The digital clock flashes 12:13 in harsh red tones.

‘Shit Annabelle get up, you have to go.’

Annabelle looks groggily at Simone, ‘What?  Why?  Lie back down.’

‘Please Annabelle it’s after twelve, we’re meant to be at lunch.’

Simone jumps up from the bed and desperately starts to pull on her knitted red sweater, whilst throwing Annabelle’s dress onto the bed.

She shrugs the dress over her shoulders as she watches Simone manically gather up her other belongings.

In the hallway heeled footsteps echo off the stone steps as Mother Immaculata makes her way determinedly up to the dorm rooms.  She starts along the empty corridor before pausing in front of the closed door.  She places one hand on the smooth wood and the other on the handle and inhales deeply.  After a few seconds she sharply swings the door open, ‘Annabelle?’

Simone hears her Aunt.

‘Fuck, this can’t be happening.’

‘Simone.’

‘This shouldn’t be happening.’

‘Please, look at me.’

Simone looks up to meet deep pools of blue, Annabelle reaches out and gently runs her fingertips down the side of her face, Simone looks away sharply, but Annabelle gently cups her face and turns her back to look into her eyes, leans forwards and places a gentle kiss onto her lips.  When they part Annabelle gives her boots to Simone, ‘Can you look after these for me?’

‘What?  Why?’

The heavy footsteps continue down the hall before stopping abruptly at the final door.  Mother Immaculata immediately reaches for the handle, pulling on the door, expecting it to open, but stops abruptly when the lock prevents it from moving.

‘Simone, open this door immediately.’

Simone turns to look at the door, when she turns back to Annabelle she sees her climbing out of the window.

‘What are you doing, you’re going to kill yourself.’  She whispers theatrically at Annabelle.’

‘Simone is there someone in there with you, let me in.’

Annabelle just smiles back at Simone before shimmying along the ledge under the window.  She sees Colins and Kristen walking below her.

‘Colins, COLINS.’

The girls look up at her, ‘Annabelle what are you doing, be careful.’  Colins says back.

‘If you get up here and let me in before Immaculata has my ass I’ll tell you.’