Page 172 of Save You

For a moment, I long to punch Wren’s lights out.But then I remember my dad’s clenched fist.I snatch my hands away from Wren.I can’t stay in this hall a second longer.

“James…” Ruby whispers.

I just shake my head and leave.

20

Ember

I’m kind of disappointed.

Ruby always made such a mystery out of these parties that God knows what I was expecting—but it was definitely not that I’d spend most of the evening standing around on my own, bored to tears.While Ruby dashes around the room, from one corner to the other, to discuss whatever with whoever, I’ve managed to get into a conversation with exactly two people.One was the daughter of someone who owns a chain of cafés.I loved her dress so much that I had to ask her who the designer was, and if I could take a photo of her.The other was the head girl of Maxton Hall, who made such a great opening speech that I wanted to congratulate her on it.Not that she seemed remotely interested in my opinion, seeing as she spent the whole time glancing at the people standing around us, like she was looking for someone more important to talk to.

Kieran hardly leaves my side all evening.Ruby must have ordered him to take care of me, I’m one hundred percent certain ofthat.He’s kind, but after a while we’ve run out of things to say to each other and just sit staring in silence at the stage or into our glasses.I feel a bit sorry for him.He must have better things to do than to babysit his team leader’s little sister.

While the last speaker gives a passionate call for more love and understanding in the world, I sneakily glance around for Wren, yet again.He’s the only person out of everyone here who’s genuinely caught my interest this evening.Something about him fascinated me, and I’d love the chance to spend longer chatting with him and learning more about him.

The round of applause snaps me out of my thoughts.The speaker thanks her audience and finally leaves the stage.Ruby is waiting for her at the foot of the few steps.I catch my breath at the sight of her face—something has changed.The smile doesn’t reach her eyes and looks fake to me.Now that I think about it, this is the first time I’ve seen her in hours.Has something happened?It can’t have anything to do with the gala, because everything is running like clockwork.I’m wondering whether to go over to her when she and the speaker vanish off into a side room together.

I sigh.

And at that moment, I see Wren.

He’s leaning against the wall by the main doors.And he’s smiling over at me.For a moment I’m tempted to look around, to make sure that he really is looking at me, but…no, he is staring straight at me.Like he was before.

I think about it for all of two seconds.Then I mumble “excuse me” to Kieran and, taking no notice of his protestations, walk over to Wren—who doesn’t take his eyes off me the whole timethat I’m slowly approaching him, and it suddenly seems a much longer walk than it really is.

“You’re back,” I say, once I’ve come to a standstill a little way away from him.

He nods and smiles.“We hadn’t finished what we started, had we?”

I don’t know if that’s intended to sound like a double entendre.Did I do the wrong thing in coming over to him?Because while he is undoubtedly flirting, all I want to do is talk—nothing more.

“No, we hadn’t,” I answer all the same.The attentiveness and interest in Wren’s eyes make a welcome change from the indifferent expression on every other face here.Maybe this evening won’t be a total waste of time after all.

Be careful, though, a voice whispers in the back of my mind.

The next moment, Wren reaches for my hand.I look in surprise at our interlaced fingers and then up at his face.He raises an eyebrow while giving my hand a squeeze, like this is the most natural thing in the world.I’m finding it really hard to know what to make of him.

Wren nods toward the exit.

I think for a moment, and glance over my shoulder.Ruby still hasn’t reappeared, and Kieran’s vanished too now.

Wren squeezes my hand gently again.I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an interesting boy.His Insta account doesn’t do him justice, in my opinion.His photos look deliberate—deliberately cheerful, deliberately cool—but in real life, his personality is much more likable.And kind of mysterious.I really want to know what was going on earlier.Why he’s faking a relaxed smile while his eyes are troubled.

In the end, I nod, and we walk out into the lobby of Boyd Hall.A woman in a drop-dead gorgeous burgundy dress walks past us, and I turn to watch her.The sight of the low-cut back with its delicate lace trim makes me sigh.

Wren gives me a sideways glance.

“I’m into fashion.And all the dresses people are wearing here…I wish I could find patterns for all of them, to sew them myself.”

I look at Wren, trying to decide if he thinks that’s weird, but his eyes are sparkling.He points to the curved staircase that leads upstairs.“I’ve got an idea.”

I follow him, careful not to tread on the hem of my dress as we walk up the wide steps.When we get to the top, Wren heads off to the left and leads me down a long dark corridor.

Corridors in my school are grubby, and the white paint on the walls is yellowish with age.The dark green paint on the lockers peels more with every year, and people have graffitied pictures on the walls.This landing couldn’t be more different.There are expensive-looking paintings in heavy frames alongside photos of famous old Maxtonians.There are glass display cases featuring artworks on loan to the school, and sculptures made by pupils here.

I’m so busy staring that I almost bump into Wren when he comes to a sudden stop.He looks around for a moment and then sits down on a wooden bench.He pats the empty space beside him and I take a seat too.