Chapter 4

Calais port

Cher pulled on a jacket as she stood in the grungy vehicle hold waiting for Phil the bus driver to comeback and actually open the bus, various other passengers mingled around trying to get to one of the many coaches in the ferry’s vehicle hold.

“Move”, a voice said sharply to her, as a body pushed past carry many bags of alcohol.

“Sorry”, Cher said quickly ‘how rude’ she thought.

Cher looked around her, she could not see Daniel or Beverly anywhere, she was able to spot Mr Hamlin lurking by the ferry door, eyeing up each student and their bags as they came down to the coach.

“I feel sick, don’t talk to me, and urgh, ooo nice lippy where did you get that”, Jessica said sidling up to Cher and plopping a heavy looking bag down next to her.

“Aww, bless, and on the ship” Cher replied touching a finger to her lips and tasting the lip flavour with her tongue.

“Ah me two”, Jessica said gesturing to her bag on the floor currently falling over with the weight contained inside of it.

“What on earth have you bought?” Cher asked bending down to glance in the bag, where a light diffusing concealer bottle was showing itself on top of a powder compact.

“Bus now!” a voice shouted, Phil had come back looking marginally happier than he had done on the way down to the ferry, it may have been due to the extreme amount of Hamlet Cigars in his pockets and carrier bag.

“Show you on the coach”, Jessica said grabbing her bag with a heave and clambering up the steps to her seat.

“Black widow Daniel”, Beverly asked looking at the box her tiny lipstick was contained in.

“Yeh, don’t you get it” Daniel said adjusting his glasses as he escorted various students onto the bus.

“Not really”, Beverly replied.

“It’s a joke”, Daniel said.

“Not that funny Daniel”, Beverly said quietly, a look of dismay on her face.

“What, I don’t understand, why isn’t it funny”, Daniel said stopping and looking at his wife, who looked slightly angry at her husband.

“I don’t appreciate Jokes like this Daniel”, Beverly said seriously.

“Well, why, tell me for once, open up to me, sometimes your always so enclosed Bev” Daniel said.

“And this will be one of those occasions Daniel” Bev said sharply walking away from him leaving him stood, unaware that Ivan Doherty was standing behind the teacher listening to the domestic argument that had just occurred.

Ivan Doherty sat in silence as the coach moved through the serene landscapes of France, he was pondering the argument he had heard on the coach park, he had always known Mr Robertson to have a sense of humour, but then again he had never seen Mr Robertson and his wife together for a long period of time. Ivan glanced over his shoulder and spotted Cher and Jessica raking through a bag of makeup and giggling, smiling lightly to his self Ivan stood up and went over to the girls, dropping down on a seat in front of them he rested his arms on the back of the chair and looked at them.

“Hey Ivan”, Jessica mumbled as she tried to apply her new makeup whilst the coach bumped up and down.

“Hi”, Cher said looking at him.

“Ladies”, Ivan replied.

“Anything you want Ivan”, Jessica asked looking at the boy his dark locks falling over his face.

“Nope, just a chat really, hey fancy some Goss” Ivan said helping himself to a packet of m&m’s on the girl’s seat.

“Always”, Jessica said watching Ivan pour the sweets into his mouth, “hey get your own”.

“Play fair Jess”, Ivan said smiling at her.

“Come on Gossip please” Jessica said.

“Mr Robertson bought his wife a lipstick called Black widow and she totally blew up”, Ivan said laughing slightly, his gaze was fixed up Cher as he waited for a reply, he noticed she had stopped flicking through a magazine.

“Really what a skank”, Jessica said laughing loudly, “he has no sense, that’s men for you, no offence”.

“None taken”, Ivan said, “I heard them arguing on the boat, it seems as if she doesn’t appreciate Mr Robertson’s jokes, but then again who does, I mean if he can’t make his wife laugh, then he has no chance with our classes”.

Cher glared at Ivan from under her hair but didn’t say anything, she knew Ivan was winding her up; after all it was what he did best.

“Cher, what do you know about Mr Robertson’s sense of humour”, Ivan said suggestively.

“Nothing Ivan, no more than you”, Cher said, she refused to rise to his bait.

“Yeh ok”, Ivan said.

“Yes Ok”, Cher replied, Ivan looked hurt but Cher ignored it.

“Leave it”, Jessica intercepted.

Ivan sat back on the chair and left what he was saying, silence resumed between the three as the coach moved out of Calais and towards the Paris roads.

La Maison de Steve

“La Maison de Steve”, Cher said standing outside the great Chateau which the group were planning to stay in for a week.

“The House of Steve”, Jessica said standing next to her.

“Steve’s house”, Ivan said gazing upwards.

“Come on Kids, in we go then”, Daniel Robertson said as Jovially as he could stepping up to the front of the group, “welcome to La Maison de Steve”.

