Page 64 of Save Me

“Beaufort!” someone calls behind us, making me jump. People stream past us into assembly, dodging James and me as we stop again.

Wren and Alistair come up the stairs toward us. “Hey, Ruby.” Wren rubs the back of his head, almost shyly. “Sorry about Friday.”

I’m not sure if he’s only apologizing for what happened at the pool or for the way he hassled me at the start of the party. I can’t ask without James hearing about Wren and me. I’m sure he’s only saying sorry for James’s sake, but I’m glad anyway.

So I just nod and say: “That’s OK, it wasn’t you who threw me in the pool.”

Wren gives me a surprised grin, like that wasn’t the reaction he’d been expecting.

I find my eyes wandering automatically to Alistair, who is watching me in silence. One look at his face makes me quite certain that he knows. He knows it was me who walked in on him and Kesh in the library.

I smile cautiously at him. He doesn’t smile back. His lips are thin and bloodless.

“Can we go in?” James asks, looking around the group. We grunt in agreement and walk up the last few steps.

Assembly has just begun as we arrive in Boyd Hall, and we tryto sneak into seats in the back row. Even so, I feel eyes on me as word of who’s sitting next to James Beaufort this morning gets around. One head after another turns toward us as Mr. Lexington stands at the front and praises the lacrosse team for their outstanding performance on Friday.

I steal a glimpse at James, but his face shows no emotion, no hint that the situation or the murmuring around us could be unpleasant for him. So I gulp, press my lips together, and follow suit.

After assembly, James and Wren have maths, while Alistair and I are heading to the east wing for art. Before we say goodbye, James murmurs to me: “Remember the good beating.”

His words are entirely innocent, but I feel my cheeks burning hot. I ignore it and follow Alistair, who has already walked away. Things between us are still tense, but I feel the need to say something. But I have no idea what.

Alistair saves me the decision, taking my arm just before the classroom door. He pulls me aside and looks seriously at me.

“What you saw on Friday,” he begins quietly, then pauses. His eyes flit to a couple of people who’ve just come around the corner. He nods to them with a fake smile and waits for them to go past, into the room. Then he turns back to me. “You can’t tell a soul about it.”

“Of course not,” I answer, equally quietly.

“No, Ruby, you don’t understand. You have to promise me. Swear you won’t tell anyone,” Alistair whispers urgently.

“What makes you think I’d do such a thing?” I retort.

“I…It’s just…” He has to pause again as more students say hi to him in passing. “Keshav doesn’t want anyone to know.” I can see by his eyes how hard it is for him to say those words. Suddenly,he’s no longer the arrogant, posh boy who beats people up on the lacrosse field. Now he looks incredibly young. And vulnerable.

No wonder. It can’t feel good to be with someone who keeps you hidden, like you’re a dirty secret.

“I won’t tell a soul, Alistair. I promise.”

He nods, and for a moment I can see the relief in his face. Then his expression changes, and he seems to be weighing me up. “If I ever find out that you did tell anyone, I’ll make your life hell.”

He then walks into the classroom without a backward glance.

I get through the rest of the day better than I expected. A few people give me funny looks or whisper behind my back, but nobody has the guts to speak to me or mention what happened on Friday. Looks like James’s protection this morning actually did the trick.

I eat lunch with Lin as usual. Or as usual until someone comes up to our table.

“Is this seat free?” asks Lydia Beaufort.

Lin and I turn our heads and stare at her. She gestures to the chair next to Lin with her tray.

“Yes?” I answer, although it sounds more like a question.

Lydia sits opposite me without hesitation, spreads a napkin over her lap, and starts to eat her pasta. Lin glances inquiringly at me, but I shrug helplessly. I have no idea what Lydia’s doing here. Maybe James has passed the job of escort duty on to her? Or maybe she’s decided to follow through with what she said on Friday and keep an eye on me herself?

I look at James, who is sitting at the other end of the dininghall with his friends. I might be mistaken, but the atmosphere between them seems less relaxed than normal today. James and Alistair seem to be having an animated discussion while Keshav’s staring at his phone and Wren’s reading a book. There’s no sign of Cyril.

“He doesn’t know I’ve joined you,” Lydia says suddenly. She dabs at her mouth and sips from her water bottle. “I’m here because I wanted to apologize for Friday.”

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