Prestwood Claras Story Pt 01

Author's Note: All characters, events, and places described in this narrative are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

This is the first of my 'Prestwood' series involving characters that were introduced in the 'Tutored in Temptation' series set at the prestigious Prestwood School in the United Kingdom. These Prestwood stories will run in parallel with the main Tutored in Temptation storyline which focuses on Emily and Darius. References will be included in the Prestwood stories back to events in the main storyline for context.

All comments and feedback are welcomed.

HF

------

The young brown-haired woman pursed her lips as the looked at the draft on the laptop screen in front of her.

The use of AI and Digital Innovation in International Event Management Planning by Clara Matthews

Hmm, I probably need a better title for this, she thought to herself. She'd been a regular contributor discussion blog run by the Faculty of Arts at the University of Surrey since she'd first started there several years ago. Now, in her Honours year, her professors had encouraged her to write more challenging and compelling articles. I thought this was compelling... now it just sounds like a rehash of my final undergraduate paper.

She sighed as she glanced around the kitchen, searching for inspiration. The Lancasters' really have a delightful place here, she thought. Unfortunately, their well-appointed home didn't provide her with the inspiration she needed. Screw it, I'll just go with that as a title...

Making her way to the fridge, Clara glanced at the clock before opening the door. 6.04pm. Emily had said that she was going to be late, and Jonathan was likely still in his office in London. She hadn't seen him since Emily had gone to Edinburgh for several days just after New Year for a conference. With term underway again, it seemed like both Emily and Jonathan were flat out at work again. Can't complain... more money for me...

The money would certainly come in handy with her upcoming trip. Her parents had chipped in, but she had saved most of the money from her work as a nanny to the Lancasters. With both of them being away so much, it had added up quite a bit, especially over the past year.

She just poured herself a juice from the fridge and returned to her laptop when she heard footsteps approaching the kitchen.

"Clara, can I have some water, please?" Sophie Lancaster was Emily and Jonathan's six-year-old daughter. A lively and curious little girl, she loved having Clara read stories to her and her collection of dolls that were usually arranged on the floor of her bedroom. She had inherited her mother's chestnut-brown hair and bright blue eyes, not to mention her playful smile.

"Of course, Soph," Clara replied, taking the glass from the little girl's hands. She'd collected her from school earlier that afternoon, an increasingly regular occurrence while Emily and Jonathan worked late. She refilled the glass from the tap and handed it back to her.

"Have you finished reading that book on animals for school tomorrow?" Clara asked. Sophie nodded. "Can I watch some TV please?"

Clara sighed softly, giving her a little smile. The book was her only homework tonight and she'd already eaten her dinner. "Ok... but only till your Mum gets home."

The words had hardly left her mouth when Soph turned and dashed to the living room, a faint "Thank you" reaching Clara's ears. She shook her head good-naturedly and turned her attention back to her laptop.

It was only a few minutes later that she heard a key turning in the front door followed by a cry of "Mummy" from the living room. Clara heard the voice of Emily Lancaster speaking to her daughter before more footsteps approaching the kitchen.

Clara glanced up from her laptop. "Hi, Mrs. Lancaster," she said with a grin as the older woman entered the room.

Emily dropped her bag on the kitchen table with a sigh of relief. "Hi, Clara. Thanks for looking after Sophie," she said, flashing Clara a tired smile. The attractive wife and mother of Sophie was an English teacher at Prestwood School, the same school Clara had attended before going on to university. I don't remember teachers being so busy or working such long hours when I was there, she thought idly to herself.

"No problem, Mrs. Lancaster." She shut the lid of her computer and stretched her arms over her head. "I can always use the extra money," she added, her tone casual but sincere. It was an excellent job, easy money. She knew she would have to start looking for something more permanent this year now she was coming to the end of her degree.

Emily chuckled as she put the kettle on as Clara placed her laptop away in her bag. "When do you leave for your trip?" the older woman asked.

"Next week," Clara said, her face lighting up at the thought as Emily pulled out a couple of mugs from the cupboard. "Just a few more days of lectures and babysitting, and then it's sun, sand, and sangria."

"Jealous doesn't even begin to cover it," Emily admitted with a smile, leaning against the counter as she waited for the water to boil. "Where exactly are you going again?"

