When We're Alone

Chapter eight

AVA

Oakviewiscompletelydifferent to Highland. Not so much in how it’s run. They have a uniform too, which is unfortunate. Oakview’s is grey and white, and everyone still walks around looking down their noses at each other. But Oakview is very different in layout. Each subject has a different building, and there are smaller green areas in between, like a little town. It’s equally as impressive, but in a completely different way, and it will take some getting used to. The rushed tour I got when I first arrived was not doing enough to help me out. Now I’m sitting in the guidance counsellor’s office, zoning out as he drones on and on. Foster dropped me off this morning, which was slightly embarrassing and all, but I think he thought he was being supportive. He really does seem like a decent guy, but I wonder if there’s a business motive underneath what seems to be genuine kindness. It’s hard to trust anyone in this world.

I’m not sure why the guidance counsellor meets new students, but he goes on and on about student relations and how to foster positive ones like I’m completely socially inept. I smile politely, promising to not be a social recluse, and eventually he dismisses me with one last plea to make friends and integrate. What else would I do?

I leave the office, having missed the first period for that induction, and try to study my timetable and the map I’ve been provided as I walk. People whisper as I pass, and I get the uncomfortable feeling that I’m being watched, but that can’t be right. I’m just being paranoid because I don’t know anyone. Get a grip, Ava. And who cares either way? If people are deciding instantly whether they like me or not, they’re not people I want to associate with. I fall back on my usual habits, striding onwards with my head held high. No way is anyone here going to make me feel less than.

It looks as if my assigned locker is over this way, and as I storm round a corner with my head in my paperwork, I bang straight into someone’s back. Someone’s solid back. Stumbling back, I almost fall straight onto my ass before a hand shoots out, grabbing my arm and keeping me upright. With the sun behind me beaming into his face, I look up into eyes that look like molten silver. He drops his hand quickly and my arm feels like it’s burning where his phantom handprint is.

“Sorry,” I mumble, aware I might be staring slightly. “My fault.” He doesn’t answer straight away, a weird expression crossing his face while everyone around us stares at me. I belatedly realise that they’re not around us, they’re with him, and they’re all tall and gorgeous. Of course they are. They’re no match for the guy in front of me, though, with dark hair and stubble highlighting a solid jaw and those eyes. When it gets to awkward territory, I go to step around him. Finally someone speaks, although it’s not him.

“So we finally get to meet little Highland?” one of the girls sneers. She’s as fake as old money allows, with bright definitely-not-natural blonde hair and a chest way too large for her tiny frame. I can’t work out if she’d be pretty when her face wasn’t screwed up in a sneer or not. But how does she know that, and why does she sound like she’s talking about shit on her shoe and not another school? The brunette girl they’re with has the same expression, but the two tall blond guys are looking at me like a science project. All three guys are easily towering over me—they must all be at least six foot. When I look back at the guy I crashed into, his eyes have turned a gunmetal grey, all emotion removed from his expression. Okay, so this is how it is. I don my own mask and stand up straighter, owning the fuck out of my status, because what else can I do?

“That’s me.”

“You shouldn’t have come here.” I can’t help the eye roll, and the blonde narrows her eyes at me, but come on, are we in a western? The bell goes and I take my opportunity to leave, head still high. These fuckers know nothing. As if I give a shit what they think about me. This is my new start, and if they’d let me, I’d happily fade into the background. I head over to my next class, which ends up being on the other side of the campus, so of course I’m late after that interaction, bringing more attention to me as I slink in. I don’t know how everyone seems to know I’m new, but the wary looks they’re giving me show they do. Fortunately, none of the five I bumped into follow my direction, and they aren’t in either of my morning classes. None of my teachers introduce me, not that I’d expect it, but it’s as if they’re ignoring me too. People speak about me but not to me.

I get the chance to explore a bit during the lunch break. You can tell this is a space for the elite—money pours from every view. People still whisper and nudge their friends when I go past, but no one approaches me, and I almost relax until the afternoon classes start.

It’s like the universe mocks my premature hope, and one of each of the guys from before is in my three afternoon classes. I try to ignore them, but for some reason I’m tuned into what they’re doing without even wanting to be. First is one of the blonds, who turns out to be called Mason and seems to be like a magnet for people. Even the teacher is under his charismatic spell, giving him looks I don’t think are entirely appropriate for teacher-student relations. When the bell goes, I walk past him still lounging in his seat and he flashes me a megawatt smile. He is the walking definition of a pretty-boy—floppy blond hair and blue twinkly eyes.

“See you later, Highland.” I wasn’t expecting him to speak to me and I’m not quick enough to figure out how best to deal with it, so I ignore him. Thankfully, cocky guys who think everyone should fall at their feet because they wink at them aren’t my type.

The second class has the other blond in it. Even with his hair cropped shorter and stubble, he looks crazy similar to the other one, right down to the blue eyes. He has just as many people around him but seems more reserved, not relishing the attention like Mason did. I don’t catch his name, and he thankfully doesn’t say anything to me.

I’m sitting in my final class of the day waiting for it to start when a hush falls over the room. I look up in confusion and meet the grey eyes from earlier. As soon as he’s taken his seat, others move around so they’re closer to him. It’s pathetic, really, but if I could move inconspicuously so he was in my eyeline, I would. His face is something I’d happily look at for the next hour. He’s sat behind me, though, and I can’t relax for the duration of the class. The feeling of being hunted settles around me, as if his eyes are on me the whole time. That can’t be right, though. Wishful thinking, maybe, due to a childish crush on someone I don’t even know.

As soon as the bell rings, I’m up and out and hurrying over to Millie’s.

“So apparently they hate Oakview,” I tell her, throwing myself onto the bed next to her. She’s already picked her book up but is giving me at least a quarter of her attention, which is more than I can normally get when her nose is in a book.

“Of course they do, just like we hate Highland. Didn’t we already have this conversation yesterday? Remember? ‘How is a five minute drive better than dealing with that?’”

“I thought you meant about living with strangers! I know the universities are rivals, but the students aren’t that serious about it, are they? I thought that was mainly a sports thing.” She rolls her eyes at my obliviousness.

“We definitely are. It’s well-known, and the guys are always stirring shit up. But to be fair, I guess we never had the need to get involved.” Huh, weird.

“Well, I guess we’re involved now, because I’m being treated like a leper.”

“Is that not a good thing? You wanted some solitude anyway. Look at the positives and don’t socialise with those rich assholes.” That has me chuckling.

“Very true.”

“Just take it a week at a time. Your reward can be going back to the club to meet mystery guy.” She wiggles her eyebrows, and I try to look unaffected but my stomach clenches from the memory of him. I remember his hand tight against my stomach and the feel of him behind me as I danced, his fingers trailing my thigh. God, I’m getting hot just thinking about it. I didn’t even see his face, but Millie assures me he was attractive. Although, she was very drunk and is unconvincing in her declaration, so I’m pretty sure she doesn’t actually remember. “Seriously, they’ll get bored when they realise you couldn’t care less and leave you alone.”

“Here’s hoping.”