You Never Knew Me (Never 1)

Their spot of bravery has already diminished as they huddle in the corner, and then I see her. Roxie in all her splendour, grabbing Octavia by the wrist and twisting it behind her back. Ivy has hold of Britney. Those two may not get along, but it warms my heart that they’d work together to help me out.

A pair of arms come around my middle and I’m lifted out of the fight, I throw my head back but they move their head out of the way just in time.

“What is going on?” shouts Amias, and I instantly stop struggling.

“Those sickos drew another gravestone on her door, with Elliott’s date of death and hers dated this year.”

I’m glad Elijah is explaining it, but he hasn’t told him everything yet. He’s like a volcano getting ready to erupt, he’s so angry and I’m right there with him, but I also feel a little detached from the situation. I think my adrenaline is starting to wear off.

“There was a picture of him Amias, with his face scratched out and a speech bubble drawn telling her to join him before it’s too late,” Elijah is breathing deeply but he’s staying away from me.

“I’m getting you out of here,” Amias says, whispering in my ear.

“You’re finished cheese girl, would have preferred to see you die but gone is gone,” says Britney right before she moves quick enough to get free of Ivy.

She sends her fist into Roxie’s face and we all here the crunch as it impacts with her nose.

“That’s for taking Declan, but he won’t be yours for much longer.” then as quick as I can blink she brings tears to her eyes and starts calling for a teacher.

Amias is carrying me away, while Elijah tries to get Ivy and Roxie out before a teacher can reach them. This is so screwed up.

“I get why you did it but there’s only a week to go and then everyone is out of here, I don’t want you getting expelled.”

Amias is pacing the floor and occasionally sinks a fist into the wall, until Elijah and Noah appear in his doorway and quickly close the door behind them.

“Boy wonder here has made sure the fight isn’t on any of the cameras. Half the people are saying it was Hen and the other half are saying she was in the canteen when the fight went down.” Elijah can’t keep the grin off his face when he says this.

“What about Roxie?” I ask, I still can’t believe she got punched.

“That’s the best part, everyone loves Roxie, and agrees that she was walking past when Britney attacked her. No one can get her out of that now,” he says with a chuckle and I feel so relieved that she won’t be in trouble for it.

I sink down onto the only chair Amias has in his room; I’m absolutely cream crackered.

“It’s okay, we’ve got you covered,” Noah says, crouching in front of me with the smile that always makes my heart stutter aimed right at me.

“Thank you, Noah Bear, you too big guy,” I say as I glance over at Elijah.

“Oh come on, he hasn’t even given you a decent nickname and yet he gets one before I do,” Amias says, clearly not impressed.

I look at him and feel my cheeks heat as I remember what I called him at the ice rink, and that sparkle fills his eyes as he too remembers. Oh, shit a brick, he’s gonna tell them.

“Oh yeah I’m gorgeous and baby aren’t I, never mind they can keep theirs. I get the best ones.” He’s full on gloating and I know he’s doing it to antagonise the others, I just don’t see the point in it. And I’m blushing and I hate it, I’m such a girl when they’re around.

Elijah is gaping at me and Noah is just standing up and moving away, and I’m glaring at a gloating Amias who definitely needs a new name after this little stunt.

“Chill out boys, you know you’re all too bloody sexy for your own good.” Clearly, I’ve lost a few brain cells, otherwise I never would have said that out loud like I just have, it’s mortifying.

I stand up and look around his room realising this is the first time he’s voluntarily let me in.

“I need to go, I’ll see you later,” Noah says, and he won’t look at me.

“Are you okay?” I’m worried, Noah doesn’t get like this with me, did I do something wrong?

“I’m fine Henleigh.” And then he’s gone, and he didn’t call me Leighbear. Why does that hurt so bad?

The guys try to reassure me that it isn’t anything against me and he just has a lot going on, but I’m finding it really hard to believe that. It’s hard convincing the guys to let me go off on my own, but I won’t take no for an answer. Although they finally make me swap numbers with them so I can call them if anything happens.

“If we don’t hear anything from you after an hour, we’ll come looking,” warns Amias and I send him a wink right before I leave.