"Gran Canaria," Clara said, grinning. "One of my uni mates found this cheap deal for a villa. There's a group of six of us going. Should be fun."

"Well, it sounds amazing," Emily said, pouring water into two mugs. "And much warmer than Guildford in January."

"You're telling me," Clara said, laughing. "I can't wait to escape this weather. Plus, I finally get to wear the new bikini I bought last week."

Emily raised an eyebrow, carrying the mugs over to the table. "New bikini, eh? Planning to turn some heads while you're there?"

Clara laughed, a little self-consciously. "Maybe. I mean, it's just a holiday with friends, but... you never know, right?"

Emily handed her a mug and sat down. "Exactly. You never know who you might meet. Just promise me you'll be careful, alright? Holidays can make even sensible people... well, you know..." she waved her hand vaguely.

Clara grinned. "Relax, Mrs. Lancaster. Don't worry about me. I'm the queen of caution."

Emily gave her a knowing look. "You say that now, but sun, sangria, and a villa can sometimes lead to... less cautious decisions. With boys, I mean."

Clara snorted. "Okay, fair. But birth control's not exactly my thing -- bad reaction to the pill in sixth form. Headaches, mood swings... all sorts of stuff." She shrugged. "Condoms work fine when needed."

Emily smiled. "Sounds sensible enough. But, you know, holidays can be unpredictable. Just... keep it in mind, yeah?"

Clara laughed, trying to shake off the slight awkwardness. "I will, I will. Trust me, I'm not about to make any life-altering decisions on a whim."

"Good," Emily said, smiling warmly. "I only nag because I care."

"Well, thank you," Clara said, genuinely touched. "Honestly, though, I'm just looking forward to getting away. Uni's been so full-on lately, and babysitting's great, but... I need a break."

Emily nodded sympathetically. "You've earned it. And don't worry about Sophie while you're gone. We'll manage just fine."

"Are you sure?" Clara asked, glancing towards the living room where Sophie's giggles could be heard as she watched one of her cartoons. "I feel a bit guilty leaving you in the lurch. Especially since you've both been so busy lately." The corners of Emily's eyes tightened slightly at Clara's words.

"Don't be ridiculous," Emily said firmly. "Go, enjoy yourself. Recharge. You deserve it."

Clara smiled, a wave of gratitude washing over her. "Thanks, Mrs. Lancaster. I really appreciate that."

"Emily, please," Emily corrected with a playful smile. "You can call me Emily, Clara. You're practically family." It was true, she seemed to spend more time here than she did at her parents' house. She and her parents had known the Lancasters since they'd moved to the area when she was a little girl. Once she had finished school, they had contacted her with the offer of some part-time nanny work. Much better rates with them, Clara had mused at the time, comparing what some of her friends were earning.

Clara laughed softly. It was a hard habit to break, she'd always called them Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster since she had been a little girl. "Alright, Emily. Thank you."

The two women chatted a little longer, the conversation drifting to lighter topics like travel plans and the best places to eat in Gran Canaria. Eventually, Clara glanced at her watch and realised it was time to head home.

"I should get going," she said, closing her laptop and gathering her things. "Thanks for the tea."

"Anytime," Emily said, walking her to the door. "Have a great trip, Clara. And remember -- be careful!"

Clara grinned as she pulled on her coat. "I will, Emily. I promise."

"Good," Emily said, opening the door. "And don't forget to send me some pictures of you at the beach. I want to see how much I should be envying you."

Clara laughed as she stepped out into the cold January night. "Deal. Goodnight, Emily."

"Goodnight, Clara," Emily said, watching her go with a fond smile before closing the door.

*****

The small group of friends burst through the door of the villa, laughter and shouts spilling out into the sunny afternoon. Clara trailed behind, her suitcase dragging on the tiled floor as the others raced ahead. At last, she thought! I can't wait to have a look around.

"This is lush!" Abby declared, flinging open the double doors to reveal a spacious living room with sleek furniture and a view of the pool. After the cold English winter, Gran Canaria seemed like a tropical paradise for the young women.

"Bruv, this gaff is well bougee," chimed in Ellie, already tossing her bag onto a sofa, and running to the patio doors. "Oi, check that pool! I'm jumpin' in the sec we've unpacked."

