AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah. I’m out, but it…there’s no one really around.” There wasn’t, just a few late shoppers.
“Good. You might wanna sit down for this, mate.”
A feeling that I was unaccustomed to shot through me at his words. Something that felt a whole fucking lot like dread. Ducking into an alleyway between two buildings, I leaned back against the wall, letting the rough surface ground me.
“I’m listening. Tell me what you know.”
20
ELENA
Something was going on with Knox, and I wasn’t sure what it was. Despite the fact that we clearly disliked each other, he hadn’t been outright ignoring me. Now, though, I’d been frozen out. He hadn’t even looked at me, not once, the entire journey to Hatherley Hall, and every time I’d seen him in school today, he’d be looking away from me, paying extra attention to the girls who hung around him constantly, but never once glancing my way.
It made me…uncomfortable. I should be pleased, but there was something inside me, a part that I really hated, that had enjoyed his attention and the verbal sparring…and the rest of what we’d done.
I was good at compartmentalising, though, so I pretended like it wasn’t there. There was too much going on with me anyway. I had school, my driving lessons, and a new job at the country club that was starting tonight—it appeared that the Ashcroft name really did open all kinds of doors. My mother had instructed me to watch out for Knox, but after going through his room and observing him with his friends and how he was with me, I was of the opinion that trying to uncover anything about him was a dead end. He was just a typical shallow rich boy.
“Elena? Elena?”
I blinked, Will’s face coming into focus. “Sorry, I was miles away.”
“You don’t say.” He grinned at me. “Come on. The music lesson’s over now, and we need to get to business studies.”
“Yeah. Right. Business studies.” I gathered up the sheets that I’d been scribbling lyrics on, handing them to Katy. “Here. You can have these, maybe see if you can put them together with your music. I think we’re almost there.”
She smiled as she took the papers from me. “Great, thanks. I’ll work on it now during my free period. I’ll see you both after business studies.”
Will dropped a kiss on her cheek, and then we left her to it, leaving the music block and making our way to our business studies classroom.
The classroom where Knox would be.
When we entered the room, there were only a few people inside, and I made a sudden, snap decision, heading straight for the back where Knox usually sat.
Will stopped me with a hand on my arm, his eyes wide. “Where are you going? That’s where Knox and Tristan sit.”
I shot him a glance. “I know. That’s why I’m going to sit there. Don’t worry, I’m not expecting you to sit there too.”
“Do you really think that’s a good idea?” His brows pulled together in concern as he released my arm.
“Good? No. Just promise me one thing, though.”
“What?”
“If Knox kills me, bring flowers to my funeral. Lilies, please.”
“Noted.” Shaking his head, he stepped back. “I really hope you know what you’re doing.”
I didn’t, but it wasn’t going to stop me. Pulling out the chair next to the one where Knox usually sat, I took a seat, pulling the books I needed from my bag.
Less than five minutes later, a shiver went down my spine as I heard Knox’s low, smooth tone, accompanied by the voices of Tristan and Chelsea. I kept my gaze on my textbook, taking my time flipping through the pages, my whole body on high alert, even though I was projecting a casual image.
“What do you think you’re doing sitting here?”
Slowly, I raised my head, meeting Tristan’s gaze. His eyes were dark and angry. Next to him, Knox’s jaw was clenched, and his fists were balled up at his sides, but he was still playing the silent game.
“Are there assigned seats?” Tapping my pen against the desk, I affected a bored tone.
“That’s my seat,” Tristan hissed. “Move.”
