What Happens at Winter Peaks (Skeith x Ava)

(WOO! Post 50!)

Reina only smiled when she heard Alison's 'thank you'. She pulled her blanket up around her body. Her buzz was all but gone but she was growing tired and didn't seem to care that she was still in uniform. She closed her eyes letting out a quiet sigh, that small smile still plastered to her face. It felt good to take the first step. Kissing Alison, even if only on the cheek, was a step in the direction she wanted to go.

Sleep took her swiftly. She slept quietly, and soundly for the remainder of the night. No dreams, no waking in the middle of the night. Just silent, peaceful sleep, something she hadn't had in a while. She'd gotten to let her hair down and have some fun, as well as sort of confess an affection for Alison. All and all, it felt like a successful day, and had lifted a great deal of weight from her shoulders.

(Hehe, hooray!!)

Alison was not so swift to sleep, she remained where she sat for some time, her gaze resting on her room mate as she listened to the gentle sound of her breathing. She was reminded again how comforting it was to have someone else in the same room. Once the young woman was certain that her friend slept, the brunette worked herself free of her uniform and pulling on a nightshirt before slipping beneath the cool crisp sheets of her bed. She sat up for some time, her sketch book resting upon her knee as she began to carefully outline the features of a woman's face, a familiar face.

Only when her eyelids grew heavy did she tuck the sketchbook beneath her mattress and settle against her pillow. Alison dreamt; happy, peaceful dreams that carried her a little later into the morning than she usually slept.

~~~~~

Rebecca and one or two other girls that had been present at the party last night were no where to be seen at breakfast, seats sitting ominously empty as the students who were aware of the situation spoke in hushed whispers to each other. They had ever reason to be concerned for at the end of the morning meal the head mistress arrived and positioned herself upon the small platform at the far end of the room, a number of teachers lingering by the exits of the hall. "It has come to my attention that students have been smuggling contraband into the school, and you are all aware that this is against our rules here at Winter Peaks. As a result, all rooms will be searched thoroughly, and any student found to have any prohibited items will be punished. You are all to stay here until the search has been completed, anyone attempting to leave will also be punished." A thin, knowing smile crept across the woman's lips as she peered out over a sea of worried faces before hobbling down from her podium and taking her leave.

The teachers remained, stern faced and arms crossed as they watched over the pupils gathered within the hall.

Reina chatted and laughed with the other girls that morning, showing obvious signs that the party the night before had done wonders for her growing frustration. She wore a soft smile, and was far more receptive to attempts to pull her into conversation. Though as the room fell silent and the headmistress took her place at the podium, she fell silent and her gaze narrowed. She should have known similar actions would be taken after the party was busted last night. Knowing that two beers, currently resided in her drawer made her nervous.

Her gaze shifted to Alison. She feared that her friend would be brought down with her for her foolishness. She decided for herself that she would take full responsibility for the beer. She wouldn't let Alison suffer the punishment that was rightfully reserved for her. She moved her hand to rest on top of Alison's as the headmistress stepped away. She gave a soft squeeze before whispering "Say nothing." She pulled her hand away and concentrated on her meal, acting as though nothing were wrong. Maybe she'd get lucky, and the cans wouldn't be found.

Alison had been sipping at her orange juice, smiling lightly as she observed Reina chatting and laughing with those that sat about them. It was nice to see her room-mate so cheerful and relaxed, and despite the presence of others the shy young woman found herself watching the raven haired girl as she talked. Only when the hall grew quiet and the headmistress stepped up to the podium did Alison tear her gaze away to watch and listen anxiously, fingers tightening about the glass in her hand. Instantly, she recalled the two cans that were tucked away with their room, hidden amongst Reina's clothing, and all the comfort and warmth of that particular morning vanished within an instant.

Already she had been looking toward her friend when a hand settle over her own, along with instructions to remain silent before Reina returned to her breakfast as if nothing had happened. Alison did her better to act naturally, though she could not help but spare uneasy glances toward the teachers who lingered within the doorways. The tension within the hall grew by the minute, small groups clustering about the tables as they spoke it hushed whispers and awaited whatever was to come.

An hour or so later, the headmistress returned looking very pleased with herself indeed as she crossed back toward the podium, a sheet of paper clutched in her hand. "The following students are to return to their rooms immediately; Sarah Richards, Casey Hamel, Rebecca....." The names continued, but Alison had stopped listening upon hearing both her own and Reina's amidst them. She hesitated, casting an uneasy glance toward her room-mate as students began to rise to their feet and reluctantly filtered out of the hall.

Without a word the brunette rose shakily to her feet and, with her head down, shuffled out into the hall under the watchful eyes of the teachers, cheeks flushed. Upon returning to their room, both girls would find the two beer cans set out upon the bed, the room in utter upheaval with draws turned out and their beds stripped down. Upon the floor lay a sketchpad, a number of pages torn. A teacher stood with her arms folded across her chest, a smirk lingering upon her lips as she eyed the two students. Alison fidgeted anxiously from foot to foot, unable to meet the gaze of the teacher that stood watching them.

Deep down, Reina knew that they'd be caught. It wasn't the first time that she'd been caught, and it likely wouldn't be the last. She rose to her feet with more confidence than than her less experienced counterpart. Her hand rested atop Alison's for only a moment before she gave a quiet nod. Returning to the room, she cracked her neck a couple times before entering, prepared to put on her best angry rebel show to keep eyes on her and not on Alison.

