Irritation Chapter Seven (Malory Towers) by hafl
Title: Irritation, Chapter Seven
Author: hafl
Fandom: Malory Towers
Pairing: Alicia/Betty, Mary-Lou/Daphne, onesided Darrell/Sally
Rating: PG
Summary: Calm before the storm.
The next two days were weekend, so after Saturday classes ended, Gwendoline decided to visit Belinda's studio. She was still afraid of what may Alicia plan for her and wanted to hide in a place Alicia wouldn't use for revenge.
When Gwendoline arrived, Belinda was already inside, carefully arranging a bunch of dried flowers to serve as a still-life model. She even slightly smiled when Gwendoline entered, but soon became concentrated only on her work.
Gwendoline moved a chair to a corner and sat down. Since she couldn't think of anything else to do to pass time, she brought a textbook. She did not really study, she was just reading it, not really remembering anything in the book.
With Belinda drawing and Gwendoline reading, neither of them spoke. Gwendoline felt nervous about it, Belinda still seemed a little tense that Gwendoline was in the room with her. From time to time, she stole a glance at Belinda who was working diligently. Once, just once, Gwendoline thought that she had caught Belinda lowering her gaze back to the drawing she was working on.
Suddenly, Belinda spoke, “Gwen, can you take a look at this?” and pointed at the drawing.
Gwendoline got up and looked at Belinda's newest work. It took Gwendoline's breath away. The dried flowers on the paper looked alive, much more alive than any dried flowers should.
“It's marvellous,” she said, “Every single one of your pictures is beautiful.”
“Do you really think so?” said Belinda, “I think I've made the shadows on the right a little took dark. They seem to contrast too much.”
“I... don't really know about details like this,” said Gwendoline, “But this is a good drawing any anybody would say that.”
Belinda looked unsure, but didn't offer any more protests. Gwendoline returned back to her chair. She liked that Belinda asked her for her opinion on the picture. It was so much easier to be flattering when the flattery happened to be true.
Soon, Gwendoline became a regular visitor in Belinda's studio. Occasionally, Belinda asked her what she thought about a new picture, but Gwendoline's answer never changed. But for the most time, they were silent. Gwendoline read most of her textbooks during that time, though it didn't help her school work much, as her mind was usually occupied with other things such as her plan, her family and worrying about Alicia.
Then, one day, the door to Belinda's studio opened and Irene entered. She acknowledged Gwendoline's presence with a quick nod, then she began to chide Belinda for mistaking Irene's music book for her sketchbook, all of this with a smile on her face.
“Belinda, sometimes, I swear, you're even bigger scatterbrain than I am,” she finished.
Belinda sheepisly gave Irene back her music book, then, forgetting all about her work, she went away with Irene.
Was this jealousy, this feeling that Gwendoline was just experiencing? She did not know, she would have to ask Sally to be sure. She knew, that if she spoke even one cross word to Belinda, she would lose all the work she had put into gaining Belinda's trust. Not only that, but her pride was also hurt. She hoped that Belinda would keep Gwendoline's visits secret, even from Irene. This, Gwendoline had to admit to herself, was silly, but she couldn't help herself.
She sighed and got up, with all the emotions still inside her, went out of the studio, locked the door and put the key into her pocket. Again, she sighed and went back to common room, where she could expect to be reasonably safe from Alicia's retribution.
The common room was empty when she arrived. Since the day has been fairly sunny and warm, most of the girls were outside, where the short-lived snow had long since melted away. She tried to read the textbook, but had to give up, since her mind was wandering even more than usual.
What was Alicia planning? Neither she, not Betty, spoke a single word to Gwendoline since their encounter in the corridor. Gwendoline was sure that Alicia was planning some kind of revenge. Even if by some miracle Alicia wasn't planning anything, then Betty certainly was. And Betty, though less crafty than Alicia, had been no less cruel to Gwendoline.
