Today was The Leaving. It wasn't a day like most. The previous night's party had gone on very late, with the curfew waived for all years. Breakfast would be a simple affair when the students got up.

"Are you awake?" whispered Helen.

"Yes," David responded lazily. "How late is it?"

"Just a bit later than usual."

"You want to sleep more, or?"

"Let's not break the rules on our last day," she responded. "And for some reason, I don't feel sleepy."

Even though they'd slept in the same room for nearly five years, they still obeyed the rules and went to shower and dress separately.

"Joint shower tomorrow?" suggested Helen as they made their way for breakfast.

"I'm not sure if it will be big enough for all four of us," responded David, knowing that she'd meant the two of them.

Helen gasped in shock and David laughed. He liked it when he was able to surprise her.

The Lounge gradually filled as pupils awoke and stumbled downstairs. The knowledge that ten people would be leaving wasn't lost on anybody. As they relaxed, friends from year three and four came up and said their goodbyes. They'd been through The Leaving more than once, and they were closer in age. To them this was a natural progression in the school.

As David sorted out a stack of books to put back into the library, he saw Ben and Jennifer enter. They were rather animated. He smiled knowing that they'd just been told that Rachel was going to be their support person, and she'd just invited them to join the Beta program. He made as if to get up, but Helen dragged him back.

"It isn't your job anymore."

She was right. Before, it would have been his job to talk to them, but not anymore. Luke was there in a moment, taking them outside to discuss things further without it spilling into the main morning gathering.

He wouldn't be around for the remaining two being asked and tried to push those thoughts out of his mind. The goodbyes became too much and after taking the books back to the library, he went to sit outside. He might still be a year five leader, but was no longer in charge of the betas, and was no longer head student.

The bench looking out at the scenery was somewhere he could never get enough of. This would be a view he would remember, but it would never be how it was now. He would grow up, and its meaning to him later would differ from how he felt now.

He contemplated his life before joining Hayfield. He'd been shy and scared. Scared because he didn't understand his own feelings and scared because his difference was obvious to others, and they wanted rid of him. To them, being different was wrong and should be punished to make him conform. If only they could see him now.

The school regiment would be gone. Tomorrow would be his first full day where he wouldn't be under school rules. He wouldn't have to be up by a certain time. He could go to bed when he wanted. If everything went to plan, Helen and he would be meeting up with Andy and Stacy and having a few weeks holiday.

Would he miss Hayfield? Yes. But he wasn't frightened of leaving. The last few weeks had meant a lot of time away from the school. Preparation for his life ahead. New clothes had been purchased and stored. Clothes in both genders. He and Helen hadn't bought too much of anything. They could get more when they got to America. They had enough for a suitcase each. More wasn't needed.

"Hi."

David looked up to see Molly. She looked rather earnest.

"Can I sit?"

David shrugged, unsure why she was asking. "Sure."

"You rushed out. What's up?"

"Nothing. Everything." David shrugged, unsure how to articulate things. "I felt out of place. I nearly interceded where it wasn't my place to. Not anymore."

"Is it hard to let go?" Molly seemed interested, rather than judgemental. Like she was preparing herself when she left in a year's time.

"In some ways. In others, not at all. I'll be gone in an hour, so it won't matter. I still see people looking at me for leadership, but that isn't me anymore. That's you and Tony, and I don't want to intrude. I'm off for some quiet time at a university, and then I'll see what comes up."

Molly gave a small chuckle. "You won't be leading a quiet life. It isn't what you've been training for the last few years, and a quiet life isn't part of who you are. It isn't part of your character."

"Perhaps not, but we shall see. I'll miss the school. Strange to say that, but it's true. I'll miss the people. The love and support. It really is a wonderful place. Yet, I'm quite excited about what the future holds. I've learned all I can here."

"Have the new Beta members been told?"

"You should be asking Luke, but I'll answer anyway. Two were told this morning. I think the other two will be told this afternoon."

Molly was quiet for a moment, reviewing in her mind if there was anything strange in The Lounge. "Ben and Jennifer? But they're so young."

"I became a beta in year one," David pointed out. "I was the Beta leader in year two. It is rare, but it happens. I'm sure Luke will be chatting with you at some stage. That way you can turn a blind eye to certain things, like if they miss a curfew for a meeting."

"Can't they just hold the meetings earlier?"