As soon as she saw that smug face on the teacher, Reina's lips turned into a scowl. She folded her arms, gazing over at the beers on the bed. "Well, this sure is a mess. If you wanted a drink, you could've just asked." She met the teacher's gaze with unbroken confidence. Stepping forward a step to further assert herself as the target. "The drinks are mine, I mean look at her?" She said putting Alison on display for half a second. "I can't even get her to kiss me, much less enjoy a beer." Her sentence was twofold. First to make Reina look additionally guilty, while trying to stress Alison's naivety. Her gaze narrowed after a moment. "That being said, do your worst." Her own smug smirk returning to her lips. Reina's natural born defiance of authority took hold in her effort to defend Alison from the backlash.

The teacher's smug impression remained throughout Reina's little performance, arms folded causally across her chest as she waited for the teen to finish. As was no doubt desired, the woman's gaze only flickered toward Alison once, followed shortly afterwards by a cold laugh at the raven haired girl's taunt. The timid brunette had said nothing, in fact she'd barely lifted her gaze upon their arrival in their bedroom, only when Reina directed attention toward her did she raise her eyes, expression wounded. Cheeks flushed with humiliation as she rapidly lowered her gaze again, unsure how to respond to the cold words, the teacher's laughter ringing in her ears.

"Well, you certainly haven't wasted any time making friends." A sneer crept across the woman's lips, sparing a brief glance about the upturned room. "Get this mess cleaned up, girl. You, come with me." The teacher reached out for Reina's arm, fingers intent on curling tightly about the limb to lead her abruptly out of the room and down the corridor, brushing Alison aside carelessly.

Stumbling out of the way, the teen stared helplessly after her friend and the teacher, desperate to say something, to spare Reina for whatever punishment was about to fall upon her or question why she had said such things. Yet fear held her mute and she stood meekly in the doorway, watching helplessly as the teacher half-dragged and half-led Reina down the corridor. Any students that happened to be lingering within the hallway cast uneasy glances toward the two, inching out of the way for fear they too would be dragged off to wherever the new girl was being taken.

They descended the flights of stairs that lead into the expansive foyer, nothing out of the ordinary there, until the teacher paused before a normally locked doorway and pulled it open, revealing a set of stairs that led downward into the depths of a basement. "On you go.." The teacher snapped, pushing Reina toward the doorway, expecting her to take the stairs first.

Rena was pleased when it seemed that her show had made her the only real suspect. As she was lead from the room, she looked back at Alison with an apologetic glance. She knew what she had said was cruel, but she could only hope that Alison understood her reasoning. She was really trying to protect her. As Alison disappeared from view, she resumed her typical behavior.

She looked down into the dark stairway. Clearly tensing when she was shoved towards them. "No need to be so pushy." She said as she straightened her uniform. She began her descent, with her smirk still firmly planted. "You know, with your little club house down here, we should get some drinks and stuff. Maybe we can even get some strippers? Have a good ol' fashioned christian keg party." She kept her arms folded as she continued downward. Her continued smart mouthing was really just a way of masking her concern for what laid at the bottom of the stair well. Whatever await her, she was grateful it was only her making this trip. Though Alison could be upset with her, at least she was safe.

The teacher said nothing to Reina's little quips. Her smile had disappeared yet still an air of arrogant smugness hung about her as she drew the door closed sharply behind them and followed the girl own down the stairs. Curiously, as they descended the worn wooden steps, the basement took on a distinctly archaic feel. Where electric lighting would usually have provided their surroundings with illumination, now wrought iron lanterns hung from heavy brackets, the flickering flame of candles providing a dim glow.

At the bottom of the steps the bare stone walls opened onto a corridor that led further into the bowels of the school buildings, precisely the direction that Reina was now shepherded in, the teacher ensuring that she blocked any escape should the girl have second thoughts. They came to a gate a few moments later which took up much of the passage way and provided an effective barrier - preventing anyone from entering without permission, or exiting for that matter. Another teacher stood on the opposite side of the gate, but swiftly unlocked it and pulled the heavy metalwork aside to permit them entrance, a searching gaze sweeping over the mouthy raven-haired girl.

The corridor continued for a dozen or so paces after the gate, before a rather solid looking door prevented any further investigation of whatever awaited beyond. "She's the last." The teacher behind Reina commented, setting a hand upon the girl's back and pressing firmly to encourage her through the now open gate, causing the second woman to smirk as she fingered the collection of keys in her hand. "Perfect, I was getting tired of waiting out here..."

In the brief silence that followed a faint sound could be heard, the whistle of air moving through a drafty basement no doubt. Or the distant cry of a distinctly feminine voice...

Reina swallowed hard as she was ushered towards the now open gate. The smirk on the teacher's face made her feel particularly uneasy. It was a cruel reflection of the usually calm and straight laced teachers. She balled her hands into loose fists as she heard what she desperately hoped was just a breeze blowing through the cold basement. She knew that Rebecca and her friends had been dragged away and hadn't returned. Which meant that she had at least a night of whatever punishment the teacher's could concoct.

She breathed out a small exhale as she stepped through the gate, heading further down the corridor. Any confidence that she previously possessed or faked had vanished as the overwhelming chill, dark, and silence of the basement came over her. In any of her previous schools she would have just gotten a slap on the wrist, maybe suspended. This was something new, and it terrified her.