Thud. Pause.
Thud. Pause...
Familiar notes floated through the walls.
"...Say you'll be there!"
"No!" Brad screamed. Knowing instantly that Bev was behind the devious plot.
"... last time that we had this conversation I decided we should be friends..."
"Make it stop!" Brad ordered the other two.
Rich and William looked at each other.
They had to enfure the thud's too. They looked away. Let him suffer.
"Leave it," William grinned. He bent his arm behind his head. "I kinda like it." He began to hum along.
"Some friends you are!" Brad yelled.
"Yup!" Rich smiled. "We know it!"
A sound caused all three of them to look up.
"What are they doing up there?" Brad wondered. "Moving furniture?"

The combined efforts of the three girls brought Faith's bed (the only one not a bunk) to the center of the room.
They stood in their places on the matress. "Ready?" Bev asked them.
Faith and Rachel nodded.
"On three," Bev did the count off. "One... two... three!"
They all jumped.

Brad looked up and wondered if the roof was going to cave in. He put his face in his hands and groaned.

They jumped again.
"Wonder when hey're going to complain?" Rache mused.
Bev laughed. "If I know Brad-- right about..."
The door flew open.
"-now!"
"What are you girls up to!" his voice boomed.
"Brad!" Bev smiled. She jumped off te bed and came to him taking his hands in hers she forced him to dance.
"Stop!" Brad ordered above the Spice Girls song.
Bev pouted. "You're no fun. I wonder why I ever went out with you."
Brad raised an eyebrow. "It wasn't for my dancing. Not logitudinally anyway."
Ten minutes later Kerry and Kevin came in seeing Brad dancing with the girls. (they changed the CD. Oh, let's say it was Cest' la vie by B*witched) "What's going on? We can hear you three floors down."
Five minutes later. William came into the room followed by Rich. Kev and Kerry were dancing along with the rest (different CD. The song was ummm....: Pretty Fly for a White Guy by Offspring).
"Got them to stop yet, Brad?" William asked.
Several more minutes later Megan came in with Mike. It was hard to tell what the rest were doing. It seemed like a mixture of a pillow fight, a disco, and something else. "What happened?"
They all shrugged. They didn't know. But they were having fun.
A few more minutes later guess who walks it.
Scratch! The CD player shrieked as Brad turned it off abruptly. "Headmaster Lewis. - ubba ubba- " he fought for words.
The old man's eyes surveyed the room.
"Music project!" William blurted out.
Faith stood in front of everyone. Happy, but trying to hide it. "My fault! I did it!" she exclaimed breathlessly. They were under my influence. Punish me." Send me home. Faith pleaded with her eyes. "If you want to expel me go ahead, I know I deserve it!"
"Punished you shall be. I'm sure you just haven't been acquainted with our rules yet," he walked over and confiscated the machine. "But the boys will help you. I'm letting you off with a warning. Same with the rest of you."
Faith sulked.
Bev and the boys eyed him suspiciously. This was all too easy. There had to be a catch.
"There's going to be a press conference this coming Friday-" Lewis continued.
Kerry put in. "I thought it wasn't going to be for another week."
"That was the original plan. But things have changed. The public has been hearing odd things have been happening in Eton since the girls' arrival. And they are curious."
"So what do you want us to do?" Bev folded her arms across her chest. "Lie?"
Lewis looked at her sharply. "You don't have to lie. Just make tell them that everyone's getting along, that you're enjoying it here..."
The five females looked at each other and nodded. Yes. He wanted them to lie.
"Good luck girls," Rich smiled devilishly at them.
"Actually, Mr. Featherworth you and your company will be joining them on stage."
"We wha-?" the boys reacted.
"Yes, the public needs the situation from a male perspective and considering you have been spending quite a lot of time with the ladies what better candidates are there?"
"Bu-bu-" was a protest.
"It's either that or demerits," came the threat.
Brad spoke for the group. "We'll do it."
"I'm glad I made myself understood," the headmaster nodded. "And Miss Kerrigan. Your father called earlier. He says he liked to express how happy he is that your schooling in his old alumni."
"Oh, yeah. Fantastic," Faith said unenthusiastically.
Mr. Lewis gave a nod the proceeded to leave the room, with the radio tucked under his arm.

