The Enemy

Chapter 15

Chapter 15: February 2005 - Charterhouse

Emma rolled out of bed and smacked her alarm. The other girls in her dormitory had already left. She yawned and stretched her arms over her head before throwing on her uniform and twisting her hair into a bun. She preferred being alone. That way, she didn't have to endure the judgmental once-overs of her appearance as her roommates doused their eyelashes and lips in third coats of makeup.

Down at breakfast, she plopped into the seat John had saved for her. He regarded her over a full mouth of toast. Lily smiled in greeting from across the table.

"Ready for the maths?" Lily asked.

Emma shrugged. "Sherbet's tests are always fair. I'm sure we'll do fine."

John guffawed. "Speak for yourself, Ems. I'll need a miracle to get through it."

They walked to class, John still bemoaning their fates, when Emma ran straight into Beck Howards. She'd just been wishing that she'd maybe done something with her hair to stop John from glancing at Rebecca Hall every two seconds when it felt like she'd slammed into a brick wall. "Oomph," she fell straight back onto her arse as the contents of her school bag flew everywhere.

Howards stared down at her with his cold, unreadable eyes. He was flanked by his two best mates, George Gains and Christopher Saint. Though they all shared several classes together courtesy of being in the same year, Howards existed on the periphery of her consciousness ever since that awful quarter they'd been assigned as Chemistry partners. Since it had ended at Christmas, she was hardly ever within two feet of him. She never spoke to him. Even at Clay Target League practice, she never interacted with him except to cringe when he darkened her path of vision. It may just be her perspective from the floor, but he looked as if he'd grown four inches since she'd last seen him up close.

He sneered. "Pardon me, Stapleton."

John and Lily jumped in instantly. "Watch where you're bloody going." Lily scowled at Howards. Howards had almost half a foot on her.

"It's not my fault this common filth doesn't look where she's going."

John got in front of Lily and turned bright red. He had an inch on Howards. "Back off, Howards. A gentleman would apologize and help the lady to her feet."

Emma had just finished gathering her things and standing up when she felt eyes on her. She looked up into Howards' smirking face.

"If there were a lady about, then I would act the gentleman."

Lily and John were ready to pounce, but she made it first. Her open palm connected with Howards' cheek with a satisfying smack. The whole corridor fell silent, and the sound seemed to echo off the walls. Emma could hardly believe what she'd done. Howards had never looked more venomous, but he made no move to retaliate. She took a step back. "Good thing I'm no lady."

His jaw clenched. He gave her one more poisonous glare before stalking away into class. She turned to her friends. Lily eyed her with admiration, and John looked gobsmacked. She sighed and shook her head. She pretended to laugh it off.

Her hand didn't stop shaking until after the maths test was complete.