Ben wanted to believe her.
"I will, Ben, I promise" she said "I'll think of something"
He wanted to believe her. So he did. He started to smile again. "Thanks, Amy. You're not so bad after all" he said giving her a hug. She hugged him back.
"You'd better get back to bed" he said.
"I'm in bed" she replied.
"No, your bed. You can't stay here" he said, alarmed at the thought of being caught.
"Spoilsport" she said, as she emerged from the covers and climbed out bed.
"'Night, Amy" he said.
"'Night, Ben" she replied as she padded softly to the door.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
Margaret was in an unusually good mood this morning, and she hummed as she put a selection of cereals on the table. She looked round the nearly completed kitchen, glad that it would finished by this afternoon and she would be able to cook again properly.
Amy smiled up at her, munching on Sugar-Puffs "Muuuum?" she whined.
Margaret rolled her eyes "Yeeees?" she inquired.
"About last night?" said Amy.
Margaret froze and closed her eyes, waiting for some terribly embarrassing question. She didn't respond; didn't want to encourage Amy.
"It wasn't really Ben's fault" said Amy, squashing Sugar-Puffs down with her spoon to squeeze more honey out into the milk.
Margaret let out a deep breath and relaxed.
"I was just thinking..." continued Amy "That a month's a really, really long time, and..."
"It's all right Amy, your dad and I have discussed it and we've already decided it's probably not the most appropriate punishment at the moment" she said.
Amy looked up and smiled broadly "Really?" she asked.
"Yes of course, why would I say different?" said Margaret.
"So can Ben go out to play today?" asked Amy.
Margaret gazed at Amy for a short while, wondering just what had got into these two who had spent the past three years at each others throats. "I suppose so" she said, wondering if she was now being too soft.
The last of a long sequence of door slams, was followed by a herd of elephants crashing down the stairs, and Ben, leaping the last three, landed noisily in the hall, he scooted round the corner, half crouched and pulled up short when he saw his saw his mother glaring at him from the kitchen. He straightened up and became sober, walking down the hall like a funeral director.
"Morning, Benedict" said Margaret.
"Morning, mum" he said in a small and humble voice.
Amy smiled at him encouragingly "Morning, Ben" she said brightly.
"Morning, Amy" he said, considerably less brightly.
Ben tucked himself behind the protection of the table, and reached for of a packet of Frosties, keeping half an eye his mother in case she rushed him suddenly.
"Muuuum?" said Amy.
"Yeeees?" asked Margaret.
"You know what we were just talking about, you know, and all I was saying and stuff, could Ben go out to play today, please....." she whined irritatingly. Ben had no idea what Amy had said to his mother, but he didn't get his hopes up. He couldn't see himself getting sprung this soon, and that easily.
"Yes" said Margaret in frustration, she didn't know what Amy was going on about, she'd already told her once. Shaking her head, she turned to the sink.
Ben looked up in surprise, his mouth dropping open, as Frosties rained down all over the table and his lap. Amy leaned across "Sorted" she whispered "Told you I would" she beamed at him.
He looked at her in amazement. She was a genius! How had she done it? He was filled with a quite unfamiliar affection for his sister.
"Bugger!" he said quickly, realising he was pouring cereal all over the place.
Margaret turned quickly "Ben you know I don't like you using that... Oh look at the mess you've made!" she rushed over to the table.
"I'll do it, I'll do it" he squealed in panic, terrified she'd change her mind. He leapt to his feet knocking the table and the milk jug span, tottering in the middle of the table. Everyone watched it with bated breath. It settled, and everyone breathed again. "Sorry mum, it was an accident. I'll clean it up, don't worry."
"Stay right where you are!" she yelled, and then yelled again "Sit down!"
Ben sat, trembling, things were not going to plan, but he hadn't meant any of it.
"You're a walking disaster area, Benedict Davison" she said. He sat carefully and didn't move an inch.
