I take the steps one at a time, trying to regain my composure and tease Flash at the same time. A smile plays across my lips. 'Hello, Flash,' I say, and his draw drops unintentionally as he flounders about trying to rediscover his brain.

'Er…hey, Kel.'

I hear a scuffling sound upstairs, and judging by the many muffled snickers almost the whole school has come to spy on us. An impulse suddenly washes over me, and, acting on it, I grab Flash's hand. I feel him jump a little, and the whispers evolve into exclamations as the girls forget they're supposed to be keeping out of sight. I grin mischievously.

That'll give them something to talk about, I think smugly, as we stroll out the front door and towards Flash's waiting car.

Once again I'm surprised at myself, sitting opposite Flash and talking away to him as if nothing else matters- as if it's all right to be mixing business with pleasure this shamelessly. Which it isn't, I have to remind myself. It's not at all OK, I shouldn't be doing this, and it's never to be repeated.

We'd clinked glasses and toasted the Heist, and though we'd been her for well over two hours now, we'd hardly eaten anything, unwilling to tear our eyes away for more than a few seconds.

I silently reprimand myself for feeling such an elated sense of happiness at the fact that I'm on a date with Flash. No, not a date, I think, a business arrangement.

Flash talks with animation. His eyes are more…alive than I've ever seen them. They sparkle in the dim light. At the start he'd stuttered frequently, tripping over the sentences but as the evening wears on, and I respond with enthusiasm he relaxes and acts more himself. His smile and voice, and the look of concentration he gives me when I talk, even about the stupidest things, all overwhelm me, and I have the sudden, burning urge to lean over and kiss him.

Kelly, I warn, don't do this. You can't feel stuff for Flash- you have to remember what's important, and by that I mean the school, the girls, and…oh, just do it, another voice in my head coaxes. You KNOW you want to.

I realize Flash has said something and I've missed it, caught up in my thoughts. Snap out of it, Kelly.

I shake my head. 'Sorry, what?'

Before he can repeat himself, the waitress, who has been giving us dirty, you've-worn-out-your-welcome-and-we-want-the-table-back looks for some time, saunters over.

'Can I get you anything else?' she says, a forced smile on her face, though her teeth are gritted, 'or would you like the bill?'

I automatically reach for my purse but before I can open it Flash has leaned across the table and grabs my wrist.

'Don't even fink about it, Kel.'

By the time he finishes the sentence I've already stopped thinking about it- in fact I've stopped properly thinking about anything. Flash's close proximity to my face drives all thoughts away, and a part of me is busy wondering what would happen if I kissed him right now, in front of the waitress.

Speaking of which, the waitress clears her throat furiously and eyes us until Flash shoves a handful of notes at her and steers me toward the exit.

I shiver a bit as we step out into the night air, and Flash's arm wraps around my shoulders. I really shouldn't be allowing this, but something strange has come over me, maybe it's the four or five glasses of wine I've downed, or something I can't quite place, but I'm losing my grip on the rational part of my brain, and the part that

Desperately

Irrationally

Longs

To grab hold of him and kiss him within an inch of his life is growing stronger.

'Kel?'

I look up at him. 'Flash?'

All of a sudden his awkwardness has returned. 'Well, I just wanna say, you know, well I never fought you'd say….thing is, tonight was so…'

I cut him off before he can embarrass himself further.

'Flash, you're rambling on…'

The spiv lowers his eyes and mutters a sorry, but my mouth has developed a mind of its own, and it hasn't finished. 'And I've got just the cure for that.'

And with that the last of my defenses crumbles, my face joins the anarchy, and my arms, and the warning signs in the back of my mind become just a background hum as I move closer and kiss him gently on the mouth.

He freezes in shock, and then tentatively, his arm runs its way up my back. The burning feeling in my veins intensifies and I twist my fingers into his hair.

'Kelly.' He pulls away for a moment, and his face is serious. 'I fought you di'n mix business wiv pleasure?' he says it lightly, almost jokingly, but the anxiety in the question is still there.

I'm stuck for a response, not sure I even know the answer.

'I…' there are several things I could say, with different outcomes, but I can't bring myself to decide between them.

'I don't consider this business,' I say finally, and leave it at that.

FLASH

I'm stunned, and I think my heart actually stops for a sec. How long have I been thinking about kissing Kelly, and she goes ahead and does it. I hadn't dared to hope for it, the whole evening seemed kind of a blur to me and I can't help thinking this is all too good to be real. I think my insides have turned to butter.

Better make the most of this, I think, and bring my arm round to her back, slowly, 'cause I'm scared if I act too fast she might stop, and let it rest just under her shoulderblades. She kisses me even harder, but as much as this turns me on I'm terrifies, 'cause this is Kelly Jones, who I love but has nothing to do with me. I have to know what this means. She grabs a fistful of my hair pretty viciously, but I can't keep on until I've asked what's on my mind. Hard as it is to do it, I move away.

'Kelly.'

Her eyes burn into me. I spit it out. ' I fought you di'n mix business wiv pleasure?'

She's stumped. Her mouth moves but no words come out.. I hold my breath. And then that wily smirk comes back.

I don't consider this business.'

I haven't the foggiest what that's supposed to mean but I don't have time to think 'cause her hand, still tangled in my hair, forces my head back towards her and we kiss again.

We just sort of stand there for ages outside the restaurant, but it's been centuries since we were in there and people are coming out what were going in a second ago.

Kelly's head is on my shoulder and she shivers, so I open my coat and wrap it round both of us.

'Warm enough?'

'Mm.'

I still can't believe this is happening. I'm here, here now, with Kelly Jones in my arms, in my coat even, and we've just been kissing and this just can't be real.

Surely this is more than just payback for the gay German thing now. She didn't have to kiss me after all. Still, I can't be sure she ain't gonna bolt from me even now. I look down at her. Her eyelids are dropping.

'C'mon. I'll take ya home.' Still both inside my jacket we hobble to my car. She slides out and goes round to get in the other side. I turn to my own door, and then I see it.

The Black Jaguar. The symbol I've been fearing and having nightmares about for three years drives past me on a white van and all my happiness fades to terror. I blink and it's gone, I can't be certain it was ever there in the first place. Just a coincidence. It gotta be. I;ve been so careful over the last three years. Ain't no way they could find me. I'm being neurotic. Ain't no way they'd even recognize me. Not possible.

Even so, I'm shook up enough to drive the long way back to St Trinian's, looking over my shoulder every few seconds just in case someone's following me.

Please tell me what you think so far!

I know it's pretty fast-paced but we need to get onto the important stuff. Oh, yeah and I dont own St Trinian's, or the characters.