Chapter Five
"Damn bow tie," Rich said, as he fixed it behind stage.
William peeked through the curtains and saw the the press filling up the fron rows of the auditorium. At least I know they're not here for me.
Brad was saying something to Wills, Rich and Kev.
Bev adjusted her knee socks. And watched the boys.
Rachel leaned close to Bev. "Last minute pep talk?"
Bev sighed. "You know it." She watched Brad's lips move though she didn't need to. She knew his speech word for word. She recited under her breath. "Don't say anything unless absolutely necessary, William. You know the press is just waiting for you to slip up. Kev, tone down on the technical phrases. This is not a lab report on mice and their digestive systems. Rich... I guess you're okay. And when in doubt say:..."
"No comment," the boys barked in answer like military recruits.
Faith sneezed where she stood. "Ah-choo!" She rubbed her nose with a hanky.
"Quit hamming it up," Mike hissed at her.
She glared at him and wanted to slap him on his butt. "As if you're not taking advantage of your injury?" She waved the conference coordinater over. "Mr. Lund. I can't do this," she wailed sneezing again. "If I go out there I'm going to spread my germs to those poor innocent people. Those people will spread germs to the people they'll meet. Pretty soon it'll be the reinactment of London's Bubonic plague!"
"Still on that cold, Miss America?" William interrupted. He felt her forehead. He thought she was faking it but she did feel warm.
She backed away from his touch. "Pneumonia, Wills," she corrected. "Pneumonia."
"Mr. Lund," Mike came over. "You can't seriously expect me to appear on stage." He limped over exaggerating every step, wincing in obvious pain.
"We need everyone on stage now," Mr. Lewis commanded.
"Please?" they both begged.
Lewis looked at Mike in crutches. At Faith's red nose. They were going to have to be explained if the public saw them. "You two may leave."
It was all they could do to not smile.
As they were shuffling in a file Bev smiled at William. "J-E-A-L-O-U-S?" she spelled, looking back at Faith and Mike.
William also looked back. Faith was smiling at Mike in shared triumph. Wills frowned. Why didn't she ever smile at him. "I'm jealous that they won't be suffering with us."
Bev laughed. "Sure!"

"... I think it was your Bubonic plague speech that did it," Mike told Faith as they walked away together.
"It was your performance with the crutches," Faith rejected the praise. She felt strange being alone with him. They were always in their groups.
"Hey, you want to watch it on Mrs. Gailey's telly?" Mike invited.
"Sure. Achoo!" she sneezed.
Mrs. Gailey set them on the couch and fixed them up with tea and cookies.
On the television screen "...where are Miss Kerrigan and Mr. Jones?"
Brad took the lead. "They're... detained at the moment."
"What do you mean by-"
Another reporter shot out a question. "How do you boys feel about having the girls in your school?"
Brad answered with a straight face. "Recieving them with open arms."
"And we're just running right into them," Bev said sweetly.
In the Gailey's residence the phone rang twice.
Mrs. Gailey handed the phone to Faith. "It's your father, dear."
Aware of Mike, Faith turned away and made her voice low. "Hello?"
Mike pretended not to listen.
"I'm watching the broadcast of Eton on TV. Why aren't you in it?"
"Dad, I'm recovering from this cold- " she feebly explained.
"How did you get a cold?" Mr. Kerrigan immediately demanded.
"These boys threw me into the river-"
"The boys of Eton would never do that. They're gentlemen. Why, when I was attending there we would always-"
Times have changed, Dad Faith wanted to say but didn't dare to.
"And even if there are bullies why didn't you ask Prince William for assistance. I'm sure he would've-"
"Dad, he was ringleader of the stunt!"
There was a pause. "I don't believe it! Why are you making up stories about the prince--"
On the television screen a reporter asked.
Faith sighed. She had expected this.
"I'm in London..." he told her.
His voice faded as Faith's concentration returned to the television.
On the television. "William, have any of the girls catched your fancy?"
William laughed nervously. "Fancy? Uhhh-- Uhhh--."
"Want to say 'no comment' Wills," Bev suggested with a smile.
Faith looked at the receiver. "I'm sorry, Dad. What?" But her concentration was on the screen. "Huh? I'm a bit distracted. Talk to you later. Bye." she hung up.
"Did you throw Miss Kerrigan into the river?"
William almost fell from his chair. To have the question worded so plainly surprised him. All eyes were on him for an answer.
"--Because that's one of the rumors circulating England," the female reporter informed.
Faith wondered if her dad was still watching. "Say no comment... Say no comment..." Faith repeated, rubbing her temples.
"Ummm pass," William said the phrase he usually used when he couldn't answer aquestion in class. "I mean--" how could he have made such a blunder? "-- no comment."
Then reporter continued, "There was an archery accident concerning Mike Jones-"
Mike leaned a little closer from his place on the couch.
Meg jumped out from her chair, "No comment!" Meg blurted out too soon. At the looks given to her she sat back down. "Sorry, just got a little too excited..."
A reporter from the back spoke up. "There's a rumor that there was a foodfight-"
All eight on the stage cut him off at the same time, "No comment!"
Faith looked at Mike. Mike looked at Faith. Wills and the rest might as well be announcing their guilt.
The Headmaster stepped in. "I think time's up. The students do have to study."
"But-"
"Any last words?" he cut him off.
The boys shrugged.
The girls shrugged.
"Girl power!" Bev grinned, flashing the peace sign to a camera.
The eight of them stood up and walked for the wings of the stage.
"Girl Power," Brad imitated Bev in a falsetto. He hissed, "Suck up!"
"Shut the hell up, Bradley!"
When they heard Bev's statement echo in the silent auditorium they noticed the microphones they wore were still on.

