The Only-Live-Once Society | Book 2

Chapter Seven

School is a hive of gossip the next morning. I walk down the stairs, one hand on the banister, listening in. I have a smile on my face expecting the excited flurry to be about the OTHER SPY SCHOOL.

That smile quickly drops when I realise it's not about that at all. It's about Elijah and I. Apparently we are broken up. This is news to me, and I'm one half of the couple.

The pitying stares as I walk to breakfast are just about all I can take. Of course, it's not the first time someone has started a rumour about me - it probably won't be the last. Unless, of course, it's not a rumour and Elijah has used the gossip-mongers to do his dirty work for him.

"Doesn't really sound like a thing Elijah would do though, does it?" Grace says when I air my thoughts to her.

"What wouldn't I do?" Elijah asks, taking a seat next to me.

Grace stabs a sausage and shoves it in her mouth. Between chews she says, "Dump Amelia through gossip."

Elijah looks at me, "You think that I started the rumour?"

"No!" I respond, then glare at Grace before looking back to Elijah. "I was asking what if you didn't want to be with me anymore and that's why there's a rumour going around."

"Why on Earth would I not want to be with you?"

I blink at him, confused. "You didn't speak to me the whole evening yesterday, you've ignored all my texts... am I going insane or...?"

"No, you're right. I was pretty pissed off yesterday. But I feel much better today."

The table behind me erupts into laugher, and I turn to see Vince entering the hall. He's clutching his tray to his chest.  Someone has drawn glasses and a mustache on him, in thick black ink. They've even placed a Harry Potter lightning bolt scar on his forehead.

"Elijah," I hiss. "What did you do?"

Elijah shrugs, "He started it. I found all my shoes in different toilets around the school."

I bristle, "You just had to retaliate?"

Elijah grins, "I didn't have to. But where is the fun in that?"

"I like it," Grace interjets. She shrugs at my glare, "If you can't beat them, join them."

I let my head fall into my hands, "This is hopeless."

Vince's voice forces me to look up. He's smiling at Elijah. Smiling. At Elijah.

"Touché, Jones." Vince says as he passes us. "Touché."

Elijah laughs. I am pretty sure I'm dreaming. 0r hallucinating. Or have entered an alternate reality - or something. Is that all it takes? A few stupid pranks on each other to make them crack a smile?

I don't think I'll ever understand boys.

Vince sits down the end of the table, a smile on his face and Elijah turns to me, his eyes go soft as he takes me in.

"I'm sorry," He says, his face is open and sincere.

"For?"

He shrugs. "Yesterday. Vince. Everything. I don't know why I get so worked up by him."

I lift my left arm and stroke his face, thankful for his honesty. "I left you. To protect you, but I left you. Vince was there when you couldn't be. I get why he might ruffle your feathers."

"She kissed him too," Grace interjects. "Don't forget about that."

We both turn to stare at her and then Elijah surprises me by laughing, before turning back to me. "I'm going to work on not being such a dick because of him."