7
Olive
He doesn’t seem to have grassed because I don’t get called to Mrs.Sinclair’s office the next day either.I get let off politics the next morning so that I can go to my first physio session in Ebrington.And anyone who thinks that’s just a bit of massage and lying around is mistaken.Seriously.It’s more like strength training and mobility exercises, where I fail at even the simplest movements and leave the practice with a throbbing shoulder.The sessions usually make it worse for a while before it can get better.Hey, it would be nice if that applied to my life in general, but that seems miles off just now.
My rage at Colin and his silly threats doesn’t fade until I’m sitting in one of Ms.Barnett’s art classes—the school is very keen on “enrichment” like this.He’s not here, but there’s another new girl, although she started in September, of course.Elain is from Germany, and something about her reminds me a bit of Emma, even though her hair is more like mine—long and dark.We’re sitting at a table for four with Tori’s brother, Will, and Kit, hisboyfriend, and they succeed in taking my mind off the irritating encounter with Colin.
It’s good to see Kit here after the bust-up with his drunken dad back in the spring that landed him in hospital.A lot has happened since then.He now boards at the school instead of coming in for classes as a day pupil.That seems to have taken a lot of the heat out of the situation with his dad because, according to Grace, Kit’s back to helping out with his family’s village shop sometimes now.Irvine’s is as much a fixture in Ebrington as Sinclair’s bakery, the Blue Room Café, and the Ebrington Tales bookshop.Suddenly I feel an urge to show Colin around the place.I give myself a quick shake to get back in my right mind.Why would I want to show him anything?He’s horrible, disrespectful, and ungrateful.Anyway, I doubt he’d be interested.He’s not even here, but I jut my chin at him before turning my attention back to the basket of fruit we’re meant to be drawing.Yet at break time, I can’t resist the urge to google the stupid nickname he gave me yesterday.
Olive Garden.
An American restaurant chain.Seriously!He can do one.Who does he think he is, waltzing in here like that, having the fucking arrogance to try to blackmail me?Just because he’s tall and moderately attractive.OK, that’s not true.He’s outrageously attractive, and the problem is that he knows it, with his perfect brown hair and dark eyes, but he can take a hike.At least I’ll only have to be around that cowboy for a few weeks.Once I’m back with my pals in the upper sixth, he can bite me.OK, so he’ll still be sharing a room with Sinclair, but we won’t keep bumpinginto each other every day.Either that or I’ll actually help him get expelled—that way I’ll be rid of him.Mind you, I’m sure he can achieve that by himself.
After English, I just want to join Tori, Grace, and everyone.I spot Colin at the hatch in the dining room.I don’t deign to notice him, obviously, but take my tray and join my friends.Yesterday evening, Ms.Ventura insisted on me sitting with the lower sixth.It felt like someone had stabbed me in the back with a sword as everyone watched me pick up my tray and move tables.Total humiliation.And then I ended up sitting with Ana and Luke.They’re in the swimming team, so listening to them tell me how much they all miss me didn’t exactly boost my mood.They mentioned the whole display-case thing, but I acted like I didn’t have a clue.Colin was sitting across the table and must have been able to hear us because he kept shooting amused glances at me that made me sweat.There’s no way I’m voluntarily sharing a table with him at lunch.
It’s only compulsory to sit with your year group at breakfast and dinner, but most people stick to it for lunch too, to be with their friends.But my friends are in the upper sixth.Everyone must know that I got put back a year by now, but nobody bats an eyelid when I join them.In fact, Tori immediately gives me a hug.I’m sure she saved a place for me.Inés and Amara smile at me across the table.Sinclair and Omar are here, while Emma and Henry soon join us.Just as it should be.It’s only now that I realize how much I’ve missed mealtimes with my friends.
“So how’s it going?”Tori asks at some point, dropping her voice.“Doing any of the same subjects as him?”
“Who?”I ask unnecessarily.
“American Boy, obviously.Colin.”Tori looks around inquisitively.
“Stop it,” I mutter.
“He’s hot,” she murmurs dreamily.
“He’s an arsehole, OK?He’s come up with this minging nickname for me, and he’s trying to blackmail me.”
“What?”breathes Tori, eyes wide.She loves gossip, always has.“Tell me more.”
That’s when I realize my mistake.I can’t tell her what actually happened to that display case.Tori would never grass on me, but the fewer people who know about it, the better.
“Oh, nothing,” I say, stabbing a bit of pasta with my fork.
“Come on, Olive, spill,” Tori insists.
“I can’t,” I mumble.
“Oh, God...Was that you?”
“What?”
“Don’t give me that, Livy.The swimming cabinet...”
“Shh,” I hiss.
“I knew it!”Tori grins to herself.“So why’s he blackmailing you?Does he know?”
“He’s got a bloody photo of me.”
“The fucker.No way.”Tori’s captivated.“This is thrilling stuff...”
“He’s an arsehole, Tori,” I repeat.
“Maybe he’s into you.”
“God, Tori.He’s just a bawbag.End of.”