Laundry day at Eton.
Faith and William met at the laundry chute (I don't know if there is a laundry chute at Eton or how things work but I don't go to school there. Bear with me).
"Fancy meeting you here."
"I go to school here," she retorted. She dumped her clothes down the chute. Yes, whites and colors seperated. We all know how to do that.
He followed her move."That's not what I meant -- I meant--"
Faith walked away without giving him a chance to finish.
When the laundry was finished there was a little problem.
William held a bra in his hands and wondered how it got into his pile of folded clothes. It was red and lacy, and had bows... What's this? It fastened in front? Interesting... He knocked on the girls room to return it to the owner. Like a gentleman should. He knocked. "Excuse me-" he began. He held the item up not knowing how to begin. He looked at the five girls staring at him. Should he just thow it and run? "Ummm..."
Faith gasped recognizing it and immediately ran to snatch it from.
"Hmmm... when did you wear that?" He sounded amused.
"Wouldn't you like to know," Faith said. She tossed it into a drawer. "Oh, I have something for you too..." Faith handed him a pair of boxers.
(Mix-up. Coincidence? Not?)
Wills grabbed it from her.
"And when did you wear this?"
The boxers were white and hand the name 1 William 1 written all over it in red cursive letters.
"And the fan mags say you're not concieted." she handed it to him.
He gaped at her.
Brad came marching in and held up gold metal tube. There was a red smear covering it.
"So that's where my Sugar Plum lipstick went!" Meg exclaimed.
"It also went on white shirts and bowties," Brad informed through clenched teeth.
Meg had only one thing to say, "Ooops?"
"Girls..." Headmaster Lewis walked in.
Thinking nothing of it the girls sighed and walked out single file to his office for a lecture. Are we starting to see a pattern here? No permanent damage. What could he do? They're just a bunch of girls.
"I don't know what you're complaining about," Harry said when William told him the story. "You get out of wearing the uniform for an entire week!"

Brad rushed to the restroom holding his bladder. As well as something else. He turned the knob. It was locked.
"Let me in!" he yelled. No one in Eton dared disobeyed him.
"I'm using it," Bev informed indifferent to his pain.
Until now.
"Well, what are you using it for," Brad yelled, not knowing how long he can stand.
"Shaving." she said simply.
Ew! Brad thought.
The door opened. "You wouldn't have any shaving cream now would you?" Bev asked him, razor in hand.
Brad glared at her.
She laughed. "Look who I'm talking to? Of course you don't." She slammed the door.
William passed by. "Problems, mate?"
Brad tried to make Bev see the intensity of the moment. "Bev, I need to go!"
The door opened once again.
Brad smiled thinking he was steps away from relief.
"Brad. Advice. Save the Earth. Go and fertilize a tree."
Brad walked away in defeat. To use the loo on the third floor.

