Between Friends at Malory Towers Chapter 4

Sep 27, 2003 17:14

Title: Between Friends at Malory Towers Chapter 4
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.



‘Hallo, Alicia,’ June said in her usual jaunty manner, walking into the room and putting down her suitcase. She didn't seem in the least perturbed by the glares of the older girls and Alicia marvelled once again at how very unsquashable her young cousin was.

‘Been making my bed up? Thanks awfully! Hope you haven't put on too many blankets though - it's rather hot for that sort of thing,’ June went on, maddeningly cocky.

Alicia felt her irritation, which had been lurking beneath the surface since breakfast, begin to take hold once more. What an awful little beast June truly was! Even after the incident last term, she didn't seem to have improved in manners.

‘You watch your tone,’ Alicia said sharply, her cold gaze boring into June's face. ‘I'm quite sure you're not too old for a spanking yet!’

June looked sulky at once. ‘You wouldn't dare,’ she said, though her voice didn't sound quite sure.

‘Oh, yes, she would,’ Betty put in, her arms still about her friend's shoulders. ‘And if she wouldn't, then I would! You've already spoilt one day for us, I'll have you know. So you'd better not have any ideas about spoiling the rest!’

June scowled and said nothing. She had not been looking forward to staying with the Johns ever since she learned Betty would be there too. For no matter how much she might deny it, June was afraid of the older girls, just a little bit. She knew Alicia and Betty would not have forgotten her sneaking last term, and had felt, much to her annoyance, a slight roll of apprehension at the thought of seeing them.

‘Sam and the others won't take kindly to any cheek from you, either,’ Alicia said coolly, enjoying the chance to put June firmly in her place. She knew her words would most likely be forgotten, or disregarded, not even ten minutes later, but the satisfaction in saying them was considerable, all the same.

June's brash attitude was a constant source of annoyance for Alicia, and especially since she arrived at Malory Towers, but it was also a source of disappointment for her. For although she never would admit it, Alicia would have greatly enjoyed playing the older, wiser girl to some eager first-form cousin.

'Like Darrell did with young Felicity,' the girl thought, quite sure she would have made a better job of it. Yes, she could have shown June all the hidden paths around Malory Towers, and passed on her most successful tricks and jokes. She could even have helped her train up for lacrosse or diving, being most adept at both.

It was jolly nice to have someone look up to you, after all - to see them hold their breath a bit when you spoke. Alicia found that Darrell was quite satisfying in that way too, but that was rather different. Darrell was a girl in her own form, with her own particular friend - the repercussions of owning such admiration, though frequently amusing, sometimes struck Alicia as tiresome and fraught. With a younger cousin, she mused, it would have been the sort of admiration to bask in only as and when she felt like it.

Still, Alicia had learned, long before June was even close to starting at Malory Towers, that this particular cousin was far too hard and stubborn to be taken under any wing, least of all her own. And so she had not offered to share anything with the prickly little girl, and told her quite plainly that she didn't intend to.

Alicia stared at June now with renewed dislike, but predictably, the girl's face lit up at the mention of Alicia's brother.

‘Where is Sam? I haven't seen him yet - or any of the others!’

Alicia snorted. ‘Keeping out of your way if he knows what's good for him,’ she said smoothly, and felt Betty suppress a laugh behind her. June reddened and opened her mouth to speak when a voice interrupted the proceedings.

‘Now, then, what do we have here?’

Mrs Johns appeared in the doorway and flicked her eyes over the three girls. Gracious! It seemed they had already started the petty spats, and with June only just arrived! The woman quickly took in the scene and knew she was not wrong.

There on one side of the room stood Alicia, staring at June with rather hard eyes. With her was Betty, and Mrs Johns couldn't help but notice the girl was rather draped across her daughter. More importantly, though, she seemed to have a very sly look on her face, exaggerated as ever by her unruly fringe.

June was staring back at the pair with a pink face and defiant chin, but her hand, shaking ever so slightly, gave her away. Her aunt knew that the first-former was not as bold as she liked others to believe, and especially not where Alicia was concerned. Mrs Johns sighed inwardly, and took charge of the situation.

