Ruby fakes a gasp. “What a fantastic solution.”
I’m an only child, so when Ruby and Oliver first moved to Easton Grammar in Year 9, their constant bickering scared me, and I was always afraid that they’d start arguing for real. Now I know that this is a daily occurrence and seldom escalates. Perhaps it’s because Ruby talks at Oliver, while he takes everything unbothered.
Everyone thought they were twins when they first arrived, but Oliver’s more than a year older. He went to primary school late, and Ruby went early, so they ended up in the same year level. Ruby avoids clarifying that she’s the younger sister, though.
The line plods forward, then stops.
“I get what you mean, though, Eve,” Oliver says. “The guys rag on him too.”
“I saw them kiss against the lockers last week, and Daisy had her legs around him,” Ruby says.
“Surely they can control themselves,” I say.
Oliver shakes his head. “You don’t get it. Teenage boys are controlled by their dicks.”
“Ew.” Ruby puts up a hand. “Stop talking to us.”
Maybe Ruby’s interference is why Oliver and I aren’t very close. Sure, we sometimes have lunch together and watch movies at their house when Ruby’s in a forgiving mood, but Oliver and I don’t sit with each other in class, and I don’t know his friends well.
Once I told Ruby if we were more friendly with Oliver, we could socialise with the rest of our year level and get invited to parties. She said, “I thought we hated socialising.”
I said, “You’re right. We do.” I wouldn’t mind going to a party though.
We move forward again, and though Ruby told Oliver to stop talking, they’ve started chatting about something else. I pretend to pay attention while looking at Oliver’s profile, with his defined jaw and straight nose —
“Really?” Oliver laughs, looking at me.
I blink. “What?”
“Noah Rosselli cheating on your test,” Ruby explains.
“Oh. Yeah. I’m going to say something.”
“Like what?” Ruby asks.
“The obvious. I’d tell him to stop, blah, blah, blah.”
“It’s not as if he’ll listen to you, though. No offence, but you know how he and his friends are,” Ruby says.
“I know, but he needs to learn that he can’t get away with it. He could have gotten me into trouble.”
“I think it’s a good idea,” Oliver says.
I straighten. “You do?”
“Yeah. He’s so arrogant. I bet he thinks that cheating on your test was doing you a favour.” His expression darkens. While Oliver is well-liked, he isn’t friends with Noah and must think of him the way Ruby and I do.
“Yeah, we’re right. It’s a good idea,” I say.
Ruby shrugs. “Do whatever you want.”
“I will.”
Oliver smiles at me — perfect straight white teeth. I force myself not to smile back.
2
Noah: An Absolute Sucker