Amy continued to munch sugar puffs, as Margaret tried to sweep Frosties from the table into her hand. She felt something crunch under her foot and realised they had spilled to the floor as well. In annoyance she swept what remained on the table onto the floor. "I'm going to have to clean the floor anyway!" she said.
"Where's dad?" asked Amy.
"He's supposed to be having a lie-in, but after Benedict's elephant troop impersonation I expect he's rather grumpily getting up" she said, looking directly at Ben.
Ben's face reddened and he looked down at the table, sitting on his hands. Amy sucked up the last of her milk and wrinkled her nose at him in sympathy. He glowered at her under his brow.
"I'm ready" Amy said.
"Ready for what, darling?" asked Margaret.
"To go out and play" she said looking across at Ben.
Ben looked up at his mother in trepidation.
"He hasn't had any breakfast yet" said Margaret.
Ben heard his father moving about upstairs "It's okay" said Ben "I'm not hungry" he lied, remaining as still as his trembling body would allow.
Margaret looked at him and for a moment, thought to herself how much simpler life would be if she could just give a quick spanking and make friends again.
"Go on then, we won't get any peace until you do" she said "And be back by four, your father wants a word with you. And don't you dare be late!"
"Dad won't be home from work until six" appealed Amy.
"Alright then, six" said Margaret in exasperation "But not a second later"
Ben stood up with the greatest of care and manoeuvred round the table in the same way. There was definitely something in his mother's eye he didn't very much like. As he turned Margaret had to fight to avoid reaching out smacking his backside again as he passed.
Amy skipped, and Ben scurried, down the hall and out of the front door. Once outside Ben relaxed and changed his pace. "Thanks Amy" he said "I don't know how you did it, but I owe you big time."
"S'okay" she said skipping along side him "Today's going to be gggrrrreat!" she said.
Margaret stood in the lounge and watched them out of the window. There was something quite odd about Ben, she thought. He'd lost his normal scruffy gait, and he was...well... almost swaggering! Margaret shook her head perplexed and returned to the kitchen as she heard Keith come down the stairs.
"That boy is driving me up the wall" said Margaret.
"I assume that was Ben re-enacting the Battle of Borodino earlier" said Keith.
"Yes, and spilling his cereal all over the table, and the floor, and nearly spilling the milk jug over with it as well. As if I haven't got enough to sort out. The kitchen men'll be here in a minute."
Keith hugged her "It's not your time of the month is it?" he asked.
Margaret pulled away from him and stamped on his foot "Men! As if a woman can't get cross unless it's her hormones to blame. Did it never occur to you that maybe we get mad once in a while because of you insensitive brutes!"
Keith grinned sheepishly.
"Where are we going?" asked Ben.
"The den" said Amy.
"Are we allowed to? I mean... just go whenever we want?" he asked.
"Of course, we're in the gang now, it's our den" she said.
"I didn't know if there had to be a senior there or not" he said, covering his ignorance.
"No, we can go anytime" she said.
"What if there's no-one there? What'll we do?" he asked.
"Play" she said "There'll be lots to do"
As they rounded the corner they ran into Paul and Victoria, both pushing bikes. Ben's face immediately brightened.
"Hey there, studmuffin, we were just coming round to get you" said Victoria giving Ben a wink.
He grinned broadly "Hi, Victoria, how's things?" he said, with a new found cockiness.
"Hi kiddies" said Paul.
"Hi Paul, hi Victoria" said Amy.
"We're going shopping" said Paul "We're meeting Emily and Alison there"
Ben puffed his chest out "Okay" he said excitedly.
"Just hold on a minute there, tiger" said Victoria "No open displays of affection. We don't want anyone suspecting anything. Okay? Just play it cool. Save it for the den!" she said.
"Be warned" said Paul with a wink.
"Alright" said Ben, "I get it".
As they walked along, with Amy chattering non-stop to Paul about how cross their mother had been last night, and how she had singled handedly saved Ben from being grounded for a month, Ben turned shyly to Victoria.
"You know how you said I could... you know... see you um ... undressed and that" he said.
"Shhhh! We shouldn't talk about anything like that in public" said Victoria sharply.