‘There you are, Alicia,’ she said briskly. ‘I'm glad to see you've done the bed nicely. Now, you and Betty can run along, but don't go too far, for goodness' sake! I'll want you to look after June for me once she's finished unpacking.’

As if on cue, Alicia and June scowled in perfect unison. It was such a comical sight that even Betty might have laughed if only she wasn't so dismayed by Mrs Johns' words. Look after that pest for the whole afternoon! Betty wanted to howl. She wouldn't let Alicia know how disappointed she was - for it shouldn't help the situation anyway! - but at that very moment Betty Hill was simply furious with June, and the timing of her trip, and her little brothers and simply everything!

She had been so looking forward to just being with Alicia! The idea of sharing her with June, of all people, held very little appeal indeed. And it wasn't even the prospect of sharing Alicia's attention that so aggravated Betty. She never minded Alicia's other friendships - and nor did Alicia mind hers - because, after all, they knew that they liked one another best. Their friendship was rather different to that of Sally and Darrell, or Irene and Belinda!

Alicia and Betty had never spoken about it, but somehow both girls knew things weren't the same anymore. They hadn't been the same since that day, several months ago now, when Betty had reached across and pressed her mouth to Alicia's. She had drawn back with her lips dry and her eyes bright to see her friend looking rather queer. What a scream to think of it now! In truth, though, she recalled feeling distinctly mirthless at the time.

Betty didn't know exactly what had possessed her to do such a thing then, but nor did she care very much. She had done it and was glad. Life had flowed with a sort of sweet - and wicked - secrecy since that day. And though Betty didn't dwell on this either, part of her was aware of an increasing, and overwhelming, wish to be as close to Alicia as possible.

And so the pair would curl up in their secret places at Malory Towers, and talk and laugh and press their lips tightly together over and over. Alicia shot sly winks at Betty across the classroom or in the chapel, and Betty returned them with a wicked grin. They suppressed giggles in the corridors. No-one had ever told Alicia or Betty that they oughtn't be so familiar, but somehow both girls knew that too.

And now June had arrived and would prove yet another means of interruption! Bother! Still, as there was nothing to be done about it, Betty slipped her arm from Alicia's shoulder and took her friend by the hand instead.

‘Let's go down to the orchard, shall we?’ she said in a low voice. ‘It's been simply ages since I climbed an apple tree.’

‘Yes, jolly good idea,’ Alicia replied, glad of both Betty's hand in her own and to be getting away from her irksome cousin.

The pair headed towards the door, and Mrs Johns nodded at them over June's suitcase before remarking, ‘I don't expect to see any damage to my apple trees either, Betty Hill!’

Alicia and Betty looked at the woman, and saw that her eyes were twinkling. They grinned back at her.

‘Oh, you certainly shan't see any damage, Mother,’ Alicia said in a smooth tone, and with that the girls fled giggling down the hall.

Mrs Johns shook her head, and began laying out June's clothes for her to put away.

‘Don't take any notice of Alicia, will you dear?’ she said in the same brisk voice, though there was a hint of a smile at her mouth. ‘She's been looking forward to seeing Betty ever since school broke up, I daresay - and she doesn't want to think of anything else just yet!’

‘I shouldn't let Alicia or Betty bother me if they tried!’ June replied huffily, and turned away. Her aunt shook her head slightly - would the girl never realise that being hard and rude grew tiresome rather quickly?

She gave June a stern look and waited for the girl to look up. There would be no sulking and bitterness in her household, that much she did know! June felt her face turn hot under her aunt's gaze, and after a minute returned it rather nervously. She liked her aunt very much, but was more than aware of her no-nonsense ways - she had been the target of that sarcastic tongue before!

However, when June looked at the woman's face, she didn't see anger or irritation, as she had expected. Instead there was a rather thoughtful expression that made June feel more nervous than ever!

