My Beautiful King

Chapter Thirty Two

Finn insisted on escorting me to school on my first day and I was grateful; I still had no bloody idea where Datcers High was.

"It's really sweet of you to do this." I said suddenly in attempt to break the silence. "Your family... They've done so much already." I pulled at the lapel of my blazer as an example.

The Branburys were incredibly friendly people; his Dad was a relatively small, joking, grey haired man and his mother a tiny half-Filipino bundle of smiles. They'd unexpectedly brought over a homemade sticky chocolate cake to welcome us to the neighbourhood. And as if that wasn't enough, Finn's mother had let me borrow their university-bound daughter's old Datcers' uniform. Although, the high school was whole-hearted to let me into their institution, they'd still insisted that I buy a uniform. But thanks to the Branburys, it wasn't necessary.

"It's nothing," Finn dismissed casually. "Ellie isn't going to need the uniform again, she's at Cambridge now. And I can't wear a skirt..."

"You could if you wanted to-"

"Yeah, but I don't think I will." Finn smiled. "Besides, it suits you so much better." I reciprocated the action weakly. Was it wrong that I kept finding myself waiting for a Finn to utter a snide comment? Or make a completely forward and space-invading flirty move on me? Something to prove that he wasn't the completely innocent guy I thought he was... Something to prove that he was... Like Zayn? Like a Zayn replacement? I groaned internally.

I was still so pitiful.

-x-x-x-x-

Datcers High School was much more modern that William Morrison could have ever dreamed to be.

According to Finn, and the headmaster of the school, Datcers had underwent a £3 million revamp over the summer holidays two years ago and was 'preserved wonderfully by all the great students and staff of the institution'. Sounded like the sort of drivel I would spout, but it was true. And the students did seem quite 'great'.

Sure, I spotted a group of Beccas and Hayleys within my first seven minutes of arrival, but what school didn't have a band of sluts? And besides, they didn't seem like the type to assault. Even the king of the year group was only a shadow on Zayn. He lacked the same intimidating aura that Zayn possessed. Things weren't absolutely peachy in Datcers, but after coming from William Morrison, it looked perfectly tolerable.

Just what I needed.

"And these are my friends," Finn introduced as we walked over to two varnished benches opposite each other by one of the school's buildings. "Chris, Georgia, Mo, Omar, Natalia, Jade and Marlon." They all stared up at me smiling, chorusing friendly hellos and welcomes.

"Hi." I squeaked nervously. "I'm Ashley."

"'Sup, Ashley?"

"Wha gwan?"

"Awww sit down, bubba, there's a space next to me."

I perched on the bench wood next to Natalia, an extremely small girl with long, long chestnut hair. As soon as I was seated, I could sense all of Finn's male friends staring at me. Grinning at me. Unnerved, disturbed and slightly freaked out, I turned to face the girl named Jade.

"So," I drawled to her. "What were you guys talking about?"

"Nosey, much?" She teased as she tucked her curly black hair into her bun. "We talking about Latin GCSE."

"They didn't offer Latin GCSE at my old school. Are you doing it?"

"Done it." Chris answered, looking like the epitome of an Aryan elf. "Jade, Finn and I sat our Latin exams last year. I pretty much I flopped it, though. Jade did alright. Finn absolutely merked it as usual..."