The Group mumbled whilst the made their way into the aging Chateau, Daniel and Craig at the back, Beverly had gone to the front of the group to be with the female teachers.

“The House of Steve Craig, where on earth did you get this one?” Daniel asked looking at his friend who also was taking in the Chateau.

“Your idea Dan”, was Craig’s reply.

“Really was it?” Daniel asked looking puzzled.

“Yes, it went something like, oh I think we should go to France on a trip, you know, take some older students and stay in a Chateau, I’ve heard of some great places, ringing any bells Daniel” Craig said ushering the final students in the Chateau before him.

“Hmm, sound’s like me”, Daniel said as he entered the Chateau for himself.

The La Maison De Steve had high ceilings, engraved with various fancy covings, the walls were dark wood, surrounded by mahogany furniture and an enormous portrait of Louis XIV hung above the sweeping staircase, off to the left was a Mahogany reception desk, where a red haired woman stood, playing with her mobile phone.

Silence had fallen over the group; Daniel made his way over to the desk, after all this appeared to have been all his idea.

“Err, Bonjour, nous avons une réservation avec vous”, Daniel tried, the woman looked up at him.

“Hi, you want to check your reservation here”, the woman replied.

“Oh yes, that’s right” Daniel said slightly shocked at the fact that the woman spoke English and that she actually was Scottish.

“Right how many are there of you”, the lady asked flipping her hair.

“Fifteen including the staff and adults”, Daniel replied.

“Right you’re in these rooms, it’s two to a room, breakfast is at eight and conferences begin at nine thirty, and by the way my name is Sue, and I’ll be your Receptionist for the duration of your Stay, Welcome to La Maison de Steve” Sue said handing Daniel over a bunch of keys to distribute.

“Thanks”, he replied.

Daniel proceeded to hand out Key’s whilst Beverly promptly ignored him as he handed her key number 102.

Cher looked Daniel in the face as he handed her key 103, Daniel didn’t smile but looked at Cher quickly before looking away and moved onto the next couple who unfortunately for Cher was Ivan and Jason.

“Room 103 Jess, lets role”, Cher said picking up her big.

Jessica opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by a loud voice radiating from the door of the reception.

“Bonjour les Dames et les Messieurs, Accueillir à La maison de Steve, mon nom est Steve et im votre Directeur d'hôtel et barre tender”, the voice yelled. Silence fell over the group again as a Man stepped into view. It appeared as if the house of Steve was named after this man, and from what Cher could gather this she supposed was Steve.

“For dose of you who don’t speak French, Allo Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to Ze Ouse of Steve, my name is Steve and I am your Otel Manager and bar tender”, Steve added laughing loudly and looking at the shocked faces.

“Well Hi there Steve, let me just say how lovely your Chateau is, and how pleased we are to be here”,

Daniel said taking the bull by the horns and speaking to this strange French man, whilst dropping the final key into Craig’s hand who would be sleeping alone.

“Merci Messieur, thank you, and I Ope you enjoy your stay here no” Steve said smiling and shaking the Daniel warmly by the hand.

“I Ope you all ave a good time in my Otel, and enjoy all the food my Chef Bernard will prepare for you all” Steve said to the group.

Cher smiled at Steve who had come up to her left, Steve spotted her and spoke quietly to her as the students began to walk to their rooms.

“Bonjour la Belle dame, accueillir à mon hôtel, je regarde en avant à voir vous dans la barre, pour une conversation longue et un verre de mon vin célèbre”, he said smiling at Cher.

Cher giggled and looked at the older man, “Merci” was all she could think to say, Cher hadn’t really understood what Steve had said to her but she understood the gist of what he was trying to say by the way he said it.

“Come on Cher to your room please”, Daniel said stepping up to Cher’s side, his voice was serious, it became clear to Cher that Daniel had understood exactly what Steve had said and he was not pleased.

“Yes sir”, she said, with a smile Cher walked upstairs escorted by Daniel who was also alone, Beverly had headed up to the room alone dragging her case with her whilst Daniel had been speaking to Steve.

“What him Cher, you can’t trust men like him”, Daniel said walking towards the second set of stairs.

“What do you mean?” Cher asked mildly.

“You know what I mean, I heard what he said to you, just be careful, we can’t watch you all of the time” Daniel said slowing down.

“Don’t worry sir I can handle myself” Cher said stopping to wait for Daniel who had stopped panting on the stairs.

“Tip top Physical condition me” Daniel said with a laugh.

“Obviously”, Cher replied with a laugh. “What room are you in”, she asked looking at her hand where her key had been until Jessica had dragged it off her.

“102”, Daniel replied.

“103, I’m Opposite you”, Cher said with a smile as they came upon the corridor where their rooms were to be for the week.

“Fantastic, and here we are” Daniel said gesturing to her room.

“Well, good night”, Cher said.

“Good night”, Daniel replied with a smile and held out his hand to Cher, who shook it with a laugh.