Page 32 of Save Me (Maxton Hall #1)

Lydia just shrugs. “I’ve seen what vultures people can be. If I sit here, no one will dare come over.” She nods toward a group of kids who are staring at us. When they notice that I’ve looked around, they look away and stick their heads together, whispering.

“And I wanted to check on how you’re doing,” Lydia adds.

I can’t hide my surprise. Thinking back on our last conversation, all I can see is her distrustful gaze. She didn’t give me the impression of being interested in my well-being, and I can’t help wondering if my dip in the pool is really the only reason she’s sitting here at our table.

I decide to answer her question honestly all the same. “I’d prefer it if that hadn’t happened on Friday. But I’m OK.”

“Cy really doesn’t know when to stop sometimes,” she says.

I shrug my shoulders.

“But I’ve known him all my life,” she continues. “That genuinely was his idea of funny.”

“What he did was anything but funny,” Lin objects, looking surprised when Lydia nods.

“He crossed the line. And I’ve told him so.”

I glance up from my soup in surprise. “Really?”

“Yes. Of course.”

For a moment I don’t know what to say. In the end I settle on: “That was kind. Thank you.”

Lydia smiles and turns back to her penne.

I look at Lin at the same moment that she looks at me. I give another almost imperceptible shrug, and we both focus on our lunch.

After a while, Lin tells me about her morning, which began badly when her car wouldn’t start.

It feels weird to make small talk with Lydia there, but she joins in on our conversation as if it was the most natural thing in the world, and in the end, I stop asking myself what her ulterior motive might be.

Maybe she’s just being nice and genuinely wanted to apologize.

She wouldn’t be the first member of her family to surprise me.

Once we’ve finished eating, I heave my backpack onto my lap and pull out a little tin that I put in the middle of the table.

“There were some cookies left from the weekend,” I say, taking off the lid. “Anyone up for dessert?”

Lydia’s eyes light up. “Did you make them yourself?”

“With Lin and my sister,” I say. “On Saturday, in our PJs.”

“That sounds amazing,” she says, taking a cookie. “Way better than my Saturday.” She bites into it and chews pensively. “Oh, wow, this is delicious.”

“Thanks.” I smile. “James said you had family visiting.”

“Yeah, that’s always…something else. I’d way rather have spent the day in my pajamas.”

I can’t imagine someone like Lydia in pajamas at all, and the attempt makes me grin.

After lunch, Lin and I head for the group room to get ready for today’s meeting.

While I write the agenda on the board, Lin puts the handouts we just got printed at the school office at everyone’s places.

Then we wait for the others, who gradually drift in.

James takes the window seat, same as always.

He puts the black notebook on the table in front of him and crosses his arms over his chest. The familiar sight gives me a twinge because it makes me realize that whether or not James and I are getting on better, he’s not here voluntarily.

Being here means he isn’t at lacrosse training—it’s a punishment that he hates.

“Ruby?” Kieran came up to me without me noticing.

“Hmm?” I say, looking at him. Kieran’s only a fraction taller than me. His black hair falls over his face and he shakes it aside.

“I wondered if you had a minute after the meeting? I’ve got quite a range of bands, and I thought I’d rather discuss them with you before narrowing them down to three.”

“Hang on,” I mumble, looking in my planner. All it says is Birthday plans with Mum & Dad . “Yeah, no problem.”

Kieran smiles with relief. “Great.”

He goes back to his seat, which is diagonally opposite James. Our eyes meet, and a mocking smile crosses his lips as he looks from me to Kieran and back again.

“What?” I mouth.

James picks up his phone. A moment later, mine lights up on the table in front of me.

He’s into you.

I roll my eyes and ignore him.

“OK, everyone. Let’s see where things stand now,” Lin opens the meeting, pointing to Jessalyn on her right.

“I’ve got lots of quotes for the décor. One of them is offering us a really good discount.” Jessa passes around the printed portfolio. “Thanks again for the tip, Beaufort.”

I look at James in surprise as he gives Jessa a nod. Given how often his eyes stray over to the playing fields, I’d never have expected him to put himself out unasked. And without telling me either.

“I’ve come up with a few designs for the invites,” says Doug next, handing Lin a USB stick. She plugs it in and starts the presentation. “The first one is more traditional, based on last year’s,” he explains.

I study the swirling gold letters on the black background, but before I can express an opinion, Camille says: “I thought we were trying to move away from last year’s party?”

