Left. Right. Left. Right kick. Right. Left. Right. Left kick.
The repetitive and physically exhausting task of kick boxing with one of the punch bags in the basement gym helped calm me down and work off some of my anger. If my dad could see me now I swear the old grouch would have a fit. You shouldn't learn self defence or do any such hard sports Emily, that is not a woman's place. I'll buy you a taser if you want but you won't need it, we have Kieran to deal with threats. The most physical exercise a woman should do is ballet or Pilates, something feminine.
Gosh I used to hate that. I hate ballet. I hate Pilates even more and I swear if it hadn't been for YouTube videos giving me the opportunity to learn more interesting physical endeavours then I would've gone insane. I know my dad only wanted what was best for me, well most of the time. Probably.
I hit the bag twice as hard to try and eleviate myself of that thought process, to be honest one that preoccupies me far too often.
Left. Right. Left. Right kick. Right. Left. Right. Left kick.
"Go easy on that thing will you? We only have one and Connor needs it to train for his boxing match next week. "
I spin around mid swing and nearly knock out poor David behind me who manages to jump out of the way.
"Wow, who knew someone so petite could hold so much anger? It's like your body's too small to experience more than one overwhelming feeling at once!"
I huff at him and walk over to sit against the wall while unstrapping and taking off my wrist supports, "I'm not God damn Tinkerbell."
He sits down beside me and looks at me in confusion while I take a large gulp of my water before he asks, "What the Hell are you talking about?"
I cap the bottle and just look at him, "Tinkerbell, from Peter Pan? She's so small she can only experience one emotion at a time. J.M. Barrie obviously liked making jokes at the expense of little people too. Read your Classics."
He holds his hands up in surrender, "Ok Miss, whatever. But I wouldn't call Peter Pan a classic."
"Well I disagree and I am higher up the food chain than you so deal with it," I say as I get up and walk towards the stairs with every intention of changing out of these sweaty clothes.
David follows, deciding to utilise the long walk from the basement gym to my top floor apartment for what sounded like a lecture in the making.
"Miss Hamilton I hate to burst your bubble there but given what happened earlier I would hardly say you're higher up the food chain."
I throw him a quick scowl without breaking stride, "Well I can guarantee you had your thumb stuck in that pie so I wouldn't be reminding me of it if I was you incase I decide to throw you in detention for the rest of the year like I'm tempted."
"Wow hold your horses there Miss, innocent until proven guilty right? This isn't the Middle Ages."
"Ha," I give a hollow laugh at that, "The way I've been treated by basically every male here since I've came here except for Professor Michael begs me to differ. It's like this place never entered the 20th century let alone the 21st! I mean God damn I'm used to sexism with a family like mine but at least I was respected!"
"Hey that's not fair! I sure as Hell haven't done anything and I'msure no one else has either!"
"Oh really? Headmaster Black thinks I'm inadequate because of my gender, all of my classes disrespected me, the other staff looked at me like I was some sort of alien species and just stared and of course my health class immediately dismissed my abilities for my gender too. And then all of you fecking walk all over me and basically spit on my good intentions and attempts to win you over. I don't care if you deny that last one in sexism or not, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't walk over a man like that and even if it isn't sexism it isn't right! So don't you dare try to convince me everything is sunshine and daisies David Harte!"
I finally make it to my apartment and open the door with my key and storm in, leaving it open knowing David will just follow.
"Well you aren't exactly fighting the corner of feminism very well by- Where the Hell is all your stuff?"
I collapse on the seventies armchair which seemed to be the only thing left in the room.
"The old matron has probably just sent for her furniture earlier than expected,I had a bit more this morning if I remember right."
I push myself up from the chair and check the other rooms. I was basically just left with that arm chair and a mattress and a few pieces of cutlery and crockery. There was also a note on the kitchen counter informing me that it had all been shipped off to the old matron indeed with the exception of the arm chair which she apparently hated with a passion anyway. I walk back into the sparse living area and collapse into the old armchair (which I have to admit is hideous), David is still just looking around in shock.
"It's ok, not ideal timing but I'll sort something. I'll have to pay a visit to Max in administration tomorrow to see what I can find furniture wise and ask about getting my furniture budget. I'll be able to get an office desk at least from somewhere I'm sure and maybe find a table or 2. And I'm sure the budget will about cover the bed and a new mattress."
David just looks at me, "But there's nothing in here. I thought dorm masters got a fully furnished plush apartment!"
I laugh genuinely at that and smile, "Urban myth, all public schools are the same. Bare minimum, furnish yourself sort of situations."
I stand and point him to the door, "Now if you aren't having a mental breakdown or are bleeding to death I would quite like to start getting on with the lesson plans I have to write. If the guys start quitting or slacking off if you could please remind them I'll be down later and if the place isn't clean then there will be Hell to pay, that would be much appreciated."
David sort of snaps out of his and starts walking out the door but just before he leaves he turns to me, "Will you be alright living here with so little right now? You could have my dorm if you want, I could bunk with Campbell or-"
I give him a grateful smile but cut him off, "The offer is appreciated David but unnecessary. The situation is temporary and I will live. I'll see you later."
Then I close the door behind him, feeling a little guilty about lying to him about the furniture situation but I will live.
I head towards the bedroom in search of some more comfortable and less sweaty clothes to wear before I start into the lesson plans.
