Banished To Ipswich

Chapter 11

When school starts again there's whispers in the corridors. Bailey still wears the black ribbon on her arm, permission given by the principal to allow her grief, and she is seen on multiple occasions crying in the hallways. No teachers interfere, seeing as the gym teacher, Mr Tucker, seems to be close to her, and is sometimes seen consoling her. There is talk about calling her parents, but it's quickly shot down by him, whom urges that the best thing for her is to let time pass. She is offered counseling, but turns it down. Her grades don't waver, so they let it go.

Students hear her cursing the names of the Sons of Ipswich under her breath, but there's nothing the staff can do about it. They can forbid her to go near said people, but as they no longer are students, and there is no proof that she has neared them, they are destitute.

Lance works harder than ever, excelling in his art. He nudges his students to become better, and makes them shoot for the stars. If one is lucky, one might hear his speech about the Olympics when bypassing. How it's hard, it's tedious, and it hurts like hell. How it's all worth it in the end. Looking at what you've accomplished, seeing your name on the screen with stars, hearing America roar your name. At least two of his students will go on to practice gymnastics professionally, at least five others to dedicate their life to their favorite sport.

Chase finds a part time job a town over, under a different name and looks of course. Bailey wants to do the same, but the others compels her to focus on her studies. Whenever Chase finds an opening he helps her, weather it is sneaking into the dorms at night or Bailey coming to the flat on weekends. Lance does his best too, now that she doesn't have gym he is not obligated to stay impartial.

September drags over to October, and the annual ball is arranged. What pulls everyone's eyes is Bailey Wilson, standing by the wall, in the same dress she wore the previous year, her black band over her arm. Her gaze alters between scanning the crowd and staring at a fixated spot somewhere by their legs.

"You see that girl?" A freshman points to her through the shadows. His date nods, looking at the elder girl. "Her friend disappeared last spring. They say Caleb Denvers did it. They never found his body."

By midnight she is lead outside for fresh air by a concerned Mr Tucker, to all present teachers' relief. He leads her out the front door, stopping to let some girls enter from the cold, and walks along the building. A few students stand along the brick facade, getting some fresh air or polluting it. The parties acknowledge each other, and then turn their gaze to something else.

Lance leads Bailey around the corner, where the only light is that of the moon. The windows are covered, the wing not being used for the festivities. Bailey drops the look of a widow on her husband's death anniversary from her face.

Chase holds out his hands.

"Aye?" He does a little spin. "How do I look?" He, like the others, is reusing his suit from last year's ball.

"It looks like something they bury the dead in." Bailey laughs, and Lance joins her.

"Now that's not very nice, is it?" Chase takes her hands and pulls her closer. He rests his hand on her back and take hers in his other. The stiff grass crunches under their shoes as they waltz, laughing quietly to not rouse anyone's attention. He lets go of her waist, spinning her towards Lance, who catches her with ease, handing the metal flask to Chase before taking her hand. Bailey follows the steps, the twists and turns, laughing with the others. Chase tips back his head and drinks, sweetness running down his throat. He hands it back to Lance and takes his spot. Lance drinks, hands it to Bailey. She drinks, watching the others make each other spin.

"Bailey's for the Bailey." Chase whisper shouts, his step having become unsteady by the spinning. He raises the flask to the others with a grin. The others hold back their laughter and repeats after him. He staggers and takes a swing, swallows and laughs.