Where The Liars Sleep

Chapter Seven

Matthias didn't have a chance to explain as Abel came rushing towards us, he looked at Matthias strangely, his gaze dragging between us as he cleared his throat, "Matthias, what are you doing?" And I had no idea if I was imagining it, but Abel sounded terse, there was a severity to his tone so hugely different from how he had interacted with anyone else. And it started to cast doubt in my mind.

"Oh hey, Abel, Matthias was just filling me in on stuff that happened last year," At this Abel's face paled slightly and Matthias began to fidget a lot.

He looked scared, his eyes darting between me and Abel, it was all very strange, "Hey man, I didn't mean anything by it. I just thought she had a right to know,"

"Yeah, and she can ask me. I'm her designated person and I can answer any of her questions," and he was extremely defensive about it.

Matthias raised his hands in mock surrender, and I saw a flash of something that was close to humour in his eyes, it really didn't sit well with me for a reason I couldn't quite put my finger on, "Sorry man, I'll leave her to you."

He smiled as he left, and I smiled back, not knowing that Abel looked really concerned.

He slipped into the seat next to me, "He seems nice," I said, and Abel looked like I had told him I was an alien.

"Be careful around him," was Abel's cryptic response as he picked at the rivulets in the wood, snapping off a little splinter and flicking it away. He wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Why?" I pressed and his expression changed, he switched to being more of the Abel I was used to, bright and unbelievably kind.

"It's complicated, just it's for the best, trust me," and his eyes were so pleading that it would be cruel not to listen to him. So, I nodded softly.

"I trust you Abel, you've been nothing but kind," and his face morphed into one of his signature smiles, and it felt like everything was back to normal.

But in the back of my brain, I made the mental note to look more into this Matthias Blackwood.

"I'll explain everything later for now enjoy yourself, the food is amazing!" He brushed away the questions like they were flecks of dust on his immaculate suit.

He looked quite dashing, in a black tuxedo, with a tie that was more intricate than the other boys dotted around the place. It had a silver rose pattern that glinted and shone when it caught the light, it looked alive, like the roses were pulsating, dancing with the people.

"You could have told me to dress up," I teased, picking up one of the pastries and ripping part of it off and plopping it into my mouth.

Abel wasn't lying, it was divine. Better than anything I had ever eaten before.

"Yeah, sorry about that," he was scratching the back of his neck again; I realised how very endearing it was.

"It's ok," I mumbled through mouthfuls, "The food makes up for it,"

He leaned forward with mischief in his eyes, "I'll steal you some extra with my Deputy Head Boy powers,"

"You would do that for me," my eyes were wide in a pretend loving look, "Stop Abel, you'll make me fall in love with you,"

"Ha, like I said I'm taken, mentally anyways, like I believe I am unavailable," and he began to ramble, and it was the sweetest thing ever.

"You're too cute. How are you this perfect, the only thing you need is to tell me you read,"

And he broke out into a grin, a knowing glint in his oh so green eyes, he leaned forward a little and whispered, "I can do you one better,"

"There's nothing better than reading," I was adamant in my response.

"Oh yeah," and then he said words that would have made my heart explode if he was anywhere near attainable, "I write."

"Shut up," I half shrieked earning a lot of odd looks in my direction, I pressed a hand against my mouth giggling uncontrollably like a lovesick schoolgirl, though I was a schoolgirl I wasn't lovesick. Abel was a friend, a perfect boy who was in love with someone else, and even though he ticked all my boxes I couldn't see him as anything other than a friend.

And as if the universe were mocking me, as I looked up once again to see the stares to stare back in defiance, I caught one look that did make my heart run away from me.

Caine Regent was staring straight at me laughing with his brother, and his mouth was curved downwards in a pensive frown, as though he hated the mere thought of me laughing.

Or was it the thought of me laughing with his brother?

I caught his gaze and instead of looking away as any other boy would, Caine's gaze just intensified, like he was studying me. Challenging me to look away. But I'd be damned if I were the first to look away.

Abel noticed the staring spat and laughed, "Do you want to really mess with him?" I grinned, this was side to Abel I didn't realise there was, the side of a miscreant who had a taste for chaos.

My type of person.

He leaned closer to me, so I could hear his breath on the nape of my neck, he whispered softly into my ear, "Pretend I've said the funniest thing ever,"

And I laughed boisterously, throwing my head back, as Abel grinned back at me, and it was a perfection.

It worked.

Caine turned first, ripping his gaze from me with that ever-permanent scowl on his lips.

"God we are evil,"

"Partners in crime?" he held out his hand as he asked.

I took his hand but instead of shaking it I interlocked my pinky with his, "Always,"

And our laughter bubbled through the rest of the night. We danced to the classical music as though we were in a punk rock album, jumping together and not caring that we were being stared at.

And for once I didn't want the night to end.