Second Bite of the Apple

Chapter 35: Unfamiliar Friends

Chapter 35: Unfamiliar Friends

"Can I help you?" I said icily, turning away from those cold eyes to search for something in my bag.

My hands were trembling slightly as I rifled through paper, not exactly sure what I was looking for. Anything was better than meeting the darkness that had eclipsed Ethan's eyes. Maybe if I kept looking long enough then he would leave, or maybe I would find an escape route at the bottom of my bag.

"Perhaps," came a sneering voice from behind me.

Maybe not.

"Well, spit it out then," I hissed at him, turning back to face him and folding my arms defensively across my chest.

"Just thought we could have a catch up," Ethan smirked, "you can tell me what you've been doing. Or rather who you've been doing."

He winked at me and I felt my stomach drop. I knew what he was referring to immediately but did my best to keep my face expressionless. I wouldn't let him get to me. After all, how much could he really know?

"Well in between coursework, revision and the police popping in to check up on me every five minutes, I don't really have time for much else," I said sarcastically, a slight hint of anger slicing through my words.

"Don't play the victim Sian. You're hardly the model student anymore. All this extra-curricular music may have everyone else fooled but you forget that I know you Sian. I know who you really are and most of all, I know when you're lying."

He was right. I looked away immediately, scared he might see the last two months of my life reflected in my pupils. How could I have been so stupid to trust him? He belonged in Matt's crowd, that never changed from the day we met. His loyalties were always with someone other than me.

"What I do in my spare time has nothing to do with you Ethan," I responded simply, my voice devoid of any emotion.

"That may be so, but I'm pretty sure Mr Prescott would like to know what his staff get up to in the office when the door is closed. Maybe I should inform Mrs Stanford that her Head Girl really is just that, a silly little slut who thinks a quickie in the storage cupboard means she's in love."

I could feel my face flush. He knew just how to work me. Did he really know about the incident in the cupboard or was he just going for the clichés? He knew that just the mention of Stanford would be enough to infuriate me though. Was he right about me and Laura? Was I a fool for thinking she could actually love me like I love her? Was I just her play thing to spice up the new job? Surely not. Not after all we've been through. God I could hit Ethan right now.

"Say what you will," I retorted with feigned confidence, "but your little stories aren't going to achieve anything."

"Stories?" Ethan laughed at me. "Is that what you think I'm going to do. Oh no Sian baby, I don't need stories. I've got cold hard evidence."

He was lying. He had to be lying. He couldn't have. Could he?

"Don't you dare call me baby!" I spat at him. "You're just like him! You and Matt, you were in this together from the start!"

"Well I can't deny that. You see, Matt trusted me in a way he didn't the rest of the crew. Nothing can ever break that. So when you so willingly stumbled into my life, well, the opportunity was too good to be missed."

"You're vile!"

"Hey! I'm just looking out for my main man. Speaking of which, I think it's time you told the police just what a dirty little liar you are, don't you?"

"I have no intention of telling the police anything thank you very much. Laura was the one who reported Matt, not me. You know full well that he deserves to be where he is Ethan."

"Ah, so the lovely Laura is to blame for this. I'm surprised she doesn't still make you call her Miss in the bedroom. I thought a bit of role play would be right up your street Sian."

"Shut up Ethan!" I growled furiously, balling my fists at my sides.

"Hit a nerve have I? What's wrong? Does Little Miss Foster not let you be the dominant one? Bet she even makes you call her Mistress!"

I'd had enough. My fist made contact with Ethan's smooth skin just below his left eye. Thankfully no blood seemed to have been drawn but I was willing to bet that he'd have a nasty bruise in the morning. He deserved it. He should just be thankful I stopped there. Ethan seemed to be torn between shock and smugness. All he was waiting for was to get a rise out of me, and you can't get much better than a smack in the face. He dabbed hesitantly at the point where I had hit him, checking the extent of the damage, then he looked back up at me, that same dark look in his eyes.

"Someone clearly got out of the wrong side of bed today, or did you just get out of the wrong bed? Run along, it's almost break time. Miss Foster might be able to sneak you into the office for five minutes and cheer you up."

It took every ounce of self control I had not to hit him again. I knew this time I wouldn't be able to stop and the last thing I needed was to get arrested for assault, plus excluded from school for doing it on the premises. Considering how things stand, it would not look good. I turned away from Ethan, trying desperately to ignore the sound of his breathing and pretend he wasn't there. Then I felt his body against my back, once such a comforting sensation yet now so intimidating.

"Now you," he started, brushing a finger over my cheek, "need to start being a little bit nicer to me, "he traced my collarbone, inching towards my sternum.

"Or what?" I said a lot more bravely than I felt.

"Or you'll be visiting Laura in prison and waving any chance of a future down the drain. I won't hesitate to tell everybody just exactly what you two have been doing all term. Something I'm sure the police will be very interested to hear about when they next drop by the school for you."

I hadn't thought about that. It's not just my life that was being jeopardised. Laura would lose her job and her whole career if this got out. Years of training would go down the drain in an instant. I couldn't do that to her. She would never forgive me. I'd lose my place at this school, all of my work would be for nothing. As much as I hated it here, I need my exams to get into university. I'd dug myself a very large hole and couldn't see any way out.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked quietly, feeling tears building up in my eyes.

In that moment I remembered all of the time me and Ethan had spent together. I had told him more than I had ever told anyone. I trusted him. I really thought he had changed, left Matt's gang for good. I thought he actually cared about me. All this time, he'd been laughing at me. I was a fool and now I was going to pay the price.

"Why?" Ethan repeated, smirking maliciously. "Because I can."