"We tried that, but it was too obvious to those that didn't know. As they get older, a lot of pupils know something is going on, just not the specifics. They just ignore it. A meeting at ten at night means the younger pupils are in their rooms. Therefore, there is less people to avoid."

"All this subterfuge. Can't you just tell all the pupils?"

"Not really. You know what goes on, but not why. The whole school knew once because of an incident. Worse than what happened in Strasbourg. They saw what happened, so there was no denying it. But they also knew how bad it could be and that helped them keep it to themselves. Your year didn't know, and you didn't know about the American school until two of them visited last October/November. You know a lot more than the other pupils."

Molly took it all in, and then asked, "How hard was when you were the beta leader but not the head pupil?"

"It wasn't that hard. There weren't many times of conflict. Perhaps the hardest thing was last year when Ingrid was head pupil. She was a beta where I was the leader. Yet for day-to-day tasks, she was the leader. If that makes sense. It isn't like we take orders or anything, but it was still a bit incongruous."

"Were there any conflicts?"

"No, but times were quiet. Things have been a bit more involved this year, but hopefully things have settled again. You know Luke. He isn't going to be making demands. You've had a chat with him already about boundaries. Was that not settled?"

"Oh, sure. I was just making sure. I thought there would be more overlap."

David laughed. "Susan, who was the year leader when you joined. She had the same worries. She had no complaints when she finished at Hayfield. Luke will just let you get on with things. He's another contact you can talk to if you need to. Otherwise, he won't interfere."

"This might seem a silly question, but how much does Mr Hobson know about the Beta team?"

"Actually, that is a very astute question. He knows most of what goes on, but not sometimes the reasons. If you do have a worry about Beta stuff, do take it up with him if you need to. There aren't any worries there. Mr Hobson is head of the school. You are head pupil, and he is the right person to discuss things with. He knows who to take things up with if there are issues."

"Thanks for this," said Molly standing. "I better go. I need to round up everybody for The Leaving."

"Gosh," said David, leaping to his feet. "I have one more goodbye before that."

* * *

David made his way to the car. The sun was out, and the leavers were all waiting by the cars enjoying the unseasonably good weather.

"What kept you?" asked Helen when David got close.

"I was just leaving a note for Luke. I bumped into Mr Taylor, and it took longer than expected to say goodbye."

"He's really come out of his shell over the last few years," laughed Helen.

"Now everybody is here, we can start," stated Rachel.

"I was thinking over the previous leavings we've witnessed," said David. "I hated it on our first leaving. The back windows on all the cars are tinted, so the pupils can't see the leaves go. I've hated this each year since."

"And what do you suggest?" asked Lewis having heard and moved closer to Helen and David.

"I don't know."

"We could walk down the driveway," suggested Paula.

"In pairs, like after a commitment ceremony?" added Emma.

There was an excited chorus of doing something different. Something new.

"After we get to the school gates, perhaps then the cars can come up and we drive off," added Anna.

Helen turned to the support workers, who'd been listening to them. "Is that okay?"

"It's your leaving," said Rachel as head psychiatrist. "Are you all okay with that plan?"

"It would certainly set an alternative for future years," mused Brian.

"It's a good job I'm wearing comfortable shoes," pointed out Erika.

"Okay, how about this order. Erika and Martha first, since they joined last. Followed by Jill and Anna. Then—"

Brian interrupted, "Then Lewis and me next. Two boys in the middle."

"Perfect," said Helen.

"Emma and Paula, do you want to go at the back or after Brian and Lewis?"

"Next," said Emma almost pleading.

David gave a brilliant smile. "No problem. Martha, no cartwheels please."

She laughed. "Certainly not in this dress. I don't want to frighten anybody. We will take it slowly."

Erika and Martha set off. The summer sun beating down on them as they started the journey towards the driveway. When they were about five meters in front of them, Anna and Jill started their sedate journey.

As the last ones, David and Helen had the longest to wait. Eventually it was their turn and followed. The previous leavings had been quite a quiet affair. The remaining students lining the drive and waving goodbye, not knowing if the leavers saw or heard. Now the leavers were in full view.

Both sides were lined with students waving at the departing students. As always there were a few tearful students from the lowest year. The first Leaving a shock to them. Yet they would grow and learn that the family of Hayfield never really ended. Each of the youngest had someone older from the school stood nearby. They might have been in grief but there was someone there if needed.

