The Whisper Seekers

My Secret

We arrive back at school just as second period is ending. I didn't nap as I had planned to, but I enjoyed getting to know Liam more.  We walk through the double doors and I catch Lily and Harper walking down the hall from gym class. It looks like they've both applied extra lip gloss and bronzer. Harper immediately spots Liam and rushes over to him.

"Hey Liam!" she says brightly. Notice how good I look? She spots me next to him and frowns. I thought she went home sick? He gives Harper a short wave before giving me a nervous glance. I laugh and mouth, "I warned you." She is acting extra peppy, like she has had way too much caffeine.

"So Liam, what's your third class? Can I walk you there?" So everyone can see me walking with you, she eagerly asks, while tightly holding her binder to her chest. Anxious to hear his answer.

"Uh, English actually, but I have it with Ellie, so I can just follow her," he answers. I can actually feel him trying to dodge her eagerness. 

Lily cuts in, "Yeah, Harper, Ellie showed him his classes yesterday, so I'm sure he's figured it out." Harper needs to chill and back off. No one can just claim him, she just assumes he's into her. They are already competing for his attention. Harper already has a scheduled "date" so Lily is scrambling for anything to get him to notice her. I don't bother continuing to listen to her whispers since I know she's convinced herself Liam only asked out Harper because he met her first. 

Lily doesn't back down from Harper's aggression and adds, "So we should do lunch? Meet here after class, k?" It's more of a command than a question. Liam will be having lunch with us—whether he wants to or not. I tug on Liam's arm, pulling him away from the weird tension and steering him toward our English class. When I glance back, I catch Harper watching us. I wave her off and keep moving down the hall.

We enter the classroom and I take a seat in the back. I rarely sit back here. The Shakespeare posters, student projects, and grammar charts plastered around the room are way too distracting, but I go where Liam leads. As soon as my backpack hits the floor, my phone buzzes. It's a text from Lily, and I already have a pretty good idea what it's going to say.

Lily: Harper is being extra, right?

I glance up and Mrs. Nelson is passing out "Macbeth" paperbacks. I quickly type back.

Me: Oh yeah. But it doesn't surprise me.

As everyone gets their notebooks out, I flip my phone over and grab the paperback from Mrs. Nelson.

"Ah, I already read this at my old school, so I'll ace all the tests," Liam jokes as he flips through the pages of the book. Hmm, one less book I'll have to read then. Liam pulls his head low and leans into me, "And don't expect me to give you any answers, cheater cheater." Shocked, I flick my head over to him and look straight into his vibrant blue eyes. He squints but doesn't break the contact.

"Trust me, I do fine on my own. I don't need your help," I snap.

He just grins, then leans back in his chair without another word. Folding his arms across his lean chest and stretching out his long legs, he signals that the conversation is over.

Still, I can't shake the paranoia creeping over me. I feel like he sees right through me, like he knows I'm a phony. But how? What made him say that? I want to press him, to demand answers, but Mrs. Nelson is already facing the class, asking for volunteers to read paragraphs aloud.

I pull out my notebook and flip to a blank page. His eyes are still fixed on the front of the room. I uncap a shiny pink pen and scribble: You shouldn't believe everything you hear.

I slide the notebook over to him. He glances down at it, then waits a beat before pulling out his pencil. I try not to peek, but the moment he finishes, I yank the paper back toward me.