“I guess,” I mutter, not entirely convinced.
“Oh, by the way, you’re all coming to mine after school,” Bea announces, a grin spreading across her face.
Before I can object, Lilia holds up a single finger which quickly shuts me up. “Addie, you are coming. Even if I have to drag you there myself.”
I meet her gaze and know she’s serious. Anxiety gnaws at me, and I think of the pile of things waiting for me at home. My hand reaches for the hairband I usually fiddle with, only to remember I flung it off in the car.Damnit.My fingers fidget restlessly instead.
Don’t do it Adeline.
You have too much to do.
But with a deep sigh, I relent. “Okay, fine. I’ll come.”
Lilia beams, nudging Bea. “We’re raiding your closet tonight.”
Bea rolls her eyes, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. “At this rate, you’ll have taken half my wardrobe.”
“Bull. Have youseenthe size of your closet?” Lilia retorts. “I’ve borrowed maybe one per cent of it.”
Bea doesn’t dignify that with a response. Instead, she rummages through her bag and pulls out a hoodie, holding it out to me. “Here. You’re shivering.”
I blink at her. “Oh, no, it’s fine. I’ll dry off eventually.”
“Nonsense.” She presses the hoodie into my hands with a small smile. “You can’t walk around wet and muddy all day.”
I hesitate at first, then eventually give in. Pulling on the hoodie, I’m immediately enveloped in warmth. “Thank you, Bea,” I say, genuinely touched. “That’s really nice of you.”
She waves it off. “It’s just a hoodie, Addie. No big deal.”
I smile at her, grateful. “You’re a lifesaver.”
***
I walk into Maths class, and my eyes immediately lock onto Will at the front, leaning back in his chair. He’s surrounded by a swarm of people, but he’s completely still. His eyes are unnervingly still too, fixed on some invisible point. His arms drape lazily over the desk, fingers drumming a slow rhythm.
At first glance, he looks bored, but the longer I look, the more there seems to be something a little off about it. His head tilts slightly, and his lips pull into a faint smirk that doesn’t even try to reach his eyes.
Then his gaze snaps to me, freezing me in place. His eyes gleam now, something dangerous sparking behind them, and his smirk shifts, just a twitch at the corner of his mouth, but it feels wrong.
Heat rushes to my face, and I realize with a wave of humiliation that I probably look like a drowned rat right now.
With that in mind, I force myself to look away, my breath catching as I head toward Kym’s desk.
She doesn’t look much better than I feel. So nervous I think I might actually pass out. In fact, nervous would be an understatement. She looks absolutelyterrified.
Her eyes dart around the room, never landing anywhere for long, and her hands fidget restlessly with a pencil. She’s tapping it erratically against the desk, her fingers clutching it like it’s a lifeline, or a way to ground herself. Her knee bounces under the desk, and her lips press together in a tight, thin line.
Sliding into the seat beside her, I lean in a little. “Hey, Kym,” I whisper softly. “You alright?”
She glances at me briefly, her smile small and strained, before her gaze darts away again.
“Are you sure?” I press, lowering my voice further.
Before she can answer, the teacher strides in, clutching a stack of papers. “Alright, class, I’ve got your test results here. Let’s get to it,” she announces.
Kym goes completely still.
Her pencil slips from her fingers, rolling across the desk, but she doesn’t seem to notice. Her shoulders stiffen, her breathing picks up, and I notice how shallow and uneven the breaths are. When the teacher approaches with the stack of papers, herhands grip the edge of the desk so tightly her knuckles turn white.
