Immaculate

To the shock of Mr Blackbourne

I've not read many books that are in the first person as it doesn't come easy to me. One of the signs for me that the Academy series is a top class book in that I completely forgot I was reading in the first person, as it just sucked me in and didn't let me go. :)

Part Two

Sang's POV

Mr Ferguson was rattling of names as he ticked attendance records. North was slumped in the seat in front, his head resting on one hand as he stared at the chalkboard.

A hand touched my back and a piece of paper dropped over my shoulder from Luke.

I opened it cautiously.

"I've got the evening off tonight, what do you want to do?"

I bit my lip. I just wanted to curl up in a corner somewhere and die. I wanted it all to go away but I knew that wasn't happening. I had no idea how to act, how to get through this. I was drowning.

North looked back and saw the paper on my desk and with one quick movement he had snatched it up and read it. He sent Luke a dark glare and snorted.

"She's resting, Luke, you know that. She's also been grounded, so it'll be homework and bed," he muttered at him.

"She can still watch a movie or something, can't she? She's only grounded from going out and other stuff," Luke protested, not wanting to mention the Academy out loud.

I watched North's glare darken. They always did this, they always talked about me while I was there. I sighed and shook my head. I wanted to please them both, but how could I? North caught my sigh and turned his dark eyes on me.

"You want to watch a movie?" he asked and his gaze had softened. "I'm on a shift but Gabriel and Nathan are around. Kota might be as well if you ask him."

"I don't really mind," I replied quietly. I was anxious to get this day over.

"Mr B hasn't given us anything to do yet....."

The rest of Luke's words were lost in a maelstrom of absolute terror.

Mr Blackbourne.

I had him for third period and I knew there was no way on this earth I'd be able to get through five seconds without him seeing all I was hiding. His steel eyes would search through mine and it would all come out. And I just knew exactly what the result would be, the disappointment that would shine from his eyes, followed by anger and dislike. I would make him hate me, I would make him finally regret taking me on. I didn't doubt that he'd make the boys stand by me, make one of them responsible, but I would be tearing the family apart. I would do what he'd feared; I would break them.

Kota's POV

There was definitely something wrong. I'd seen it this morning when she'd come down the stairs and I saw it now as she walked beside me to English. I knew something was off, but I had no idea what.

"You feeling ok?" I asked, keeping my tone light and easy going.

"Yeah, I'm fine," came the reply that was so clearly a lie. I racked my brains for an explanation, maybe she just felt off.

"There's a flu virus going around," I ventured carefully.

She said nothing, her eyes were distant the few times I managed to even see them. She was pale too; I mean even more pale than usual. Sang had never been tanned or anything, but since she'd been getting out more and swimming with us, she'd acquired a glow in her cheeks that made her beauty stand out even more. Her eyes, her big, green eyes that could spear me straight through the heart, the way they sparkled with mischief or happiness.