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“It was on the news and everything,” she said. “There are rumours somebody set fire to the community centre on purpose.”
“I wish this fire starter would take care of my next-door neighbour for me,” Emma joked at lunchtime. “She keeps giving us crap about, well, our dog crapping in her garden. Moany old boot.”
“That’s not even funny, and you know it,” Chloe snapped.
Victor passed by our table and shot me a doleful look. I didn’t know if guilt or a desire to have a link to Dorian compelled me, but before I could stop myself, I blurted, “Wanna sit with us?”
Chloe murmured something under her breath, likely a warning to Emma to keep her thoughts to herself.
To my surprise, Victor slipped into an empty seat next to me. The rest of the table stared at him for a moment before jumping right back into their discussion about the arsonist.
“Have you heard from Dorian?” Victor asked me under his breath.
Emma must have been listening because she slammed her palm on the table then leaned towards Victor. “Where is Dorian? I feel like I haven’t seen him since his birthday party.” She grinned at Chloe. “That was a fun night.”
“He’s visiting family,” Victor lied.
“Pity,” Emma said. “If I end up trapped in a fire, I think I’d like the local hero to be around.”
Some of the boys made sounds of disgust on the other side of the table.
“Hey, Margo,” Chloe said. “You were with Dorian when he saved those boys from the fire, right? Was it as dramatic as everyone makes it sound?”
“Not really.” I glanced at Victor who had pressed his lips together. “We saw smoke, realised someone was inside, so Dorian ran in to check. They were out before the fire got too dangerous.”
Chloe shivered. “They were lucky you happened to pass by. I hope they catch whoever’s doing this soon.”
“Maybe it’s kids messing with lighters,” I said meaningfully, taking Emma’s lighter out of her hand.
She laughed then snatched it back. “I’m so bored. I’d love to go out tonight, but there’s nothing on.”
“I’m free,” Adam said with a grin. He had shown up at school as though nothing had happened, and nobody had brought up his accident.
Emma made a face. “I’m grounded for letting the dog get into the neighbour’s garden.” She pointed at me. “Tell your boyfriend to teach me how to stop a dog from shitting anywhere it wants because I have no idea.”
After the bell rang, everyone hurried to class because most of the teachers had gone through a dramatic change over the holidays. Now the pressure was on to study, study, study for the mock exams in two months time. I got up, too, but Victor remained at the lunch table, staring into space. I had no idea how to deal with him, but I knew the adults would get on his case if he missed a class.
“Shouldn’t you get to class?” I asked. “People will notice if you’re not there.”
He shrugged.
“Victor, you can’t sit here all day.”
He didn’t say anything.
I glanced at the time. I would be late because of him, but I was afraid to leave him there. “Are you okay?”
He looked up at me with the most pained expression I had ever seen. “No.”
His voice broke so hard on the word that it shook me to the core. I’d only ever thought of Victor as a bully, so the fact he was upset was shocking to me. Maybe he was taking losing Mara harder than I thought.
“It’s all right.” I sat back down. “I know it’s hard with Mara gone, but—”
He pushed his chair away from the table so forcefully it fell over with a crash that made me flinch.
“You don’t get it,” was all he said before storming off.
I had no idea what that was about, but it bothered me all day.