"No one can hear us" he said looking round.
"No, you think no-one can hear us. You can never be certain, so best to be safe" she said.
"Okay, I won't say anything but... you did say..." he said.
"It won't be this morning" she said, putting a hand on his shoulder "I'm going to be too busy. Maybe this afternoon."
"What have you got to do this morning?" he asked, not at all disappointed; this afternoon would be just lovely.
"I have to check the server" she said.
"What's that?" he asked.
"It's a computer. It records the camera feeds. So we can still keep an eye on things when we're away from the den" she said quietly.
"Your laptop you mean?" he asked, not knowing much about technical matters.
"No, it's a separate computer, at the den" she said.
"So has it got all the other videos on. I mean... if someone found it could they watch..." he asked a little worried.
"No, it's perfectly safe. Everything's encrypted, and we don't store any of the videos on it, they're all on my laptop, and we've got backups elsewhere" she said, and then added "So you can't escape us by destroying the server my little studmuffin, you're stuck with us I'm afraid."
"No I wasn't asking because of that, I don't want to escape" he said, worried she might think he was trying to get out of the gang. Victoria ruffled his hair.
"I told you, security's out primary concern. And we're very careful. We've got it all worked out" she said.
Alison was waiting impatiently, peering round the corner to see if Ben was coming yet. Emily kept dragging her back.
"Will you stop it" said Emily.
"I'm only looking to see" said Alison.
"Come on, let's make a start" she said and dragged a reluctant Amy into the local supermarket.
Five minutes later, Alison saw the others come through the door, and she simply couldn't stop herself. She launched herself at Ben, hugging him tightly. Under such pressure, Ben caved in and kissed her.
Victoria swiftly distanced herself, stepping across to the magazine display and buried herself in a random magazine, fuming. Paul tugged at them both "Not here!" he whispered savagely. They parted reluctantly, they didn't care who saw them. "Victoria is not in the best of moods today, I would seriously recommend NOT pissing her off" he added.
Ben and Alison stood staring at the floor sheepishly, while Amy looked on grinning.
"Where's Em?" asked Paul. Alison pointed to the biscuit section. Paul marched off pushing Ben in front of him. Amy sidled up to Alison "He's not having a very good day today" she said.
"Why? What happened?" asked Alison sounding concerned.
"Got mum really cross with him, dad too probably" she said.
"Awwww, poor Ben" said Alison "I'll make it up to him later."
"I expect you'll probably make it... up" said Amy, and they both giggled.
Victoria suddenly realised she was idly flicking through a bodybuilding magazine and suddenly threw it down with distaste. One of the cashiers looked over.
"Sorry" said Victoria "I must have knocked it off." She picked it up and put it on the nearest shelf and picked up a fashion magazine, leafing through it briefly before dumping it and catching up with the others.
"You wait 'til we get to the den" she said to Ben and Alison.
Victoria knelt at her sensible bike, stuffing supplies into the panniers. Paul strapped a big box of coke to the back of his racier model. Emily and Alison loaded their more girlish bikes similarly.
They set off, pushing their bikes, under a definite cloud. Ben couldn't believe that his day had just got worse. All he'd wanted was to be able to go out and play, and now he just wanted to be at home again.
As they entered a narrow lane that led to the forest trail Victoria spied Giles up ahead. This she really didn't need this morning. He was bent over his step-sister Helen wagging a finger at her threateningly.
The poor girl, who was about Amy or Alison's age was crying, and pleading with him.
"Don't deny it I saw you. You were flashing your knickers at that boy" said Giles.
"I wasn't! "she cried. There was no sign of a boy.
"Bloody hypocrite!" said Emily with feeling.
"Stay on this side of the road" said Victoria "We are not getting involved"
"When I tell father he's going to take your knickers down and give you a thrashing with the cane" said Giles with obvious glee in his voice.
Helen began bawling "No please, Giles, don't tell... please don't tell..." she begged.
"Who's he?" asked Amy.
