He told me the furniture was already inside, like a lounge, a bed, and appliances. My heart speeds up when he asks me to look at the apartment this weekend. It’s too real, and I don’t know how much my heart can take knowing that I’ll be eighteen and free in a few more weeks.
I never thought this was possible.
Not until Conner.
I drag my sweaty palms across my pants and tell Conner that I can pay for half, but he ignores my request, as always, and hands me the coffee he ordered. I smile, knowing that Conner makes it challenging to ask for things, and he’s old-fashioned.
The bell rings once we get to the school. Samantha waits at the entrance to the parking lot. Her arm loops with mine, and we head to our first class. I raise my hand to Conner, waving as he heads to the science block.
“I heard you passed out in your art class yesterday. Is everything all right?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I answer. “I wasn’t feeling too well. I should have gone to the nurse’s office sooner.”
“I was so scared,” Samantha says. “I thought you got sick from something on the camping trip. Like a bug bit you. Those tissue box rooms were shady. It wouldn’t surprise me if something snuck in.”
“No,” I breathe a laugh.
I feel slightly sick—no, anxious is the right word. It’s like butterflies, but not the good kind. This uneasy feeling inside me comes to life when I realise that I’m back at school and people are still viewing my photo.
I should have listened to Conner and stayed home. Or I could have gone to Mrs Crawford’s place for the day and listened to herold stories of when she was young and wild. The way she talks, I assume she has many wonderful, lighthearted stories.
As soon as I sit in my seat, Julien and Mark turn around with wicked grins. My mouth feels dry when they look at me, and my hand grips the pencil case from my bag too harshly. They know. They must have figured it out. Passing out in class has gone around the school, and they’ve pieced it together. That’s what people do. They grasp at straws. Everyone is a victim.
I should flee before they could usher?—
“It’s Emo Emma,” Julien declares. “She’s not here today. It’s suspicious.”
I twist in my chair and look at the back, where Emma usually sits.
“She could be sick,” Samantha says, brushing it off. “You don’t know that for sure.”
“Noya was sick yesterday,” Mark says, making me flinch. “Yet she came to school today.” He turns toward me, and I wish to be as invisible as our English teacher’s schoolwork in front of us. “How are you? Did my drawing gross you out?”
“A little,” I admit. “But I was feeling off all day, so…”
“Well, anyway, Mr Rogers gave me two after-school detentions for that drawing,” Mark says. “Conner was pissed as well. Sorry about that, Noya.”
“It’s fine,” I breathe.
“Right,” Julien says as he puts away his phone, “you and Conner are a thing. He doesn’t hang out with our group anymore.”
“Didn’t he and Andy get into an argument yesterday?” Mark asks, turning to Julien.
“Yeah, I saw him grab Andy’s shirt, pinning him to the building behind the Post Office,” Julien states. “When I saw that, I pretended I didn’t see a thing and walked back to school.”
“Did you hear what they were talking about?” Samantha asks nonchalantly.
“No. Conner released his grip on Andy when I saw them, and Andy stormed off, pissed.” He leans back in his chair, his elbow resting on Samantha’s table. “They have always had beef.”
“Weren’t they friends in primary school?” Mark questions. “I remember seeing them hang out together, playing handball or marbles.”
“Hmm.” Julien grunts. “I remember that, too. I wonder what happened.”
I sit back in my chair and try to work. My thoughts grow louder as I wonder if Conner and Andy were friends and what caused them to hate each other. There had to be—wait. Conner told me Andy didn’t do group assignments and such. Was there something more?
I go to the bathroom, and Samantha heads to the back of the building. She told me she would send a message if Andy was there, and I silently thanked her before going to the toilet. My phone vibrates when I wash my hands after I pee. Andy is here, sitting with Wylan and Dylan. Another message comes through right after that one.
Samantha: Conner is also here, waiting for you.