"Chill, Ellie, let us clock it first!" laughed Clara, kicking off her trainers and following her friend outside. Now that she was away on holidays, she could relax and talk more naturally in the way her friends did. Being around someone like Emily Lancaster could be tiring -- especially with her expectations as an English teacher.

The sunlit patio sparkled, a turquoise pool framed by white loungers and colourful bougainvillaea. Beyond the villa, a glimpse of the beach shimmered in the distance. The girls giggled excitedly at the expanse of beach and the groups of people already set up on the sand.

"This is it, girlies," said Steph, dropping her bag by the pool. "No lectures, no graft, no bloody rain -- just us and this paradise."

Clara smiled as she adjusted her sunglasses, her excitement bubbling beneath her calm demeanour. She felt a rare sense of freedom; the weight of coursework and babysitting back in Guildford seemed miles away. Time to have some fun!

"Right, bedrooms!" Ellie shouted, sprinting back into the villa, the other girls rushing behind her.

The girls darted through the house, squealing, and bickering good-naturedly over the best rooms. Clara hung back, taking the last one -- a cosy room on the first floor with a small balcony overlooking the garden.

After a quick shower to shake off the travel grime, Clara changed into a light sundress over her bikini and slipped on some sandals. She tied her light brown hair back into a loose ponytail, letting the soft warmth of the air brush her skin as she stood in front of the mirror in her room.

The face that stared back at her through soft hazel-coloured eyes was the almost perfect image of "the cute girl next door" with an oval shaped face, high cheekbones, a small, straight nose, and a warm, approachable smile that matched her personality. At just over 5'7" in bare feet and a very trim 120lbs, she had a naturally curvy body. For a second, she wondered if Roger would be jealous, seeing her like this. They had broken up just before Christmas, Clara having had enough of his needy attitude. Screw him, she thought, smiling at her reflection as she admired her 34-25-36in curves. He's the one missing out now!

She grabbed her bag, checking her contents before making her way downstairs. When she joined the others in the kitchen, they were debating the plan for the afternoon.

"Beach first or quick mooch round town?" Abby asked, leaning comfortable against the counter, a beer already open in front of her. Clara rolled her eyes. It was clear Abby wasn't wasting any time.

"Beach, duh," Ellie replied. "Ain't flown all this way to window shop."

"Why not both?" Clara suggested. "Bit of a wander, scran somewhere nice, then we hit the beach."

The other girls agreed, and soon they were out the door, sunglasses on and ready to explore the island.

*****

The town of Las Palmas was buzzing with energy, tourists and locals mingling in the sunny streets. Clara and her friends wandered through narrow lanes lined with whitewashed buildings, their laughter mingling with the sounds of buskers playing Spanish guitars and the voices in dozens of different languages around them.

"This place is actually peng," Clara said, pausing to snap a photo of a flower-covered archway on her phone.

"And the shops? Absolute danger," Steph added, holding up a pair of oversized, and overpriced, sunglasses she'd just bought. The shopaholic of the group, she couldn't go more than five paces before stopping to look at something new to buy.

Clara found herself relaxing, soaking in the lively atmosphere, a far cry from Guildford. They stopped at a small café for tapas and sangria, the warm breeze carrying the scent of the ocean from Las Canteras Beach.

"Aight," Abby smirked, raising her glass. "To a week of sun, sea, and zero stress!"

The glasses clinked, and Clara smiled as the sweet, fruity drink slid down her throat. A perfect way to start their holiday.

*****

By mid-afternoon, the girls had staked out a spot on the beach at Las Canteras. Towels were spread, sunscreen was slathered on, and the sound of waves provided a soothing backdrop to their lively conversations.

After stripping off her sun dress, Clara lay back on her towel, the sun warming her pale skin. She closed her eyes, listening to the chatter of her friends and the distant laughter of kids playing in the water. Just perfect...

"Oi, ladies!" The accent was unmistakeably English.

Clara opened her eyes to see a group of young men sauntering towards them, bottles of local beer in their hands. They were loud, confident, and very much the type who thrived on banter and attention. Oh, Christ... here we go... she thought with a sigh. That didn't take long at all...

"On hols, yeah?" one of them asked, a cheeky grin on his face as he looked the girls over. Like we're pieces of meat, Clara mused to herself, a touch of disgust creeping in to her thoughts. We only just got here...

"Obviously," Ellie shot back, raising an eyebrow. Always the flirty one, Clara thought. "What gave it away? The towels or the bikinis?"