She heard footsteps coming from the corridor and instinctively looked around for a place to hide, thinking it was Alicia. When Darrell and Sally entered the room, Gwendoline relaxed. With these two here, Alicia wouldn't dare to try anything.
Darrell and Sally took no notice of Gwendoline. Instead, they took two chairs and began to gabble about the games practices that never stopped at Malory Towers, even in winter, when everyone was always ready to run into shelter at the slightest sign of rain.
Gwendoline did not actually listen to their conversation, but she observed them intently. Just now, Sally had lifted her hand, as if to take Darrell's hand, but then hesitated and lowered it again. Poor Sally. Perhaps she was frightened that Darrell would laugh at her, since they were no longer little girls to constantly hold hands.
As the evening closed in more and more, the girls were returning to the common room. First the little girls, Mary-Lou and Daphne, quite unconcerned with what anyone might think of them. Gwendoline noticed Sally looking longingly at them, but Darrell, saying something Sally quite overheard, did not.
Then, Alicia came in, blushing slightly and smiling. She and Betty must have separated only seconds ago. She took a seat near Gwendoline and even though Alicia did not take any notice of her, Gwendoline shrunk back.
Belinda, Irene and Bill arrived together, with Bill immediately heading towards Darrell to tell her the latest news of her horse, ignoring the furious stares Sally shot at her.
Belinda and Irene also found their chairs and settled down, Belinda leafing through a sketchbook and Irene working on some sums they have been assigned. Gwendoline walked over to them, took the key out of her pocket and handed it to Belinda, “You forgot to lock the door,” she said.
“Did I? Thank you, Gwen,” said Belinda.
As she was walking away, Gwendoline stole a glance at Irene's sums, trying to remembers as much of them as possible, but Belinda noticed her.
“Do you need some help with those sums?,” she asked, “Irene can help you. As thanks for bringing the key, won't you, Irene?”
Irene seemed surprised, but did not protest. Since it wouldn't do to turn down Belinda's (Or was it Irene's?) offer, Gwendoline just murmured, “Thank you,” and went to bring her math notebook.
Author: hafl
Fandom: Malory Towers
Pairing: Alicia/Betty, Mary-Lou/Daphne, onesided Darrell/Sally
Rating: PG
Summary: Calm before the storm.
The next two days were weekend, so after Saturday classes ended, Gwendoline decided to visit Belinda's studio. She was still afraid of what may Alicia plan for her and wanted to hide in a place Alicia wouldn't use for revenge.
When Gwendoline arrived, Belinda was already inside, carefully arranging a bunch of dried flowers to serve as a still-life model. She even slightly smiled when Gwendoline entered, but soon became concentrated only on her work.
Gwendoline moved a chair to a corner and sat down. Since she couldn't think of anything else to do to pass time, she brought a textbook. She did not really study, she was just reading it, not really remembering anything in the book.
With Belinda drawing and Gwendoline reading, neither of them spoke. Gwendoline felt nervous about it, Belinda still seemed a little tense that Gwendoline was in the room with her. From time to time, she stole a glance at Belinda who was working diligently. Once, just once, Gwendoline thought that she had caught Belinda lowering her gaze back to the drawing she was working on.
Suddenly, Belinda spoke, “Gwen, can you take a look at this?” and pointed at the drawing.
Gwendoline got up and looked at Belinda's newest work. It took Gwendoline's breath away. The dried flowers on the paper looked alive, much more alive than any dried flowers should.
“It's marvellous,” she said, “Every single one of your pictures is beautiful.”
“Do you really think so?” said Belinda, “I think I've made the shadows on the right a little took dark. They seem to contrast too much.”
“I... don't really know about details like this,” said Gwendoline, “But this is a good drawing any anybody would say that.”
Belinda looked unsure, but didn't offer any more protests. Gwendoline returned back to her chair. She liked that Belinda asked her for her opinion on the picture. It was so much easier to be flattering when the flattery happened to be true.
