Page 72 of Save Me

I doubt that I’ll ever get used to this weekly meeting with him. Especially not when Lin leaves me in the lurch like she’s done today because she’s had to go to London to help her mum with a reception at the gallery.

But there’s one upside to being alone in front of the head’s desk right now, facing his eagle eyes. I got to make my suggestion without Lin eyeing me askance or kicking me under the table.

“Do I understand you correctly, Miss Bell?” Lexington asks, leaning a little closer. He furrows his brow at me. “You want me to lift Mr. Beaufort’s punishment?”

I nod slowly. “Yes, sir.”

He narrows his eyes further still. “Why should I share your opinion? It isn’t even half-term yet.”

“He’s really put a lot of work in, sir,” I say, “in a way I never expected. He has good ideas, and it’s thanks to him that we’ve been able to raise the bar for Maxton Hall events with the Halloween party.”

Lexington leans back, exhaling audibly.

The thought seems to please him. He reacts to anything that makes Maxton Hall look good like a magpie that’s found a glittering jewel. I decide to go the extra mile. “I think James can serve the school better on the lacrosse team. They need him. Roger Cree is good, but he doesn’t have as much experience. Mr. Freeman said so when we interviewed him for the Maxton blog on Friday.”

Lexington’s frown deepens. I can see that he’s weighing up the pros and cons in his mind.

“And you’re not just saying that because the boy is causing trouble, and you want to get rid of him?” he insists dubiously.

I wonder what Lexington would say if he knew that the opposite was true. I don’t want to get rid of James. If I had the choice, I’d spend every moment of my time with him.

But after he confided in me and I realized what the upper sixth means to him, I couldn’t help myself. I just had to speak to Mr. Lexington. It was the only thing I could think of that would genuinely help James and take a tiny bit of the weight off his shoulders—however briefly. I’m not just doing it as a favor to him though, but because it’s true. James really has put the effort in, and that should be rewarded. At least this way he gets to spend the rest of the season playing lacrosse with his friends and enjoy the year.

I can’t suppress the question of what this means for us though. We’re friends now, aren’t we? Or something like that. Will he spend time with me after this? Probably not. The thought makessomething clench painfully in my chest, but I put all my strength into ignoring it. I’m doing this for James, not for me.

“Miss Bell?” Lexington’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts, and it takes me a moment to remember what his question was.

I shake my head. “Not at all, sir. I’m just thinking about the good of the school. He’s helped us, and now he should go back to helping his team. We can’t afford another thumping like Friday if we want to defend our title.”

Bull’s-eye. Lexington’s gray eyes flash, his shoulders suddenly tense.

“I see.” He nods, and I find myself holding my breath. “Very well. Mr. Beaufort may end his work on the events committee and get back to playing lacrosse.” Relief floods through me, and I start looking forward to how James will react when I tell him the news. I smile gratefully, but Lexington holds up a warning finger. “But not until next week, after the party. I’m not taking the risk of him coming up with some new way to embarrass the school.”

My smile only slips slightly. “Of course, sir.”

“And keep this to yourself for the time being.” He picks up his telephone receiver, presses a button, and growls: “Ask Mr. Freeman to come to my office, would you?”

I sit uncertainly on my chair. I don’t know whether I’m free to go or whether the head wants to discuss something else with me, but when he looks up, frowns, and waves vaguely with his hand, I take it as my cue to leave the room.

I wasn’t exaggerating when I told Lexie that we’d raised the bar with the Halloween party. Once the day finally dawns, we tick off the last few preparations; then, it’s as though a huge boulder fallsfrom my heart as the first guests start to arrive. The party is a success. More than that. It’s beyond my wildest dreams.

Jessalyn’s and Camille’s decorations look amazing. They’ve hung fancy vintage picture frames in the entrance to Weston Hall—old family portraits and huge mirrors, lit up from all angles. There are black lace tablecloths and napkins on the buffet and the little tables around the edge of the dance floor. They have spanned thin cobwebs all around the room, plus dozens of chains of fairy lights—at least fifty—flickering with a candle effect. We decided not to use the chandelier, and there are large silver candlesticks on the tables and windowsills instead; they don’t give much light, but that only adds to the ghostly, mysterious atmosphere.

The room is filling up now, and nearly all the tables are in use. Mr. Lexington is giving his official welcoming speech, watched by Lin, me, and the rest of the events team from the side of the buffet. He praises our organizational skills, at which Camille takes a step forward and waves to the audience like a queen. Lin and I look at each other, failing to suppress our grins.

I have to admit though that we all look like royalty today. I’m wearing the dress from the Beaufort archive, and Camille’s apricot gown is perfect against her pale skin. Jessalyn’s expansive dress is pale pink, while Lin’s is the same shade of royal blue as the school colors. I wonder if that’s deliberate. The boys look amazing too. Doug’s simple sand-colored suit is cut like the one James is wearing on the poster. And Kieran…Kieran’s top hat, black suit, jacquard waistcoat, and beige neckcloth make him look like he’s genuinely from a different age.

The head teacher brings his thanks to a close and bows with a flourish of his top hat. I don’t dare look at Lin this time—I’d be sure to burst out laughing.

I feel jittery. I don’t know whether that’s because everything’s gone to plan so far and the party is going to be a success or because I’m scared of some unforeseen disaster. My eyes flit nervously around the room.

“He’ll be here soon,” Lin whispers in my ear.

“I have no idea what you mean,” I retort, equally quietly.

That’s a lie. I know exactly who she means.

There’s no sign of James yet. His friends and Lydia aren’t here either, although his parents are, as they’re on the PTA. I’m painfully aware of his absence; although I don’t want to let it distract me, it feels like an important part of the party is missing—after all, he worked as hard as the rest of us to make it a success.

---