The Light and Dark in Us

4. Qui Est-Il?

I walk to English the next day, taking my sweet time and admiring the view of my school because for once, I am on time.

I stroll in slightly early, and to my surprise see Lottie with a tall dark haired boy who has his back to me, I watch as he then sits in my seat, and recognise his face immediately.

"Um, hello?" I walk up to them, dropping my book onto the front of my desk where he's sat.

He glances up at me, the ghost of a smile on his lips. "Hello, nice to see you again."

"Mhm." I look him up and down sceptically, then turn to my friend. "Bonjour Lottie, is this guy bothering you?"

She shakes her head, cheeks flushed red, she looks embarrassed about something.

"What have you said to her?" I ask.

"Nothing, there's no problem."

"Yes there is, you're in my seat."

He stands up slowly, the chair scraping along the floor, and as he does so the other students in our class start arriving, including our teacher.

"Quieten down please!" She says, taking place at the front of the classroom, I sit in my seat, the boy stands at the side.

"Ah! Another new student." The teacher gestures to the boy with a smile. "Everyone be nice and welcoming, you can sit there dear."

She points to the free chair to my right and I don't know whether to be annoyed or excited, this mysterious boy is interesting.

He takes the seat, retrieving a pen from his bag as his eyes find me for a split second.

I don't try to hide the fact I'm looking at him. "What's your name?"

"Jamie. Jamie Volk."

I smile. Jamie.

"I'm Odette Étoiles."

"And did you know, Odette, that we are in the midst of a Princess?"

I swivel to Lottie abruptly. "You told him?!"

She shrugs. "I'm telling everyone now."

"So you really- you- what...wow. You're a convincing actor I must say. When I met you you seemed like you had no clue about all that royal stuff, you didn't even know what a Partizan was!"

"I do now!" Lottie protests, "they're not all like Henri right? He...confuses me."

"Henri's difficult..."

"Who's Henri?" Jamie asks, regaining my attention.

"Um, he's my Partizan."

He suddenly looks interested. "You have a Partizan?"

"Why is that so surprising to you? Do you have one?"

"No, but I know what they're like and the type of people they work for."

I should take offence but then realise something I should've noticed before, my eyes widening. "Are you a Partizan?"

Jamie looks like a deer caught in headlights, but it doesn't last very long, and his weirdly emotionless expression returns. "No."

"Okay." I say simply, not sure whether or not to believe him.

I suddenly notice that both Lottie and Jamie are distracted, they keep glancing across the room at something. Or rather someone...Ellie. This reminds me of something.

"Uh, Jamie, why were you looking for Ellie yesterday when we met?"

Lottie appears to become extremely tense as I ask the question, which is strange. Jamie looks the same as before, which is strange.