The Ashes

Chapter 6

I have returned
It's me
Y'all can celebrate now
Jk
Idk
~~~

"No way that was him. There's no way." I state calmly. "Everyone knows she was in the park with her mum and some guy took her in his van."

"Nope. The last time anyone saw her was when Gabriel was leading her down a street in East London." Luke says, and he seems so certain there's no way I can doubt him, especially since James will contradict him whenever he can and he certainly isn't right now.

But he seemed so genuine.

~~~

My Physics teacher has re-arranged our seats and somehow I'm next to Gabriel, but although perhaps a while ago I'd have been happy at being sat next to a "friend", I am terrified. It's obvious I can't trust a thing he says. He turns to me, a smile on his face, which is meant to be casual, friendly even, but just seems dark to me. I drop my gaze, leaning slightly away from him. It's irrational, of course, because there's no way he could even try to do anything in here, but I shudder at the thought of what he might have done.

"You okay?", he frowns.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Doesn't seem like it."

I take a deep breath, plucking up the courage to ask him the question that's been nagging at my thoughts repetitively since my brothers told me what he did. I just need to find out if it's the truth.

"I just - there's a rumour. About you, actually."

"Really?", he laughs. "Well there are quite a few. If you're wondering, I'm not a drug dealer."

"No, it's a different one, about you and ... and this little girl. They said -

"Emilie.", he states, his eyes and emotions completely shuttered off. He just stares at me blankly, mockingly, raising his eyebrow as if it means nothing at all to him.

"Uh yeah. I was wondering if -"

"So what if I was with her? You have nothing to do with this.", he growls. He swipes his book and pen off the table, storming out of the classroom and slamming the door behind him with a boom that makes the window panes shudder in their slots. I can't help but feel disappointed as I stare after him. Not only disappointed, but the courage is gone and I shiver in my seat at the thought of what he might have done.

I notice the entire classroom gawking at me; obviously future school gossip about the school's bad boy and the quiet girl in the back of the class is far more interesting to them than the laws of gravity. The news will probably be all over school tomorrow, as distorted and twisted as a photoshopped model, glorified to make it seem more interesting. Typical.

As I scan the classroom I see Harvey watching me, a smile dancing on his lips as he applauds me sarcastically. I roll my eyes at him as he sniggers.

~~

At lunch, Gabriel is nowhere to be seen. Mike and Dean are having a conversation on their usual table, so I sit down with them- I need to know what Gabriel did.

"Hey guys."

"Hey Thalia." Dean smiles. "Have you seen Gabe at all today?"

"Nope." I shrug innocently. "I was just wondering what the deal was with him and that little girl, Emilie ..." I drift off as I see the pair glance uneasily at each other.

"We should probably go." Mike mutters, refusing to meet my eyes. Without another word, they pick up their trays of uneaten food and leave the hall quickly. They're definitely hiding something, but I'm not sure I want to know the truth; what is they had something to do with her disappearance?