Page 55 of Sweet Ruin

“I’m not sure,” Lily replied. “I didn’t know he had tutoring tonight.”

“What do you think his detention was for?” Amber wondered aloud. “His explanation was way too vague. I want details.”

“Beats me,” Lily said. “But I doubt it’s for anything serious. Eric never gets detention. Us scholarship students can’t afford to get into trouble.”

“I didn’t realize Eric was here on a scholarship,” I said. “I only just met him, but he seems really nice. Do you guys usually hang out with him?”

“We do when we can drag him away from his books,” Lily said. “He’s always studying.”

“Sounds like someone I know,” Amber added, smirking at Lily.

Lily rolled her eyes before focusing on me. “How was your detention?”

“It was okay. I got a bit of homework done, but I kept getting distracted.” I managed to refrain from telling the girls why I’d been so distracted, but I couldn’t stop myself from glancing at Noah’s table as I thought of Veronica.

The boys weren’t there tonight, and neither was she. Instead, Veronica was seated one table over with a couple of her friends. It was the first time I’d seen her at her usual table in weeks, but I didn’t read into it too much seeing as Noah wasn’t around for her to be fawning over him.

I couldn’t get our conversation from detention out of my mind, and I wondered again if I was doing the right thing in keeping it quiet. It seemed a small price to pay if it meant she’d leave Lily and the other scholarship students alone, but it didn’t stop me from feeling guilty. Veronica had said she wasn’t cheating, but what if she was lying? And, if she wasn’t lying, then what was really going on with her and Noah. And the most important question of all—how was I supposed to last more than a week without answers?

I turned back to the girls, wondering if there was any way I could gleam a little more information from them.

“Unusual to see Veronica here without Noah,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Do you think there’s trouble in paradise?”

Their faces filled with pity, and I realized they must be thinking I was bringing it up because I was still hung up on Noah.

“I’m only asking out of curiosity,” I quickly added. “I’m completely over Noah.”

Neither of them looked convinced.

“They were sitting together at lunch,” Lily replied, her tone soft as though she were trying not to hurt my feelings.

“Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if things were a little rocky between them,” Amber said with a shrug. “On paper, they’re the perfect couple, but I’m not sure the romance is there.”

"What do you mean?” I asked.

“She does have a point,” Lily agreed. “Veronica seems to treat Noah like he’s some sort of trophy, and Noah barely even looks her in the eyes. It doesn’t begin to compare to the way he used to look at you.”

“Guys, I told you I’m totally over Noah. You don’t have to say what you think I want to hear.”

“We’re not,” Amber said. “Lily’s spot-on. Anyone else who’d ever witnessed your relationship with Noah would tell you the same thing. His eyes just sparkled when he looked at you, and he always seemed like he was struggling not to smile.”

“Seriously,” Lily added. “We all saw it. It was like he couldn’t imagine something more perfect.”

My heart lurched slightly, but I kept my face neutral so the girls wouldn’t notice my reaction to Lily’s comment. It was sad to think of the way Noah used to look at me. I could so easily picture the way his eyes lit up when he saw me, just as Amber had described. How he so rarely allowed himself to smile until we were alone, and his smile broke free like the sun peeking out from behind a cloud. Seeing those expressions on his face felt like a dream. Things were so different now a part of me felt like I must have imagined them.

“So, do you think they’ll last?” I asked.

Amber shook her head. “Doubtful. Everyone thinks they’re only together because their families are so close.”

“Which is really sad if it’s true,” Lily said.

I nodded because I knew firsthand how hard it was to have a relationship affected by your family, though I couldn’t imagine having to date a guy just because it was what my parents wanted.

“Has Veronica ever dated other guys at school?” I asked.

“Not really,” Lily said, her eyes thoughtful as she considered it. “She’s always just seemed set on Noah. No one else lives up to her expectations.”

I nodded as I reflected on what the girls had told me. Thankfully, they didn’t ask what had prompted my questions. They probably still assumed it was because Noah was my ex.

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