The boys laughed, clearly enjoying the challenge. Among them was a tall, broad-shouldered Black man with a confident swagger. He had a smooth complexion, neatly trimmed facial hair, and eyes that sparkled with mischief. His gaze lingered on Clara, who sat up and adjusted her sunglasses, suddenly self-conscious of her body and the fact that she was wearing just a bikini. He's looking at me...

"Oi, what's your name, then?" he asked, his voice rich and smooth with more than a touch of cockiness to it.

"Clara," she said, her tone polite but reserved.

"I'm Jayden," he said, lips curling into a cocky grin. "Nice to meet ya, Clara."

"Nice to meet you too," she replied, feeling a little flustered under his gaze.

The group quickly merged, the boys cracking jokes and the girls firing back with equal wit. Clara mostly listened, but she couldn't ignore the way Jayden kept glancing her way, his cocky demeanour having an effect on her that she found disconcerting. She was usually fairly reserved around men, but there was something about Jayden that she found... appealing.

She knew she shouldn't think like that, he was a stranger, some random young man that was trying to chat her and her friends up while they were on holiday. Maybe it was the cocky attitude. Maybe it was because he was Black.

She'd had Black friends growing up, had gone to school with them, she was surrounded by them at university, but none of them had affected her in this way. Perhaps it was being away on holiday, the sangrias, the warm sun, the toned bodies...

Whatever it was, she did her best to ignore it, hoping that the unsettling flutter in the pit of her stomach would go away. Yet every time she glanced at Jayden, every time he grinned back at her, it came back again, just a little stronger.

Finally, as the sun started to dip below the horizon, the girls managed to extract themselves from the boys. More accurately, Clara and the others managed to drag Ellie away from the attentions of the young lads. As she turned to leave, she saw Jayden glance in her direction, his cocky smile causing another flutter in the pit of her stomach.

Calm down, Clara.

As she walked away with her friends, she could feel the young Black man's gaze lingering on her back.

*****

That evening, their first on the island, the girls dressed up and headed into town, keen to have a big night out. Clara opted for a simple black dress and strappy sandals, her hair falling loosely around her shoulders.

The bar they chose was lively but not overcrowded, with music playing and groups of people chatting over drinks. It wasn't long before they bumped into the boys from the beach.

"Fancy seeing you lot here," Jayden said, his grin as confident as ever as his eyes roved over the girls before settling on Clara. She felt a flutter of illicit excitement wash over her. Why is he looking at me like that?

"Tiny island," Ellie replied drawing his attention back to her as she rolled her eyes, but smiling nonetheless, as the boys crowded in. Clara's friends exchanged glances, and one of them -- Steph -- leaned forward with a grin. "So, Jayden, you boys livin' your best lives tonight or what?"

"Beers, music, and fit birds," he said with a grin, his eyes flicking back to Clara. "So far, it's been worth the trip."

Clara rolled her eyes, but she couldn't suppress the smile tugging at her lips. "You're such a prick."

"Only when I know I can back it up," he replied, his tone dropping slightly, making her stomach flutter.

The groups combined again, drinks flowing and conversations growing louder, but Clara couldn't shake the awareness of Jayden beside her. His arm brushed against hers as he reached for his drink, and every time he leaned in to speak, his warm breath sent a shiver down her spine. He was flirty, yes, but there was an arrogance to it, a confidence that bordered on entitlement. It was both infuriating and intoxicating.

Gradually the groups started to split up into pairs for more private conversations and as Clara sipped her third sangria for the night, the fruity sweetness making her head feel light and her limbs pleasantly loose, she found herself sitting at the bar next to Jayden. He leaned casually against the bar beside her, his dark skin glowing under the warm light, his fitted shirt accentuating his broad shoulders. He was effortlessly confident, his presence seemingly commanding attention without him even trying.

"So, Clara," he said, his London accent smooth and deliberate, as if he already knew that she would be going home with him that night. Some chance of that, she told herself determinedly. "What's a bougee girl like you doing in a place like this?"

She raised an eyebrow, trying to match his playful tone. "Bougee? That what you reckon I am?"

He smirked, taking a sip of his pint. "Come on, love. You've got 'middle-class Surrey' written all over ya. Bet ya went to one of those mad private schools where they teach ya how to sip tea all posh like."