"That's Giles, remember I told you about him last night?" said Emily.
Amy nodded.
"And that's his step-sister, Helen" Emily continued.
"What? Him? Is he the one who made you and Alison pull your knickers down yesterday?" asked Ben scowling.
"He's the one" Emily said, hoping not to be noticed.
"Do want me to beat him up for you?" Ben asked Alison, hoping desperately that she'd say 'no'.
Alison beamed.
"Don't be an idiot!" said Victoria, crushing Ben instantly. "Just shut up, look straight ahead, and keep walking. We do not want a confrontation."
Bored with tormenting his step-sister, Giles looked across at the group walking along the other side of the street. He spotted Emily and Alison and grinned.
Victoria saw him out of the corner of her eye. He'd abandoned his step-sister, still bawling at the side of the road, and was heading towards them.
"No-one do anything!" said Victoria, in a harsh and commanding whisper "I'll do the talking"
Giles placed himself directly in their path, his arms folded across his chest. His smile was menacing.
"Hello, Giles" said Victoria, suddenly all sweetness and light "It's good to see you, how are you doing?" She smiled at him warmly.
Giles shifted uncomfortably. He wasn't used to being greeted in a friendly manner, especially by girls as beautiful as Victoria. He coughed nervously, eyeing Victoria up and down. His gaze settled on her breasts."Hi" he said.
"Up to anything?" she asked.
"Not much, what about you lot?" he said.
"Not really, just shopping" she said "We'd better get on."
Giles switched his gaze to Emily and Alison and he grinned broadly "Is this your gang then?" he said to Alison.
Alison went stone cold, daring a brief sideways glance at Victoria, who in contrast was volcanic. Victoria also glanced sideways, at Alison, and as Alison's eyes fled guiltily - she knew.
"You can all join my gang if you like" said Giles, then added "Not you, or you" with a sneer indicating that the invitation didn't include Paul and Ben. Paul shrugged amiably. Ben bristled.
"Sorry, Giles, we haven't got time, we're all running errands" said Victoria struggling to maintain her friendly demeanour.
"Pity. You two had better meet me at the park at midday though" he said threateningly to Emily and Alison "There's something I want you to show me" he leered.
Emily looked at Victoria, for some response; some protection.
"They'll be there" said Victoria.
"Alison won't!" said Ben.
Giles grabbed Ben by the front of his shirt and dragged him in close "Who's this little shit?" he asked, bringing a hand up and rubbing his knuckles painfully back and forth across Ben's head.
"Ow!" said Ben.
"That's Ben, he's new to the area. Now put him down" said Victoria, just managing to keep an even tone.
"Bugger off!" said Ben struggling to free himself.
"Language!" said Giles, "I'm going to have to tell my father about you."
"So what?" shouted Ben, feeling humiliated in front of Alison "Fuck off" he shouted. Giles punched Ben on the nose, and blood spurted everywhere. Ben did his best, but he couldn't prevent himself from crying.
"That's enough!" shouted Victoria letting her fury show at last "Put him down!" she commanded. Something in Victoria's tone chilled Giles and he dropped Ben, who crumpled to the floor bleeding and crying. Giles looked at Victoria, shocked. Emily and Paul bent to pick Ben up, and dusted him down.
"Take a good look at the people you see here" said Victoria angrily. He didn't take his eyes off Victoria's breasts "These are my friends" she said "You lay a finger on any of them, look at them oddly, say anything to them, tell anyone about them, or even think about them. You'll answer to me. Understand?" she said. Giles didn't respond.
"I am up here" she said angrily "Those are my breasts. Does your father know you stare at girls' breasts, Giles?" she asked.
His head snapped up and he sneered at her "You don't scare me" he said.
"I will" she said, in an ominously icy quiet voice.
She pushed him aside, and marched up the lane "Come on!" she barked to the others.
"That'll have improved her mood" Paul whispered sarcastically to Emily.
Alison took Ben's hand and squeezed it affectionately, as much for her own comfort as his. Emily let him go, and Paul helped him along. Amy just walked along looking puzzled.
