Page 58 of Save Us
He spends a long time thinking about what I said. “You’re right.”
“I know I am.”
He bursts out laughing. Then he suddenly reaches over the table for my hand. He holds it tight and looks me deep in the eyes. I feel my heartbeat quicken and find myself squeezing back. I don’t know what Wren does to me. One second, he’s serious and withdrawn, and the next, he completely throws me with a gesture like this.
The moment stretches out, lasts way too long, and not nearly long enough. When Wren lets go again and picks his spoon back up, I can’t help the disappointment that floods through me.
He clears his throat and goes on like nothing ever happened. “I was planning to ask them over soon anyway. I’m sure things will get back to normal after that.”
My mind is still on that brief touch. I can still feel the warmth of his hand. And then I say something that I can hardly explain, even to myself.
“Maybe we could all do something together soon.”
Wren blinks in surprise, and I can’t blame him. So far, we’ve kept our friendship a strict secret. I think we both found it liberating not to have to worry about what James or Ruby might think, especially as neither of us has a clue how this is going to turn out. But I’ve realized that I don’t want to lose Wren as a friend. I feel safe in his company, and I don’t want to keep hiding that.
And it seems like he feels the same.
“That would be nice,” he says eventually, with a smile.
I put all my effort into ignoring the fierce tingling in my stomach.
Ruby
Time has been flying since I’ve been back at school. James and I alternate between going by bus and taking his car, and lately Wren’s been joining us, either getting on two stops later, or waiting on the main road for James to pick him up.
We’re spending every free minute studying, but it’s getting ever harder to focus with James around. I keep catching myself staring at him instead of my books—and sometimes, my whole body gets so tingly that I’m sure he must be able to feel it.
Once the day of the bonfire finally arrives, it’s like me getting suspended never even happened. OK, so some people are still talking about it, or giving me funny looks in the dining hall, but I’m concentrating on the positives: I’m back at Maxton Hall, and I’m going to do my A levels.
“Are you sure that’s all right?” Lin whispers to me as we stand by the huge pile of wood, watching the firemen build it up.
“I think last year’s looked the same,” I reply, equally quietly.
It’s after seven now, and the first arrivals are coming in. They’re strolling over the courtyard, where we’ve set up a drinks stall and little food stands where you can buy chips, campfire bread, and marshmallows on sticks.
“Yeah?” Lin is still looking doubtful. “It’s kind of…messy.”
I tilt my head and eye the construction that’s supposed to beblazing merrily in less than an hour. “I dunno. Now you mention it, I’m not so sure.”
“Trust me, it’s totally irrelevant what it looks like,” James puts in. “Before long, everyone will be too drunk to care.”
Lin and I narrow our eyes at him. “There’s no booze,” I say. “And nobody’s getting drunk.”
He just shrugs. “You both know how this turns out every year.”
I punch him gently on the upper arm.
“We’ve taken every precaution, and we’re way better prepared than last year. Stop trying to wind us up.”
He grins. “I just don’t want you two to be disappointed if it doesn’t run as perfectly as you hope.”
“How chivalrous of you,” I say dryly.
“Yeah, wow. You’re probably only saying that because it was you who helped everyone get wasted last year. Don’t go thinking I haven’t heard about your famous car boot.” Lin raises an eyebrow.
“Your famous car boot?” I ask, looking from one of them to the other. “What about your car boot?”
“Nothing, nothing,” says James hastily.
