The Enemy Beside Me + The Liar Beside Me (Book 1 and 2)

B2 Chapter 8

THE SKY IS BLEEDING ORANGE when we've decided we've had enough. My stomach is full, my head is swaying with all the information I've cramped in my brain.

'By the way, before you all leave, I have to know your opinion,' Alasdair says, handing us our bags.

Declan slings his bag on his shoulder. 'About what?'

'Well, after the first term, we will have a summer holiday.'

'Oh,' I say.

'But before you complain, Jaxon, let me say it is going to be fun. And I'm not saying this just because I am a Yamato.'

Noritaka nudges me. 'It's true. You should come.'

'Since I have to decide its theme, I also have to choose its colour. And oh please, don't say yellow. That is so cliché.'

'How about something neutral?' I suggest.

'Ha. I didn't know Switzerland was a colour.' All of them laugh at this joke except me.

'I don't get it,' I say. The laughter dies down. 'Oh, come on. I'm not a nerd, OK?'

Declan snorts. 'And I ain't too but I know the basic facts about World War 2. Anyway, Alasdair, how about orange and a bit of red?'

The redhead looks up and hums, tapping his forefinger against his chin. 'Seriously?' He rolls his eyes. 'OK, my driver will take care of you.'

'You're not coming with us?' I ask.

He shakes his head. 'I have somewhere to go to. Besides, I have an extra class tomorrow and it's nearer from here.'

Extra class again. Not that I'm against education but he's too occupied with being perfect.

'OK then. See you tomorrow,' I say and pat his shoulder. His eyes slide down to my hand and back to my face. I don't know what I'm doing and why I'm doing it, so I retrieve my hand and stuff it in my pocket. 'Just be...careful then, I guess. Thanks, anyway.'

Slowly, he nods. 'Of course. You too.' Without waiting for Noritaka and Declan's goodbyes, he turns on his heels and walks towards the main door.

When Alasdair is gone from our sight, Declan tells me, 'I don't know what you're doing, and I don't have any plan to stop you. But you have to tread carefully.'

'What? I'm just worried about him. Is that wrong?'

He presses his lips together, considering what he'll say next. Either because he doesn't want to say it himself or he thinks I'm too stupid to get it. 'That's nice. But Alasdair is a Yamato. It's better if you don't get too close to him.'

Don't get too close to him, was what my father had told Mum after finding out what had happened. He's dangerous. He's not our son. From then on, I became a loner, surrounding myself with loud people just to hide the fact that I'd never had connected with anyone of them.

'Maybe that's true. Or maybe we can also help him by being his real friends.' The words have slipped out from my mouth even before I could think why and how I should say them. Realising how sentimental I sound, I approach the driver and slide inside the car.

There's no reason for my hands to shake and yet they are doing it. I shove them inside my trousers' pockets, rubbing them against the rough fabric. I compose myself as Declan and Noritaka climb in.

Declan doesn't say anything, but I can feel his eyes on me.

What a sad realisation. None of us is true friends, just people trying to live by. Before, I couldn't care less about them. Now, this stupid, strange want to befriend them for real is slowly blooming in me. I don't like it. It's...terrifying. At least with Eien, I know there's no harm since he's a genuinely kind person. But the rest, well, I'm not so sure yet. I just wish I wouldn't regret whatever choices I'd make.