Against All Odds

Chapter 13

Eve

My exams are finally over. The relief I feel is indescribable. Until next year, when I'll have to do it all over again. Unless I've failed of course. I can relax for the time being...until results day.

Because I'd had an afternoon exam, I managed to get a morning shift at the café to bring in some more money. Max, Benji and I had an amazing trip to the cinema last night. Our little upset completely forgotten and Benji is back to his usual chirpy self. Half way through my morning shift, Stan had come in, making a nuisance of himself. The guy scares me so much and I can't stand the way his eyes practically undress me every time he sees me. Of course, I haven't mentioned that he'd been coming in to the café a lot to anyone. It would only worry them for no reason.

The gang had arranged a celebratory trip to Nandos, the twins favourite restaurant, and we all congregate outside the main school gates, hugging the tension out of our now stress free bodies. Finally we can all stop being recluses!

"You know, I wouldn't be surprised if exams where the death of me." Charlotte sighs dramatically, Sophia (one of Chars many friends) and Lola agreeing with a nod.

"Char, you could do the exam with your eyes shut and still get an A." Alfie points out Charlotte's natural intelligence, earning a slap on the back from an amused Leo.

"Never a truer word." He laughs as his twin shots him a murderous glare, his cheeky expression contrasting his sisters' sharp eyes.

"If she had her eyes shut she couldn't read the questions." Sophia's pencilled eyebrows frowning while we crack up at her simple mindedness. Ace at physics as she may be, when it comes to jokes she was almost a female Sheldon Cooper. Literal thinking was the only way her mind works.

"It was a joke." I explain and her confused eyes meet mine in slight understanding, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Just don't take anything that comes out of AJ's mouth seriously."

"Or any boy for that matter." Char mumbles under her breath and I stifle a laugh.

"Any of you hear from Lex?" Charlie comes up behind me with Harvey and, for some strange reason, my boyfriend.

My mates all shake their heads in answer to his question, as Mike slips a hand around my waist and places a kiss on my lips. The guys jeer and the girls make kissing noises, causing my face to heat up in embarrassment. The only person not joining in was Charlie, who has a troubled frown across his face.

"Charlie, is Lex ok?" I question out loud and, after eyeing us warily, Charlie checks his phone, sighing as he did so.

"It's not my place to say." He admits, which obviously made us want to know more. "Let's just say shits hit the fan...not literally." He adds for Sophia's benefit.

"You tell us shits gone down but won't tell us what?" Leo whines like a toddler and I roll my eyes at his desperation for gossip, even if it was his friend.

"Just leave it guys. Lex will tell us in her own time." I say sternly and Charlie bumps my shoulder in a subtle 'thanks'.

"I'll message the group chat and tell them to meet us at Nandos." Char whips out her phone and begins typing furiously quickly.

"You guys have a group chat?" Mike asks from his position behind me, arms still hugging me to him.

"Yeah of course." Harvey gives my boyfriend an annoyed glance for no reason.

"Why aren't I in it?" Mike questions and I feel myself tense; please don't start an argument, I plead internally.

"Uh you're not exactly part of the gang." Harvey states to the agreement of everyone around us.