Phenomenal

43 ~ To The Sky

The days that passed by after that were crammed with exams. No one had time for anything but studying and excessive amounts of tea. There certainly wasn't time to mull over the finer points of a relationship that might or might not come to fruition.

As it was, Clarissa didn't even see much of Damien during the exam period. She spent a large portion of her time holed up in the library with other students.

The whole period was a blur of revision and a general atmosphere of stress, the usual ingredients needed for exams.

And then it was all over, at least for Clarissa's department. She and Jason had their last exams in the afternoon. Charlotte and Adam finished the same evening.

Then it was the mad rush to pack.

They flew out for their holiday the next morning and no one had actually packed in advance.

"What do you need a bikini for?! We're going skiing!" Clarissa said later that evening, sat in the middle of the living room floor, surrounded by the content of hers and Charlotte's wardrobes.

"They have a pool and Jacuzzi, what do you think I need a bikini for?" Charlotte said, snatching it back. "And you! You don't even have a swimsuit out!"

"Because every year we have the same conversation. 'Let's take a swim!' 'But I'm tiiiiired! And I'm cold!' 'What should we do then?' 'Let's get hot chocolate!' Same conversation every year."

"And this year it might be different," Charlotte said, brandishing the bikini at Clarissa before stuffing it into her case.

"You'll be the only one who'll have bought one."

"No I won't because I've already packed some of Adam's trunks in here."

"Are you kidding? He doesn't even like swimming on a general day."

"This year we should try the outside pool."

"Are you insane?"

"It's heated."

"Doesn't help."

"Spoil sport," Charlotte said, rummaging around in the pile of books she was debating on packing. "God damn it, where did I put the Ulysses book?"

"Seriously? That's you holiday read?"

"No, that's my Prep-For-Next-Term read. Don't look at me like that, I'm borrowing Damien's copy, he has no academic reason to read it, give him the incredulous look of disbelief. It's clearly his light reading. Go get it for me."

"He's right next door, you go get it."

"I'm packing."

"What am I doing then?"

"Getting me my book, aw, Classy, you're so sweet for offering. Thanks!"

Clarissa lifted a shirt to throw at her when there was a knock at the door and Damien walked in.

"He's freaking psychic!" Charlotte said.

Damien stared at her, then raised an eyebrow. "...Ok," he said after a moment, "I came to give you that book you said you'd take with you."

"See, psychic?"

"Totally psychic," Clarissa agreed.

"Or I just noticed it sat on the hall table and figured Charlotte would be looking for it," Damien said, walking over, picking his way across the room and crouching down beside them, looking at their suitcases. "Why do you need a bikini?" he asked.