The others mumble in agreement.

“OK, then here’s the next idea,” Doug continues, nodding to Lin to click on.

The next invitation is in gaudy colors, typical Halloween.

“That doesn’t look as elegant as I’d imagine a Victorian party to be,” Kieran says hesitantly.

I nod. “Yeah, I agree, to be honest.”

Doug nods, and Lin clicks to the next slide. A whisper runs through the room, and I sit bolt upright. The next moment, I lean in closer to the screen and narrow my eyes at the invitation.

It’s designed to look like old paper. The event is announced in fancy but legible lettering at the top, right under which I see…me. With James, who’s bowing and holding my hand gently in his, as if he’s inviting me to dance.

It’s one of the photos Tristan took that Saturday in London. I can’t believe it was forwarded to Doug without me knowing about it. I look up from the laptop screen to James across the room. His eyes are dancing, but he won’t meet my gaze.

“It looks amazing,” says Jessa after a while. A murmur of agreement fills the room. “That dress is dreamy. You don’t happen to have another couple, do you?” she asks James.

He shakes his head. “Be glad I got anything at all.”

“The invitation is great, Doug.” Lin turns to the screen to look at it on a bigger scale. Then she stands up and takes a few steps back. “I think the details could be in a different font though, something a bit more modern.”

“Yeah, I agree,” I say, trying not to let anyone see how uncertain I am about the picture.

If we go with this invitation, my face will be all over the school—all over Pemwick!

I don’t know if I’m ready for that level of attention.

Unfortunately, that’s not up for debate—obviously, the team are thrilled and are already discussing whether to use the same printers as last time.

I study the picture again. James in his Victorian suit, my hand in his. The memory of how it felt to be so close to him, how electric that moment was, fills me with warmth. I don’t dare even glance in his direction for the entire rest of the meeting.

Once we’re done, Jessa, Camille, and Doug say goodbye.

Kieran comes over so that we can check the bands out on Lin’s laptop, and I see her walk over to James.

She sits down beside him and starts talking.

I watch with a frown as he nods and makes a note of something in his pad.

I don’t realize that Kieran’s speaking to me until it’s too late.

“Sorry, what were you saying?” I ask.

“That I think this is going to be the best party Maxton Hall has ever seen,” he repeats, smiling at me.

“That would be great. We’ve been planning it for so long, I can hardly wait for the night.”

“Me either. I really hope you’ll save a dance for me.” Kieran’s still smiling, looking at me through his black lashes. I give a dry gulp.

He’s into you.

Lin’s been telling me that for months. Could she be right? Until now, I’ve always seen Kieran as this ambitious little vampire in the year below us. I thought he was being nice to me in the hope that I might suggest him as team leader next year. I never believed that he might have a crush on me.

Suddenly, I realize how close Kieran’s sitting to me and that our knees are almost touching under the table. I budge to the side and then feel cross with myself. This situation is entirely innocent. Why am I letting James’s words faze me like this?

I glare at him at the exact moment that he looks at me. Unlike me, he’s not hiding anything, it’s all public. I long to stick my tongue out at him. But that would be childish, so I beam at Kieran and nod. “Of course. But I’ll have to take some lessons first.”

“I can show you during the rehearsals,” he says, and I could swear I can see a slight blush on his cheeks. Oh boy.

“Good. OK,” I say, louder than I intended. I cough. “Shall we listen to the music then?”

We pull out our headphones and go through the samples that Kieran’s collected. After that, we check out reviews online and shortlist them.

“I think I’d suggest these three to the others. Why don’t you ask them their fees and then we’ll decide on Wednesday or Friday which is best,” I say in the end.

Kieran nods. “Fine.”

“Great.” I smile, taking off the headphones. I open my planner and grab my pink pen to note down today’s tasks.

“You’re turning eighteen on Saturday?” he asks in surprise.

I instantly slam my journal shut. I’m trying not to show it, but it bothers me that Kieran peeked inside it. This is kind of my diary and definitely not meant for others’ eyes to see.

“Yeah,” I say after a brief pause.

“So, what are your plans?”

Lin picks this moment to turn around from her conversation with James.

“We’re…” She falls silent as I glare warningly at her.

It’s nobody’s business at Maxton Hall what I’m doing for my birthday.

That’s my private life, and I don’t want anyone knowing about it.

“Nothing much,” she says in the end, pressing her lips firmly together.