***
I wake up as the sun rises and the light seeps into my bedroom through the now curtain-less windows. As I rub my eyes I look about to see I am sprawled on top of my mattress with office supplies and newly written lesson plans spread out around me. Ok that was definitely a late night and by the looks of it I collapsed of exhaustion, I think it must have been at about 3.30am? A quick look at my watch tells me it's 6am now and I groan. Can I get by on less than 3 hours sleep? I suppose I'll have to as my east-facing window makes the sun impossible to block out without curtains or blinds. Note to self: hang a bed sheet over the window.
I get up and quickly (if a little lethargically) throw on a purple A line skirt that stops just above the knee and a black blouse, pairing it mid height black patent heels and what are quickly becoming my signature pearl necklace. I had never been a huge fan of pearls but they had been left to me in great granny's will and they were almost like a lucky charm to me now, or at least a comfort to stop me suffering a meltdown. After applying light makeup and throwing all my lesson plans and office supplies into a satchel I hurry down the stairs to see if the house was as big a wreck as I last saw it and if I was going to have to do some rushed impromptu cleaning before morning assembly. But when I got down the stairs the sight shocked my into grinding to a standstill at the bottom of the stairs.
The floor was spotlessly polished, all the paint and other damage had been washed from the walls, there wasn't anything lying about the floor... Well when I say nothing that's sort of a lie because there were sleeping boys everywhere. A quick peak into the common room and the kitchen revealed a similar situation, the place was spotless but it seemed it wasn't only me but Most of the residents of Remsworth house who had collapsed of exhaustion where they stood last night.
I can honestly say it was the most touching sight my eyes had ever beheld.
These boys had stayed up half the night cleaning to make me happy. Ok so maybe it was out of fear and maybe they had caused all the mess in the first place but right now that doesn't matter. Everyone deserves a second chance right? And these boys definitely deserved it. Plus they all looked adorable while they slept. And right in the middle of it all, collapsed on the sofas in the common room were The Gang. David was squished under Connor and Campbell on one sofa whilst Jackson and Ripper lay head to tail in another, still hugging Pledge and Bleach in their arms. I walk towards them and grin at how adorable they all look, but annoyingly despite looking adorable and but beyond belief Campbell still managed to pull it off and look attractive while he slept! Snapping out of it I take a quick picture on my phone then start picking up odd bits and pieces of cleaning supplies that the boys never seemed to be able to put away last night and put them away in the store cupboard before (with some difficulty due to the weight). I hauled the bin bags of empty bottles and plastic cups to the outside bins. It's still not even 7 yet so I decide to throw all past experiences to the wind and make breakfast for the boys again, this time not only making the oatmeal cookies but I put on enough bacon and sausages I feed a small army. Another note to self: remember to ask someone of it's my responsibility to restock the kitchen or if someone will bring me the food.
Just before all the fold is ready at about 7.45 I go around all the boys and gently start to poke them to try and wake them up. This worked for about 5 boys but the rest were stubborn and barely stirred. Ripper even tried to pull me down on top of him while he slept after I took his bleach bottle off him! Ok this is definitely not working. A face splitting grin takes over my face as an idea comes to mind and, completely dismissing years of etiquette training I launch myself on to of the David- Connor-Campbell pileup. I shriek in laughter as they all scramble to get up in shocks and I'm thrown to the floor but before they can react to my actions I run out of the room to the kitchen.
On my way out I shout over my shoulder, "Make sure to wake up all the other boys!"
From my hiding place in the kitchen I hear piles of grumbling and a whole pile of very girly shrieking over the constant backing track of tired feet trudging up the stairs to dorm rooms to get ready for school.
By the time the first of the boys start to make their way to the kitchen I have all the biscuits, bacon and sausages laid out on the humongous dining room table with a mountain of toast and piles of orange juice. I can't help but smile happily when all the boys are tucking in and fighting over remaining pieces of bacon and toast, maybe all is forgiven and forgotten and maybe me and the guys are on track again.
"Oi! Attention please everyone!"
Everyone freezes and turns my way as I shout to be heard over the noise, some boys even visibly wince probably expecting to be shouted at again for last night but I just smile at them and continue slightly more quietly, "I just wanted to thank you all for cleaning this place up. It looks wonderful and I know you all worked really hard to make that happen, I really appreciate that and it is honestly one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. I know I told you to do it but I didn't honestly expect you would put so much effort into it. Just Thank you, and I'm sorry I was so cross last night."
Through my speech I was welling up a bit and by the end of it silent tears are falling down my cheeks.
"Oh shit! She's crying!"
"What did we do?"
"How do we make her stop??"
"Why are you all looking at me!? How am I suppose to know?!"
I laugh as they all panic amongst each other and dry off my eyes.
"It's alright boys, I'm not upset. Now get to assembly! If all of you are late it'll be my head on the chopping block!"
They all scatter and I pile all the dishes into the dishwasher and whatever ones don't fit into the sink (I'll probably get around to doing them later) and by the time I'm done the only boys left behind are a few that are seriously dragging their heels and The Gang.
David comes up to me, "Come on Miss, we'll walk you to assembly."
I smile and start to walk towards the door where they're looking at me expectantly when David grabs my shoulder and bends down towards me. While he does this I can help but look over his shoulder and see a look of pure fury come over Campbell's face, it's a bit weird but maybe he's just not a morning person.
When David's face is level with mine he moves it to whisper in my ear, "I just thought you'd like to know it was Campbell who rallied the troops last night and organised the cleaning, as well as convincing the ones who didn't already want I help out of guilt that it was the right thing to do."
I smile at David and thank him then we both walk over to join The Gang.
All the way through assembly I can't help but think that maybe misjudged Campbell MacIntosh a bit. He may like trying my patience but I suppose he had his moments. However he can still be a right Dick Head.