Faith made a second check. Towel, clothes, soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion. Satisfied that she got everything she opened the door to the shower.
"Ah!" a male yell was heard.
Dropping everything, she turned around and ran out. "I didn't see anything!" she announced, her back still turned to the door.
"Ahh!" the scream was heard again, then a whooshing sound followed, and then a thud.
Faith didn't need to turn around to know what had happened. He had slipped on her bar of soap and crashed into the wall.
By this time the entire population of Manor House had gathered outside the door.
"What happened?" Bev asked.
William stormed out of the door. His hair was still wet, droplets of water falling from his bangs. He had was wearing nothing except a towel wrapped around his waist. His eyes were blazing mad. "Bloody-!"
he started to curse loudly.
The girls tried to act nonchalant about the whole situation, whistling and looking at the ceiling trying their best not to look at the near naked prince.
The boys all glared as if it were then who had been caught in the shower.
Faith got enough courage to meet Wills's eyes. 'I didn't see anything.' she stated again.
"Yeah right!" he bellowed. "What? You grew blind all of a sudden?"
"The door wasn't locked!" she defended.
"The lock was broken!" he informed.
"Like I was suppose to know!"
"What do you expect from a dumb girl?" Brad drawled.
Faith took that as a personal insult. "Well, if His Royal To-Die-For-ness knew how to operate a stupid lock-"
By this time everyone of both genders were yelling.
"Careful where you tred Kerrigan. Boys have always been known to be stronger. With one move of my hand I could kill you," Wills threatened menacingly.
"Girls have known to be quicker." Faith looked at the towel. She pursed her lips in amusement. "With one move of my hand," she matched Wills's tone. "I could expose you."
"Like they haven't seen me in the locker room..." Wills scoffed.
"I haven't seen you!" Bev reminded, raising her hand and making her way in front.
"Niether have I," Rachel,
"Bluff," Wills called.
"Double bluff!" she shot back.
Wills's hand reached for Faith's neck.
Faith reached for the towel...
"Headmaster Lewis!" Came a boy's warning.
In a flash the crowded hall was deserted. Everyone rushed to thier rooms. Wills retreated back to the shower room. Faith twisted the knob. "Let me in," She banged on the door.
"Not on your life!"
She leaned against the door. She smiled weakly at the Headmaster of Eton.
"Miss Kerrigan you're not supposed to be loitering around the halls at this hour."
"I was just-" she stammered gesturing to the door. "Going to shower." She made a big show of knocking on the door.
"I'm in the shower!" Wills sing-songed.
"Ooooops!" Faith said. "Someone's in there."
"Well, I was just about to put this sign," the headmaster showed her. Warning: Lock broken. Please knock before entering.
"That's a very good idea," Faith told him. "Who know's what might happen." She walked backwards. "I'll just go to my room and wait till the shower's free." She broke off into a run.

"The girls have to go." Brad announced in the room later.
William nodded. After the "shower scene" earlier, as it was getting to be popularly known. He wanted the girls out of Eton!
"How?" Kevin asked. "They've survived this long." And the thought of Kerry not coming to the smae school sudddenly felt odd.
It was past the one month deadline Brad had given them.
"Wills," Brad turned to him. "Is Harry in on this?"


Chapter Six
The game "I dare you" evolved out of boredom in Eton. As, I am told, most things do.
"I dare you," Bev told Faith before dinner. "To kiss the next guy who enters the room."
Faith sighed. "Fine."
William watched the doorway in amusement .
"This ought to be good," Brad bent his elbow on the table.
Faith walked over to the door and waited patiently for one of Eton's no names to pass through.
MIke breezed through the door. "Sorry, late-"
Faith grabbed him and kissed him on the lips.
The whole cafeteria erupted into hoots and yells. Yes, these are very deprived boys with slim chances of entertainment.
Bev applauded.
William was displeased.
Mike looked at the crowd in bewilderment.
Faith walked back to her seat looking very satisfied.
Mike sat in front of William. "Mate. What was that about?"
William snapped at him, "Nothing."
Dinner came just in time.

"She kissed me," Mike reminded Wills later when he cornered him in a deserted classroom after dinner.
"You weren't complaining."
"Why would I complain?"
William walked out on him.
Mike called after him. "It's not as if you've got a thing for her. Do you, Prince?"

Girls: Chapters 6-7