Uncovered

Chapter 17

I was still stood up in the lecture theatre. Everything had slowed and gone quiet or just stopped all together. I was waiting. Waiting for Izzy to finish whatever she was doing at the back and then come and sit next to me. Me, her best friend, who she had left worrying for 3 days with no explanation. But that didn't happen. Everything stayed the same and my eyes began to shoot all around the room, daring someone to let me in on the secret. Mr Leigh finally walked in and noticed me standing up.

"Take a seat please, Miss" he said absentmindedly. He clearly couldn't see my current distress and confusion that was plastered onto my face like a mask.

Louis tugged on my arm again, though this time, harder so that he pulled me down and back in my seat. I leant my elbows on the small desk in front of me and began to rub my temples. My breathing quickened as I tried to understand what was happening.

Something must've happened to her. Wherever she's been these past few days, it's changed her. Maybe she's worried that I'll shout at her and she's actually her normal self.

Whatever it was I actually needed to ask her, it would have to wait for another hour or so.

*****

"Hey, Izzy!" I yelled after her as she walked ahead of me in the hall.

She turned her head to look at me and caught my eye. She gave me what looked like a small sympathetic look before craning her neck back around and carrying on.

"Ugh, what's her problem?" I shouted in frustration. I felt in the mood for punching a locker, but this wasn't high school. I waited for Louis outside to let out some more steam. I growled, cursed and kicked at the floor repeatedly before he joined me.

"Could I come round later? I think it's about time for another study session" he asked, completely ignoring my temper and anger.

"Sure" I grumbled, pissed off that he wasn't going to stay and listen to me rant.

He jogged in the other direction to the accommodation and left me standing alone. I sighed, trying to calm myself before going to meet Emi in our usual spot at The Beach Hut. Surely that's an ironic name as now, right at the beginning of November, the warmest temperature that we'd see for while will be about 7 degrees centigrade. I shivered in my hoodie, wishing I had worn a coat too, and wondered when the first fall of snow would be.

My thoughts of a white Christmas seemed to distract me all the way to the cafe as, when I saw Emi, I had mostly calmed down. She waved me over to her table in the corner and I squished through the small crowds of people to sit down opposite her.

"How's it going?" she asked, taking a sip of her peppermint latte.

"Not good actually" I sighed, resting my elbows on the wobbly table and holding my head in my hands.

"Why? What's wrong?" she asked, reaching across the table to lightly touch my wrist.

"Izzy, I don't know what's going on. She's being really weird"

"Wait, you saw her?"

"Yeh, she came into English late but she ignored me and sat at the back. And then when I went to talk to her afterwards she ignored me again. Except that time she gave me a funny look, like she wanted to talk to me, but couldn't" I said, trying to explain. Although, that was more than mildly difficult as I didn't fully understand myself.

"Don't get offended, but did you do anything on Friday that could've ticked her off? I mean, you know how stubborn she is. She won't tell you what you did, and she definitely won't apologise first"

"Honestly, I wasn't even there for long. I talked to Harriet, I talked to Louis, and then I left. I wasn't drinking so it's not like I can't remember if something happened either"

"Hmmm, I don't know then. I guess we should just give her some space. If she wants to talk, she'll come to us. Anyways, she has to talk to you, you share a room for gods sake!" she pointed out. But Izzy hadn't been back in the room since just before the party, so she must have somewhere else to stay temporarily.

*****

As we were walking to Philosophy I saw Izzy, Niall, Elin and Louis on the other side of the road. I grabbed Emily's arm and tugged her across to them with me, thankful for the quiet traffic.

"Oh my gosh Izzy, where've you been?" Emi squealed clearly forgetting our discussion in the cafe literally 5 minutes before hand.

She stepped forwards with her arms open but was stopped by Niall pulling Izzy out of the way, I swear he even growled.

"Do you mind? We have somewhere to be" Elin hissed cruelly, glowering at the pair of us.

"Yes, I do actually. We'd like to speak to our friend" I told her, crossing my arms.

"Maybe you should go" Louis suggested quietly.

"Not til someone explains what's going on" I replied sharply.

"Oh, did you not explain Louis? I thought you would, you've been with Izzy the whole time" Elin said smirking. I wasn't sure whether that was a stab at me or Louis, but either way, I was so pissed at him.

"Oh gosh, look at the time. We really should go" Elin said filling the silence. She grabbed Niall's hand and pulled him away. Niall shot a glance at Louis who, without another word, followed after them. Izzy opened her mouth to speak but quickly smacked it shut and scurried away too.