Mrs Johns had been on the verge of saying a few short, sharp words to June about manners when something stopped her. After all, hadn't she been just as brash and don't-carish when she was thirteen? The woman saw herself in both Alicia and June - the similarities were glaringly obvious - but there was a difference in June. She had noticed it gradually over the years and puzzled over it. For although Alicia and her mother were absolutely straight in all dealings, no matter how severe the consequences might be, June was not.

And so it was with this in mind that Mrs Johns halted delivery of a stinging reprimand, and took a different approach. Perhaps, she thought hopefully, if June were shown a little encouragement and fairness, she might become rather less hard and sulky. Certainly the opposite had not worked so far!

‘Have you a particular friend at school, June?’ Mrs Johns began pleasantly. As she spoke, she checked the compartments of the suitcase for any hidden items, and so did not see the rueful look that passed, however briefly, across June's face.

It was quickly replaced by one of defiance.

‘No,’ June said shortly, reminding herself again that she didn't need friends at all. ‘I was friendly with one or two of them, you know, but I don't much care to have a particular friend.’

Mrs Johns looked around in surprise, and June scolded herself silently. Oh, blow! That sounded completely wrong! The girl felt herself going pink, and wished she could take back all the words at once. She had wanted to sound casual and unconcerned, but somehow, with her sneering, tight little voice, it had sounded like she cared very much indeed!

‘I used to think like that,’ her aunt said unexpectedly, and June forgot her annoyance to stare in astonishment. ‘Yes, I did! I thought it didn't matter whether I had friends or not, as long as I was first in the yearly exam and lacrosse. I didn't even play tricks when I started at Malory Towers - imagine that!’

But June couldn't imagine it, and told her aunt so.

‘Well, it's true,’ said Mrs. Johns, chuckling. ‘But I soon learnt that things are much more fun with two, June - and you will too!’

And with that, Mrs Johns gave June a warm smile and went out of the room. The girl stared after her, torn between resentment and gratitude. Her aunt was kind, and probably right - June knew that by herself - but things weren't quite so easy as she made them sound.

After all, she hadn't been sent to Coventry by a group of first-form babies. Nor had she been trailed around by that silly, adoring Felicity Rivers, only to be dropped at the slightest sign of trouble! June couldn't stop a sneer from crossing her face at the thought of Felicity and her new friend Susan.

'Everyone calls Felicity 'decent' and 'sporting', but I don't think she is at all,' the girl thought fiercely. 'A truly decent sort would stick by her friend, no matter what!'

Poor, stubborn June! She didn't want to remember what had really happened to make Felicity despise her. It was a great pity that she didn't, for if she had recognised how truly horrid her actions were and apologised sincerely, Felicity might have been tempted to take her back. Still, it was Too Late now. The only thing June honestly regretted was being caught, and that didn't make her popular with anyone.

A sudden shriek of laughter from outside startled June from her thoughts, and prompted her to move to the window. Not out of curiosity, for she knew it would be her cousin - with her friend - but something else. The sound niggled her for some reason. Rather, June realised now, it reminded her of the scene she had intruded upon not half an hour ago.

The girl scanned the garden and the paddocks, and then, seeing nothing, let her gaze fall upon the small, dappled orchard. Yes, there they were! She could just see Alicia, lying back in the unkempt grass and laughing gaily. June narrowed her eyes. Betty was there too, sitting beside Alicia and leaning close, whispering in her ear.

It was the sort of moment between special friends that June dearly wanted for herself, deep inside, but before the familiar jealousy could wash over her, she saw something that made her blink furiously. Twice, to make sure she wasn't seeing things! Surely, surely she was!

But she wasn't. There it was, plain as day! June's mouth went quite dry, and she whirled guiltily at a sudden noise behind her as though she had been caught cheating by Mam'zelle Rougier! No-one was there. June turned her eyes back to the orchard.

And Betty was still there, leaning close to Alicia. Just as June had thought, her lips were no longer by the girl's ear, but instead pressed firmly against her mouth.

END CHAPTER FOUR

fic, blyton, between friends, blytonfic

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