“So, I have some homework for you.” His eyes shine with excitement.
“Unless it’s researching the best stores for our trip to London, I’ve got plenty already.”
“You aren’t really going to make us go shopping, are you? That’s such a waste of time when we’re only in London for the day.”
“You should be begging for my shopping help.” I take a stepback and give him an obvious once-over. His jeans could use some distressing and his tennis shoes screamI’m American!but, if I’m being honest, he already looks pretty good. He’s wearing a cricket shirt that isn’t nearly as baggy as what most boys from our class wear. And blue is a good color on him. I never noticed before.
“Like what you see?” He grins and does an exaggerated spin that makes a few people in the hall chuckle.
“Omigod, stop. I was just looking at your clothes.”
“You were checking me out.”
“I wasnot!”
I shove him to distract from the blush I know is coming. If I’m not careful then he’ll never let me live this down. I’d be lying if I said Dev wasn’t cute, but my attention is elsewhere.
“And we definitely need to take you shopping in London. You can’t wear cricket shirts to class every day. You need something more sophisticated.”
“So now you want to pick out a new wardrobe for me? I thought girls only did that for the boys they were dating. Shouldn’t you be focusing on Willoughby instead?” His expression is mischievous.
“Will doesn’t need a new wardrobe. There’s nothing left to improve on.”
He snorts. “Anyway, our intramural cricket team is holding our first scrimmage this Saturday and I thought you could come.” He announces this as if he’s showing me a secret door into the fairy world. “This will be perfect for you. I think the reason you’ve been struggling with some of the terms is because you need to see the game being played.”
“You made me watch four hours of cricket on YouTube.”
“And did you actually do that?”
I sigh. I made it through thirty minutes and was damn impressed with myself.
“That’s what I thought. Anyway, this will be better. Not only will you be able to see the plays and the calls from the referees, but honestly”—he rubs the back of his neck—“the game is going to go way slower than the professional games you tried watching. We’re not that good yet.”
“That sounds promising.”
“You’ll come?”
“Yeah. Of course.”
“Great!” He points down the crowded hallway to Sage. “I’m going to see if I can persuade her now. See you at dinner.” He grins and crosses his fingers.
People push past me, hurrying toward their rooms or the library or extracurriculars. I should follow them. I might be done with the first round of tests this semester, but other assignment due dates are just around the corner. More reading, article reviews for psych, and a big group presentation in chemistry in two and half weeks. That one is especially intimidating because Sam is in my group and he’s turned out to be a pretentious jerk. He loves to sneer and laugh/cough whenever I’m confused by something in class, and his favorite two words areWell, actually. I’d be happy if I never had to spend another minute in his presence.
If Will was back in Northampton, I’d escape on the first van into town, but unfortunately he’s still away with his dad. I just need a release from the pressure for a few minutes. I hurry across the manor until I get to the conservatory. No one else is there. Ibreathe in the earthy scent and drop into the nearest bench.
“Hard day?”
I jerk up to see an older woman in the back of the glass room. She’s pushing a huge tank with a hose attached.
“Um... just needed a second to relax.”
“This place is perfect for that.” She waters a large umbrella plant.
I watch her, envying her quiet work. “It’s so beautiful here.”
“Are you a gardener as well?”
“I mean, I have plants back home, but only the usual stuff. Ferns, spider plants, peace lilies. And I like to make silly stuff like fairy gardens. But nothing like this.” I gesture toward the wall of delicate orchids to my left.