Soon, Gwendoline became a regular visitor in Belinda's studio. Occasionally, Belinda asked her what she thought about a new picture, but Gwendoline's answer never changed. But for the most time, they were silent. Gwendoline read most of her textbooks during that time, though it didn't help her school work much, as her mind was usually occupied with other things such as her plan, her family and worrying about Alicia.
Then, one day, the door to Belinda's studio opened and Irene entered. She acknowledged Gwendoline's presence with a quick nod, then she began to chide Belinda for mistaking Irene's music book for her sketchbook, all of this with a smile on her face.
“Belinda, sometimes, I swear, you're even bigger scatterbrain than I am,” she finished.
Belinda sheepisly gave Irene back her music book, then, forgetting all about her work, she went away with Irene.
Was this jealousy, this feeling that Gwendoline was just experiencing? She did not know, she would have to ask Sally to be sure. She knew, that if she spoke even one cross word to Belinda, she would lose all the work she had put into gaining Belinda's trust. Not only that, but her pride was also hurt. She hoped that Belinda would keep Gwendoline's visits secret, even from Irene. This, Gwendoline had to admit to herself, was silly, but she couldn't help herself.
She sighed and got up, with all the emotions still inside her, went out of the studio, locked the door and put the key into her pocket. Again, she sighed and went back to common room, where she could expect to be reasonably safe from Alicia's retribution.
The common room was empty when she arrived. Since the day has been fairly sunny and warm, most of the girls were outside, where the short-lived snow had long since melted away. She tried to read the textbook, but had to give up, since her mind was wandering even more than usual.
What was Alicia planning? Neither she, not Betty, spoke a single word to Gwendoline since their encounter in the corridor. Gwendoline was sure that Alicia was planning some kind of revenge. Even if by some miracle Alicia wasn't planning anything, then Betty certainly was. And Betty, though less crafty than Alicia, had been no less cruel to Gwendoline.
She heard footsteps coming from the corridor and instinctively looked around for a place to hide, thinking it was Alicia. When Darrell and Sally entered the room, Gwendoline relaxed. With these two here, Alicia wouldn't dare to try anything.
Darrell and Sally took no notice of Gwendoline. Instead, they took two chairs and began to gabble about the games practices that never stopped at Malory Towers, even in winter, when everyone was always ready to run into shelter at the slightest sign of rain.
Gwendoline did not actually listen to their conversation, but she observed them intently. Just now, Sally had lifted her hand, as if to take Darrell's hand, but then hesitated and lowered it again. Poor Sally. Perhaps she was frightened that Darrell would laugh at her, since they were no longer little girls to constantly hold hands.
As the evening closed in more and more, the girls were returning to the common room. First the little girls, Mary-Lou and Daphne, quite unconcerned with what anyone might think of them. Gwendoline noticed Sally looking longingly at them, but Darrell, saying something Sally quite overheard, did not.
Then, Alicia came in, blushing slightly and smiling. She and Betty must have separated only seconds ago. She took a seat near Gwendoline and even though Alicia did not take any notice of her, Gwendoline shrunk back.
Belinda, Irene and Bill arrived together, with Bill immediately heading towards Darrell to tell her the latest news of her horse, ignoring the furious stares Sally shot at her.
Belinda and Irene also found their chairs and settled down, Belinda leafing through a sketchbook and Irene working on some sums they have been assigned. Gwendoline walked over to them, took the key out of her pocket and handed it to Belinda, “You forgot to lock the door,” she said.
“Did I? Thank you, Gwen,” said Belinda.
As she was walking away, Gwendoline stole a glance at Irene's sums, trying to remembers as much of them as possible, but Belinda noticed her.
“Do you need some help with those sums?,” she asked, “Irene can help you. As thanks for bringing the key, won't you, Irene?”
Irene seemed surprised, but did not protest. Since it wouldn't do to turn down Belinda's (Or was it Irene's?) offer, Gwendoline just murmured, “Thank you,” and went to bring her math notebook.