To David and Helen, this wasn't a sad day. It wasn't a happy day. It was just the next step. They'd learnt what they could at Hayfield. The school had given them an education like no other and each person in the leaving year had some form of work experience. They weren't just educationally prepared, but the school had given them as much of an opportunity as they could.

Eventually they came to the end of the drive, where their year gathered. They turned to face the school and saw the cars had started their way towards them.

"Stay in touch," said Emma to everyone in the group.

They all promised to do so. David added, "If Helen and I are out of touch, don't be upset. It isn't that we're ignoring you."

"We know," said Erika, giving David a quick hug. "Just be safe."

The remaining pupils had followed the cars down the driveway towards the gates where the now ex pupils stood. When the cars stopped the ten waved their last goodbye and got in.

A loud shout of "Good Luck" echoed as they shut the doors.

The snake of cars made their way towards the A5. The trunk road was normally the first point that the chain of cars would split. Some would head north and some south. Today's Leaving was different. Rachel took the car through the village and pulled into the car park of the pub. There waiting, standing outside a car was Andy and Marcus.

David wondered why Marcus was there and not Stacy.

"This has been the shortest leaving journey in the history of Hayfield," laughed Rachel as she parked next to them.

"I'm glad we made your life easier," retorted Helen.

As they got out of the car, Marcus approached. He handed them each a bag of clothes to change into. The school clothes they were wearing would go back with Rachel.

"We've been given a project before we go to America, and time is pressing. Our holiday will have to wait. I'll grab your suitcases while you change."

David's heart rate picked up. He wasn't sure if it was seeing Andy and Marcus or that they had a project to do. Being in a pub car park wasn't the place to discuss things like that, so the two ex-pupils hurried off to the pub toilets to change.

"Did you see Marcus's finger?" David explained as they walked to the building. "He had on Stacy's engagement ring."

David and Helen had been told a week ago about the engagement. It filled them both with joy.

"About time," smiled Helen. "Fancy Andy proposing and not having a ring."

"You better have one for me if you propose," said David, not laughing.

"Hey, I proposed for our affirmation. It's your turn next, but not for a few years. Let's get to know each other away from school first."

The went in and disappeared into the individual toilets.

"You've got to be kidding!" exclaimed David when he opened the bag to change out of the school clothes. He spied female jeans, top, bra and panties. He knew there was more underneath which probably included makeup. They were his size, so he knew he hadn't been given the wrong bag. At the bottom was a note. "Sorry, but I'll explain more on the way."

A few years ago, this would have upset David, but now he knew more about himself it didn't really matter to him. It had been one of the questions he'd been asked if he could do missions as either gender. This was after he'd been offered the job. It didn't stop the offer; it was just to make sure he was offered relevant investigations.

What did matter to him was there was some issue that needed the four of them. He wondered why them. There were others with much more experience. He knew he wouldn't get the answers in the toilets, so finished getting ready. Thank goodness it was during the day and nobody else was there to go into the gents.

Helen was just coming out the ladies when Jayne appeared.

"You look scrumptious," said Helen, her eyes twinkling. Then with utter seriousness, "Are you okay with this?"

Jayne gave a reassuring smile. "I'm good. Let's go and find out what's going on."

They walked out into the sunshine. Rachel was waiting by the door and raised her eyebrows a bit when she saw Jayne.

"Thank you for all your help over the years," said Jayne as she handed the bag that contained the Hayfield clothes. Without thinking, she gave Rachel a quick hug.

"It's been my pleasure. I'm sure it won't be the last time I see you."

Jayne nodded. Older pupils sometimes went to the school to help students over issues. Sometimes a past student was able to help more than a teacher for certain things.

Jayne moved to one side, and let Helen say goodbye. When that was done, they climbed into the other vehicle. Helen sat in the front with Andy, and Jayne joined Marcus in the back. The ring had gone from Marcus's hand. He'd worn it to just let them, and probably Rachel, know that the engagement was official.

As they drove away, Helen asked the big question. "Where are we going?"

"France. We're going to help Louis Jumelet finish his task. He doesn't know David, but he knows Jayne and Helen. It was decided that two couples would be easier than four females."

"Let's get this finished, and hopefully we can get our holiday."

The journey took them back past the gates of Hayfield Hall. They were shut, but that didn't matter. It was no longer their home. That part of their lives was finished, and a new adventure awaited.