You Never Knew Me (Never 1)

He slowly disentangles himself from me and I know I have to get up as well. “Do you want me to let everyone know what happened, so you don’t have to deal with any questions?” My hero for sure, how does he always seem to know what I need? “Yes please,” I reply quietly. I really don’t want to think about it anymore and when I move over to the door and see an envelope on the floor, I want to just tear it up.

“Come on, we’ll deal with this later,” Noah says, as he takes the envelope from me and slips it in his pocket.

He takes me to the canteen but not before I stand at my locker, debating whether or not I should open it.

“Don’t even think about it or I will call Amias down, and he won’t hesitate to pick you up and carry you away.”

“Why don’t you just pick me up yourself?” I ask, and I can hear the breathy quality to my voice.

“Amias is the better option, he’s less likely to drop you,” he says with a laugh, but his cheeks are bright red and his eyes keep darting to the side.

If only I could unravel his mysteries.

Twelve

Another month passes and the ‘gifts’ in my locker are intensifying. I’ve found more nooses, pills and even ridiculously sharp blades. Noah has been checking the footage and we know the girls are playing a part in all of this, but are they the mastermind, or just someone’s proxy.

Harrison hasn’t made a move, and I still haven’t seen Mr. Terrifying again. Elijah and Amias were seething when we told them what had happened, but they seemed to understand why I would want Noah with me instead of one of them. Amias still comes around for a crafty kiss and sometimes we’ll lie on my bed and just watch stupid crap on my phone.

He keeps hinting that Noah and me will never be an item, and I tell him that I’m not fussed either way, even though his words cause my stomach to twist in on itself.

The girls have been great, but they don’t really get on well with Ivy, I’m not sure why but Roxie keeps telling me to watch myself where she is concerned. I won’t start thinking badly of her because of that, but I do want to know what is fuelling her warning.

It’s getting closer and closer to July and us being able to leave. I haven't seen any more emails, but I know I’m still receiving them, I know Noah is trying to protect me but I don’t like being kept in the dark.

I feel powerless and out of control and it isn’t sitting well with me. Everything comes to a head when I’m in maths and we’re paired up and somehow, I get put with Harrison.

“I don’t want to fail, can you play nice?” I ask, as I drop my stuff down on the table next to him.

“I don’t play little girl and I’d rather fail this assignment than work with you.” If his eyes didn’t strip me bare and leave me feeling worthless, I would wonder how his tone can convey such hatred and disgust for me.

“What is your problem, because I don’t know what it is I’m supposed to have done to you. I understand the girls, but why are you so hellbent on being an utter arsehole when it comes to me?” I genuinely want to know the answer to this, because I haven’t done anything to attract this level of animosity towards me.

“Because you think you are above everyone else, that the rules don’t apply to you no matter what they are. Because people like you don’t get to just walk around as though you’ve done nothing wrong, how many of your mistakes have you owned.” He brings his head in close to mine, his eyes narrowed and spitting his scorching hatred at me, flaming me with their intensity. “Do your misdeeds haunt you or are you so self-absorbed that you can’t even recognise when you’ve done something abhorrent. You want my advice? Do as you’re told and just end yourself. No one will miss you and the world will be a much better place.”

I rear back as though he slapped me, I think I would have preferred that. My retort catches in my throat, I can’t think of anything to say in my defence.

What more can I do than just sit here and watch him storm out of the class, he’s not even faltering with the threat of failing, what is it that I’ve apparently done to him. Because I know for sure I never saw him before I came to this school.

I’m so happy that my new partner is Mattias, but he looks nervous which cannot be a good sign.

“Henleigh, the emails are getting worse. Noah doesn’t think I should bother you with it, in case it upsets you. But I’m not sure I agree with that,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck continuously.

I’m worried that he’s going to suggest going to the police, Noah texted me about it the other day but I refused. After what happened with Elliott it’s the last thing I need right now, besides it isn’t as though my life is in danger or anything, they’re just emails.

“Do you think I need to see them?” I ask, and he reluctantly nods. “I will only show you two,” he says, albeit reluctantly.

Once class is over we head to his room, good thing we have a study period otherwise we would have had to get this done later.

Little sis,

I can’t believe you’re ignoring me, I know you wear a chain around your neck with my picture on and yet you act this way. I could probably ignore your refusal to acknowledge I ever existed but what you are doing with those guys is disgraceful.

Honestly, knowing what a tart you have turned into, I’m glad I’m not alive to experience it in person. I am so ashamed, just like Mum and Dad will be when they find out. What do you think they will do to you this time?

Elliott’sGhost

It’s those girls it has to be, but what can I do? We have proof that they’ve been at my door when letters have been pushed under, but I can’t actually see them doing it in the footage. As for my locker, they somehow managed to find a blind spot because they never appear, but luckily Declan is getting people in to fix that little error. I just need to prove it was them, then I can take it to the headmistress, and she won’t be able to ignore it this time.