“Please,” I say, but they’re not listening.
“He’s not your friend, Knightly.”
Eve squeezes her eyes close. “Fuck off, Henry.”
“Everyone, stop arguing—”
“Tell me what you were going to say. Tell me what they know!”
Eve’s fists curl beside her and her mouth twitches. I hold my breath. She’s going to say something. It’s going to come out without her thinking because Henry’s provoking her —
“They know how Noah feels about you,” Eve explodes.
My breath hitches and Henry’s stunned into silence, but soon he’ll comprehend Eve’s words. Soon he’ll know. He already knew, at least subconsciously. But it’s going to hurt so much more when he realises, without a doubt, that I’m in love with him.
Now that Eve’s begun, she can’t stop. “Can’t you see how much he cares about you? Can’t you see that? You don’t deserve him. You don’t!”
I should try to stop Eve from speaking, from exposing my most vulnerable feelings, but I’m numb. This can’t be happening. Thiscannotbe happening.
“All of this happened, because he lo—cares about you, you obtuse fuckhead. He’s wanted you this whole time, and you broke his heart.”
My ears are ringing. My mouth won’t work.Stop, Eve. Stop.
“I’m sure you’re a nice person, Henry. And I’m so, so sorry for everything that happened. I am. But this afternoon, you’ve treated me horribly. I’m trying my best, and you’re rude as hell. You’re—”
Please stop. Please stop.“Please stop!”
I’ve shouted. I glance through the windows to see if people outside have heard, but there’s nobody nearby, no one to witness the three of us arguing, to see Henry’s pale face and Eve’s red cheeks.
The pair of them are breathing hard. Henry’s expression is unreadable.
“Henry …” I start.
But he’s shaking his head. When I catch the look in his eyes, I feel as if I’ve been thrown to the ground, as if the air has left my lungs, as if someone has reached between my ribs and strangled my heart.
He walks to the door and leaves the classroom without another word.
I sink lower down the wall.No. Everything is ruined. He will never speak to me again.
“Noah.” Eve walks over and leans down so her face is level with mine. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have. But I had to—”
“You had to?” I laugh, raspy and mirthless. “You had to?”
“Noah—”
I shake my head. “Why the fuck would you say that?” I demand. “I …I thought I could trust you.”
Her mouth opens. “Weren’t you paying attention? I had to—”
I had to, I had to, I had to.
“No, you didn’t.” I push myself up, and she stumbles out of the way. I look down at her. “No, you fucking didn’t.”
“Stop swearing at me,” she says. Her voice is hard, but her eyes are soft. “Noah—” she tries to take my arm but I wrench it away. “Look, I know you’re upset. But how you feel about Henry is clouding your opinion. Objectively, I’m—”
“You’re what?” I say. “Right? Because you’re always right, aren’t you, Eve?”
Her eyes flash with hurt. I don’t care. She’s ruined everything with Henry. She had to be a smart ass and run her mouth off.