Giles watched them go "Don't forget! The park, midday" he shouted.
Victoria marched rapidly, ignoring the others behind her, her mind raced. After they had entered the forest, and were well away from the scene of the confrontation, Victoria stopped and turned. She lowered her angry gaze on Ben and Alison.
Alison knew what was coming and shook with fear, grinning like a kicked dog. Ben was still in shock from the punch, and his self pity was anchored in the present allowing no consideration of his future fate.
"Alison, Ben, get to the den. I want you stripped and stood in the punishment room with your hands on your heads when we get there. Don't you dare keep me waiting!" she said furiously.
Alison immediately leapt on her bike and began peddling for her life, the supplies overloaded in the small basket on the front causing her to wobble dangerously as she fled. Ben just stood there not able to take in what he'd just heard. Paul leaned down, "Ben do as you're told. Run!" he gave him a shove and Ben stumbled a few steps forward looking at Victoria for some confirmation that he'd heard wrong, but she just glared at him furiously. He started running.
Victoria turned again, and continued her fast march up the trail. "Em!" she called back over her shoulder "You'd better tell me what happened."
Emily dashed to Victoria's side, trying to keep pace with her.
"I told you what happened yesterday, didn't I, with Giles?" she said, just setting the stage.
"But what did you leave out, Em?" asked Victoria, cross at Emily too.
"It wasn't anything really. To be honest it was probably my fault" said Emily trying to protect Alison. "Giles was being a bastard, he made us pull our knickers down. We didn't know what he was going to do next. Alison refused, she was scared - I mean really scared. We don't know what he's capable of but we know he's a bully and untouchable" she added as a goad. "Anyway, I was scared too, and when Alison refused I was afraid it might provoke him, make him worse, so... I ordered her."
"You ordered her? How?" asked Victoria.
"If I remember, I said something like 'Get your knickers down now, and that's an order', and Alison just snapped back 'we're not in the gang now'. She didn't mean it Victoria, she was frightened and angry, and..."
"And lost her temper" said Victoria.
"On the verge..." said Emily generously.
"She's got to go, Em" said Victoria.
"No, Victoria, please, don't do that. She won't do it ever again I promise. It was nothing... hardly anything. He didn't even pick up on it, I just said she meant us, the two us, that we were a gang" pleaded Emily.
"She's a liability Em. She's going to destroy us with that temper of hers" said Victoria.
"I'll talk to her. Victoria you'll break her heart. You know she loves the gang. And what about Ben? Where does that leave him? And me? Look, just don't make a decision yet. Wait for a while, calm down, and see how you feel later. God knows I'm going to blister her arse for this, she's not going to sit down for a week. I'm going to kill her myself. Whatever you decide, later on, you know I'll support you."
"I'm sorry, Em. She's gone" said Victoria, and speeding up she left Emily behind. Emily slowed, and started crying. Paul caught her up and put an arm round her shoulders.
"What's up Em, what's matter?" he asked.
"It's Alison. Victoria's going to throw her out!" she cried, lowering her head onto Paul's shoulder.
"Christ!" said Paul, and after a pause "Really?" Emily just sobbed. He held her as they walked. "I'll talk to her" he said.
"She's implacable Paul. I've never seen her like this" she said. Paul started worrying about Victoria: last night's strangeness and now this.
Victoria kept up a punishing pace, still furious, still with her mind racing in circles trying to find something to latch on to; something that might work. But everything she thought of involved too much risk. Her impotence only added to her fury.
By the time Ben arrived at the den he was breathless. He paused, bending to rest his hands on his knees for a couple of minutes, before going in. He tried the first room, but it was empty and so he headed to the other room.
As he entered he saw Alison stood with her back to him, stark naked, with her hands on her head. "Cor!" he said, admiring the view. Her long blond hair tumbled down her back almost to her bottom, and it was then he noticed that she was shaking.
He swaggered over, manfully, and rounded her front "Cor!" he said again. Alison glared at him through her tears. "Don't cry" he said, suddenly saddened. "What's the matter?"
