Grace

Chapter 66

I skipped sport that night. I was going to pay hell for it later, but I skipped it anyway. I asked special permission to go up to Tarq's room and knocked on his door. He called me in not realising who I was. He was lying on his bed half asleep and had some music softly playing.

"I'm sorry I insulted your mum," I said.

"Uh huh," he said and didn't take his eyes off the ceiling. "Go away."

"Tar –"

"I said go away."

I waited a moment feeling like I'd been punched. He didn't move at all.

"I'm sorry," I said and walked out.

I softly closed the door and then sighed.

Ben's door was open. He was sat at his desk working, his hair in a sloppy pony tail, his shirt sleeves rolled up and waist coat thrown on the bed. The sun was streaming through his window so he had shades on rather than the curtains shut.

"Ben?"

He turned looking a little alarmed.

"I got permission," I waved off and he relaxed. "I need to talk to you about something."

"What?"

"Want me to get shifted to College? Ah, how about the chapel?"

He looked at his work and began to look a little stressed.

"It's good," I said. "Really good."

"Ok," he sighed and put his pen down.

We walked through to the chapel hand in hand. A couple of F blockers wolf whistled as we went by them. Ben flipped them off and shut the doors. There was only the one room of the chapel and a quick scout around showed that no one was here. Ben had already sat down on a pew in the middle and pulled his hair tie out. He needed a hair cut too. It was longer than he'd ever had it and was probably why he he'd not been pulling it all the way through when he tied it up.

"Not had you hair like that for a while," I said and sat next to him.

"I can't seem to get into the hair dresser's either."

"Not keeping it like that then?"

"No."

"Shame. I was going to plait it."

He gave me a flat look. Challenge accepted.

"Clara and I were talking the other morning. I didn't freak out when she said I'd doomed us all to have a queen with bad table manners."

"I'm pretty sure Tarq's bad habits have rubbed off on – wait. What?" he sat up completely straight and turned to face me properly. "You didn't get scared?"

"I got scared when I realised I wasn't scared, but yeah."

"And now?" he asked hesitantly, but the corners of his lips were turned up in a small, hopeful smile. That hope was mirrored in the soft brightness of his eyes and gentle voice.

"I... I'm ok." I smiled a little. "Just so long as I've got you."

"Always, Grace. Always."

"Good," I said and hugged him.

"I actually need to talk to you," he said. "About my official party."

"Ummm?"

He pulled away from me, sighed and slouched a little. "You're not allowed to sit next to me for the sit down dinner."