Page 52 of Save You

As I speak, my sister’s smile suddenly fades.

“What’s wrong?”I ask.

Ember avoids my eyes.She starts to click on random web pages, like she isn’t really focused on what she’s doing.“Nothing.It doesn’t matter.I just can’t believe that these are our last few months together.”

“I’m only going away to university.It doesn’t mean we’ll never see each other again, Ember,” I say gently.

Ember keeps staring at her laptop screen.“It does, and you know it.”

I shake my head fiercely.“Things won’t be exactly the same, but that definitely doesn’t mean we’ll never see each other again.I’ll come home every weekend and I’ll keep working with you on your blog.We can chat and FaceTime, and I’ll send you cringey pictures of my lunch and tell you the books I’m reading and—”

She laughs and interrupts me.“Promise me, Ruby,” she says, her voice deadly serious.

I put an arm around my little sister’s shoulder and pull her to my side.“I promise.”

James

The week before the gala is one of the most stressful of my life.

I still have all the schoolwork that Lydia and I missed before Christmas to catch up on, and there’s so much to do for the event that I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.Ruby and Camille decide on Monday to swap the lightbulbs in Boyd Hall for ones with a softer, more atmospheric light, so I have to buy the bulbs.On Tuesday, the pianist suddenly announces that he wants to be paid way more for hardly any music, so Kieran and I have to go to see him and bring him round.As we drive over there, Kieran talks me into coming to listen to the school choir rehearsal on Wednesday and checking their song list because Ruby’s too busy and Lin doesn’t appreciate the finer points of classical music (his words).But the absolute highlight comes on Thursday when the entire team is called in to polish the silver cutlery (not my favorite job) and to fold napkins into miters (sheerhell).I always thought I was reasonably good with my fingers, but apparently I’m incapable of following simple instructions on napkin-folding.

The lads give me funny looks when I turn up at lacrosse training already knackered, or have to skip it altogether, but they don’t ask questions.I wouldn’t even know how to explain what’s up with me.

It feels like I’m clinging on to a straw, refusing to let go.On our way back to school, Ruby made it very clear that she still isn’t ready to hear what I have to say.And I respect that.But that moment in the photo booth—when we were so close, Ruby’s lips less than an inch from my jaw, when I could feel her ragged breath on my skin…At that moment I realized that I’m not fighting in vain.

And I’m not giving up as long as there’s even a single glimmer of hope for us.I’ve never been a particularly patient person, but when it comes to Ruby, I have all the time in the world—or I’ll make it.Ruby is worth it.

Even so, I breathe deeply as I pull on my jersey on Friday and finally get to run out onto the field.The coach has us doing brutal circuit training, but the physical exertion is doing me good and taking my mind off things.Right now, we have to give each other piggyback rides across the playing fields.Alistair is pretty strong, but after ten minutes, he gives way beneath my weight and we both crash to the ground.

“Fuck,” I growl, rolling onto my back.It’s February now, so spring is within touching distance, but it’s still bloody cold out here, and the ground is fucking hard.I’m pretty sure I’ve just scuffed up both my knees.

“Don’t stop!”Mr.Freeman roars, blowing hard on his whistle.

“Up you get,” says Alistair, clapping his hands.

He crouches down in front of me again as Kesh runs past, Wren on his back.

“No, it’s my turn,” I retort, patting myself on the back.Alistair rolls his eyes but does as I say and jumps onto my shoulders.The next moment, I sprint away, past my teammates, as fast as I can, until every muscle in my body is burning and the gap to Kesh and Wren is shortening.

When we’re level with them, Wren groans.“Not again!”He slaps Kesh on the side to spur him on.“Get moving, bro.”

Kesh picks up speed, his face grim, and I follow suit as Alistair yells.I’m already missing a session every week, so I’m under scrutiny.Not just from my mates, but from the coach too.I can’t let myself down now, even though my chest burns like fire with every breath.

In the end, Kesh and I finish almost neck and neck.I’m so out of breath that it’s a major effort not to drop onto all fours.Kesh holds out his fist and I bump it with mine, while Wren gives me a shove.“You’re a beast.How the hell did you catch up that fast, Beaufort?”

“Good work today, lads!”shouts Freeman, clapping his hands.His gaze roams over each of us in turn, then a smile spreads over his lips.“You’ve definitely earned a reward.It’s my round.”

We cheer.Yes, the circuit training is brutal, but it’s only twice a term, and he generally then takes us down to the pub near the school and treats us to burgers and chips—after which we always forget how he made us suffer in the previous few hours.

“What’s Lexie doing here?”Cyril asks suddenly, his eyes on the edge of the field.

The whole team turns to look.I don’t think I’ve ever seen the head teacher down here on the training grounds before.

“Have you guys been fucking around again?”I hear someone ask behind me as the coach heads toward Lexington and has a brief conversation with him.He means me and the boys, obviously, but none of us answers.My mind is racing.Something must have happened for Lexie to be here right now.But I have no idea what.

A moment later, Freeman jogs back toward us and claps his hands.“Change of plan, boys!You’re needed in Boyd Hall.The events committee need your help setting up for the gala tomorrow evening.”

I freeze.It’s six o’clock.The décor firm should have finished ages ago.