"What's the matter?" she asked scornfully "I'm going to get a beating, that's what the matter is. Not a little one like yesterday a really, really big one and it's going to hurt."
Ben looked down and her yoni, as Amy had called it, and it was firmly closed. "I'll make it up to you later though" he offered with a cheeky grin.
"If Victoria lets you" she said "She's really mad"
"She didn't seem that mad" said Ben.
Alison shook her head in disbelief "You don't know her, she was furious"
"At that boy, not us" he said.
"At ME!" yelled Alison "You're gonna get it too so you'd better get stripped. If you're not ready when she gets here you'll get it a lot worse."
"I haven't done anything" he said innocently.
"She told you to get stripped and ready, but if you think she's kidding, don't!" said Alison.
"What have I done?" he asked.
"We're not supposed to talk either" she said.
Ben was confused, but he didn't want to annoy Victoria, and Alison was right, he had heard her say that. He started to get undressed, feeling very foolish. He should have stayed at home after all, at least he didn't get beaten there.
When he was down to his pants he hesitated. "Everything?" he asked.
"Suit yourself" said Alison. He stood there, unmoving, trying to figure out what to do, when Alison suddenly said "You'd better" more gently, and after a pause "Stand next to me with your hands on your head. Quick, she won't be long."
Ben started drawing his boxers down his legs when he heard the front door crash. He jumped clean out of his pants, left them where they lay on the floor and darted over to Alison. He smacked his hands on his head just as Victoria came storming in.
Victoria regarded the two of them coldly as she approached from the back. She could see the six welts on Alison's bottom from yesterday. She walked around to face them. She didn't sit. Paul and Emily followed her, and took up positions by her sides but slightly behind. Emily was crying profusely, unable to control herself.
Amy snuck in behind Paul, making herself very small. Victoria raked Alison and Ben with an icy glare, but neither of them dared to look up at her. "Amy get a flannel and some water, and clean your brother's face" said Victoria. She should have sent Emily or Paul, but Emily was incapable at the moment, and Paul, well... she needed Paul.
"The most important concern for this gang, and for all of us here, is security. You all know that because I bang on about it all the time. And I am sick of having to go on about it all the time. If you can't be trusted you don't belong here. Alison you defied me this morning by making a public display of affection with Ben, and then I find out you told Giles about the gang. Not just some random stranger, but Giles St.John-Moncrieff, who even to a complete idiot like you should have been the most obvious person not to tell."
"I'm sorry Victoria, I just got mad. I won't do it again I promise. Please don't beat me..." she said crying.
"I'm not going to beat you, Alison" said Victoria quietly and calmly. Alison felt a great wave of relief flood though her.
"You've been kicked out of the gang. Now get out, and don't ever come back" said Victoria. Beside her, Emily erupted in fresh tears, but Alison just gaped at Victoria in complete disbelief.
"Get out!" Victoria shouted.
Alison felt an icy spike driven through her, she began bawling "No......" She threw herself at Victoria's feet and wrapped her arms around Victoria's legs. "Nooo... please Victoria, I'm sorry... beat me, please I promise I won't do it again. You can't kick me out."
Victoria stood outwardly impassive, but she was crying on the inside.
"Paul get her out of here. Dump her outside the hollow. Take her clothes. If she comes back beat her away with a stick" said Victoria.
As reluctant as he was, Paul didn't hesitate. He quickly scooped up Alison's clothes from the chair where they were neatly folded, and then with some effort he pried Alison from Victoria's legs and picked her up.
Alison wailed and shrieked and bawled "No... no... no.... Victoria... don't throw me out....please... I'm begging you.... I'll do anything......"
As Paul hefted her over his shoulder and turned to carry her out Emily suddenly erupted, unable to contain herself any more "YOU STUPID, STUPID GIRL!" she shouted at Alison, and that was the last straw. Alison broke down completely. Paul carried her out with no joy in his heart at all.
Continued in Chapter Twenty Three