Okay, sorry for lack of updates recently. I've been really busy lately.

Hehe, I got a second piercing in my earlobe yesterday :p I was gonna go for cartilage but this girl I really hate has one, and yeah, they look cute but I don't want to pierce anything she's got pierced. Call me strange, but yeah.

I also got my eyebrows threaded today. Sounds weird huh? Yeah it kinda stung as it was the first time but you're supposed to get used to it after a few times.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed. Cyber cookies for you all :L.

Now… Chapter 9…

***

Kelly

It was a week after the storm, and everybody was definitely in a Christmassy mood. Even Kelly couldn't help but feel a little excited, despite having no family to visit.

The halls of St Trinians were strewn with various decorations and some clever person had twined the banisters with holly branches. They looked pretty, but it made holding the handrails impossible.

The schools extended holiday had begun, and until midday, there were no signs of life on the grounds - the girls were taking advantage of their free time by sleeping late - with the exception of Kelly and Flash.

Kelly hated sleeping late, as it gave her a headache whenever she did and Flash… Well Flash wanted to spend every minute he could with Kelly, so both had risen at the usual time and met on the drive.

The crisp morning air was so still it felt like a sin to break the quiet. The two walked companionably in silence for a while, before Kelly leaned over and stole a sneaky kiss before sprinting up the drive laughing, gravel crunching over her black fur lined boots(A/N: NOT UGGS).

In mock anger, Flash charged after her, much less gracefully. He caught up with her in seconds, and wrapping his arms around her, they both tumbled onto the grass, protected by the many layers they were cocooned in.

"A peaceful morning walk?" Kelly asked sarcastically, quoting Flash's invitation from the night before.

Nothing like a brisk run to get you warm," He answered in mock solemnity, although Kelly was sure that the warmth she felt was not from the run, but rather the fact that Flash's body was pressed close against hers.

"Do you remember the first time we met?" She asked suddenly, sitting up and pulling up frosty blades of grass.

"'Ow could I forget?" He placed his hands gently over hers and kissed her gently. "'Course I never dreamed we'd be sitting 'ere now," He brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face.

"That night, when you found me… I thought you were him. I thought he'd found me and come to take me away again." She stared at the floor. "I never realised before… You've always been there for me. Seriously, whenever I've needed your help, you've shown up just at the right time."

"I care about you Kel," He guided her lips carefully to his, before kissing her gently and moving away.

Kelly smiled. She felt warm to the core, yet shivery at the same time. The slid her arms around him and whispered into his shoulder. The pair sat like that for a moment before the crunch of tyres on the gravel interrupted their embrace.

Struggling to her feet, Kelly registered the presence of a shiny black Mercedes. It wasn't until the driver stepped out that she really began to panic. The man stepped towards them, smiling charitably enough.

The years had evidently taken their toll and he was wider than she remembered, but his bulk made him all the more menacing.

"Excuse me, do you know where I might find Kelly Jones?" His tone was polite enough, but he clearly meant business.

"Hello Dad."

Flash

"Hello Dad," Kelly frowned. It was in that instant that Flash recognised the man from the photograph. He had put on weight and his hair had receded, but he was the same… Monster.

Flash began to move in front of Kelly, willing to hit the man if it meant protecting her, but she beat him to it.

The crunch of her fist on his jaw made Flash wince, and he had seen a fair few fights in his life.

"Baby, please. I only want to talk." He reached out to her.

Kelly took aim again, but this time, her father grabbed her wrist, twisting it slightly. She gasped and struggled out of his grip.

This time, Flash almost forced her out the way. Even if protecting her meant taking a few blows to the head, he would willingly do it.

"You!" Kelly's father spat, his eyes flashing angrily.

"Yeah, me." Came the cool reply. "I didn't let you take 'er away last time, and I'm not letting you do it now," He felt Kelly's fingers on his arm, and he squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"You… and Kelly?" Mr Jones took a step towards the couple. "How dare you. She's half your age!" He spat.

"Half his age!" Kelly's laugh was cold and humourless. "I was younger than I am now when you started beating me. And as far as I remember you were practically old enough to be mums fath-"

His slap cut her off, and Kelly almost hissed at him. "I am not a girl any more. You can't scare me like you used to you know," Her cheek was scarlet, but she stared him out, furious anger blazing in her eyes. "Hit me again," She snarled. "I dare you,"

Holding his daughters gaze for a moment, Mr Jones took a calm, collected breath. Then he turned to Flash. There was barely a second's pause before the older man threw a surprisingly quick punch, knocking the spiv unconscious.

Kelly

Kelly crouched by hi side, smoothing the hair off his face.

"You little whore." Her father spoke with unveiled loathing. "You're no daughter of mine."

Kelly stood, shielding Flash's body. "I was never your daughter, Louis." She threw back, her tone icy. "I don't know what mum sees in you."

Kelly's father flinched at the intentional use of his first name. Then he spat on the ground vehemently before turning around.

"You could never do what I asked could you? I came to offer you a second chance at living with me" He called from his car. "I would never have laid a finger on you if you had being obedient."

She smirked. "Shame." Louis got into his car, slamming the door behind him, and accelerated back down the drive.

Nearly crumpling in relief, Kelly turned to Flash, kneeling down on the cold ground. An angry bruise blossomed on the side of his face, and she laid a hand gently on his cheek.

He opened his eyes almost instantly. "Is he-"

"He's gone," Kelly assured him. "Are you okay?" He stroked his face tenderly.

"Fine, it takes more than that to put me out of action," He winked at Kelly suggestively and she laughed.

"It's not over you know," She stared after the car, even though it was long gone. "He'll be back."

"I know," Flash stood, pulling Kelly up with him. His hugged her lightly, as though he was afraid she would break. "But you're ten times the man he is,"

"Thanks?" Kelly laughed, lacing her fingers with his. At that moment, Miss Fritton came running towards them.

"Girlie! Are you alright?" She panted, a little out of breath.

"I'm fine," Kelly smiled shakily. "But I need to get Flash some ice."

"Of course." The headmistress nodded. "Matrons… hung-over, so get some from the kitchens."

"Oh, about Louis Jones." Kelly stopped. "I think we should let the girls decide what to do with him," She smiled sweetly before leading Flash off to get some ice.

***

The school was still relatively quiet, and Kelly and Flash reached the kitchens without encountering anybody.

Taking a pack of frozen peas from the freezer, Kelly spoke. "Let's go back to my room. The Girls will want feeding soon, and trust me, you do not want to see what goes into some of the dishes here."

Laughing, Flash followed her up the stairs. In the head girl's room, Flash sank onto the bed and Kelly pressed the ice to his injury. She let the peas rest on his face for a moment before removing them and kissing his bruised cheek softly.

"Any better?" She asked.

"It is now." He kissed her fiercely, and the peas dropped to the floor, forgotten.

Despite the ever looming cloud of Louis Jones' possible return, and the seemingly endless Christmas holidays that were about to begin, Kelly had never felt lighter.

She knew what the passionate kissing was leading to. She also knew that she would never be able to go back, but she was tired of the past. From now on, she was never going to look back.

From now on, she would look to the future.

***

FIN

Ooh! I really didn't expect to finish it in this chapter. Ah wells. I'm also sorry for the cheesy ending. I've never being good at finishing stories. Actually, this has got to be the FIRST EVER COMPLETE STORY THAT I HAVE WRITTEN!

Thumbs up for me!!

Now go review and I might write another story by the end of the summer holidays. xD