CHERUB: Knight

17: Revenge

When they arrived back on campus, there was a small welcoming party. Ed, broken leg now healed, and Ralph, who had casts on both arms, were waiting, giving out hugs and fist bumps to the trainees who had passed.

"Buggy hit a ditch," Ralph explained. "Trice was small enough that she got thrown out safely, but I hit the steering wheel and fractured both arms. Still, I'll have Ed here to get me through training next time," he grinned, grabbing the other boy in a headlock.

Ed squirmed and tried to get free. "Get off you fat lump! I hope I don't get stuck with you in training, you'll beat me in karate by sitting on me."

George left them to their scuffling and went over to see Rex. He'd felt guilty when they'd got off the plane, because he'd spent the majority of the trip sitting with Letty even though Rex was supposed to be his best friend. Rex could hold a grudge and he was hoping that the excitement of moving into new rooms would calm him down enough to let an apology sink in.

When George sighted his friend's tall figure, he was hugging a smaller girl around the waist and lifting her into the air. When he put her down, George noticed some family resemblance.

"I didn't know you had a sister," George said as he approached, smiling at the girl. "You could've told me."

"There wasn't a good moment," Rex said apologetically. "I knew your mum had just died but I didn't want to reopen old wounds if you'd lost other family too."

George shrugged. "Still could've told me." He turned to look at the little girl, who was holding Rex's hand and looking up at him. "Who're you?"

"I'm Kimberley and I'm nine," she said proudly, pointing to her red shirt. "I only just joined CHERUB," she added, looking up at Rex. "I had to finish the term at school first."

"Kimberley went to this really prestigious school. She's like a kind of genius brainbox or something," Rex explained. "You're not allowed to just up and leave in the middle of the term so CHERUB let her stay until the holidays before pulling her out."

"You definitely look smarter than your brother," George told her with a grin.

Kimberley had classes so she had to go back, leaving Rex with George as they made their way back to the Junior Block.

"I'm glad you passed, mate," George said, shaking his head. "We were all convinced that you and Jemima were gonna kill each other."

Rex's eyes narrowed. "I can't believe the instructors set me up with that cow."

"I thought you two got on now?"

"I hate her stupid guts and I've been hiding my feelings for weeks," Rex replied angrily. "I hope I never see her ever again."

"Bit harsh," George replied, amazed that Rex had been capable of passing training while he still hated his partner. "Anyway, if we hurry we'll get rooms on the eighth floor and be away from her."

One of the groundstaff let them borrow a buggy to cart their belongings to the main building, and since they were both fairly new to CHERUB they didn't have too much stuff and only needed one trip.

"Come on," George said impatiently as the lift crawled up to the eighth floor. "If we don't get there fast they'll all be gone."

The two of them practically sprinted out of the lift, but there was only one room with a 'vacant' sign taped to the door and Harry was busily moving his stuff into the room.

"Balls," George said, making a u-turn back to the lift. "Sixth or seventh?"

"Seventh. The agents on the sixth floor are all older than us so they'll constantly be having parties," Rex said, pressing the button for the seventh floor as soon as George had cleared the doors.