Page 63 of Save You

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.

“Look,” he says, nodding toward the banister right in front of us.

Curiously, I peek between the wooden posts.

A smile spreads over my face.From up here, we have the bestview of the Boyd Hall lobby and can watch people without them seeing us.I doubt that anyone would even notice us if they looked up.This part of the gallery is too dark.

“You’re a genius,” I say with a grin.

Wren grins back.“I’ve never been called that before.”

“Well, in that case, I hereby bestow the title upon you.”I tap his shoulders as if I’m knighting him with a sword.At that moment, Wren catches my hand and holds it tight.His facial expression changes.Suddenly, his eyes are serious and there’s a meaning in them.It starts a tingling feeling that spreads from my stomach.

Nobody has ever looked at me like that before.Absolutely never.

There are no boys like Wren around where I grew up.To most people at school, I’m just Ember.I’ve known most of them since nursery school, and none of them think I’m anything special, or desirable.I’m actually struggling to breathe here.

Wren’s eyes wander from my lips to my eyes and back down again.He’s still holding my hand.With his other hand, he strokes a strand of hair from my face.His thumb brushes against my temple and a shudder runs through my body.

There’s chemistry between us, getting stronger by the second.I’ve never experienced anything like this.Every second—every breath—feels good and exciting and like we’re doing something wrong all at once.

“Sorry for vanishing on you like that earlier,” he says quietly.“Some people seem to think you need to be protected from me.”

“Why do they think that?”I whisper back.

He doesn’t take his eyes off my face.“Because they know me.”

That’s the only thing he says, then he comes closer and presses his lips onto mine.I squeak with surprise and Wren puts an arm around my back to pull me closer.His lips soften and open slightly.And then I taste it.

Alcohol.

I immediately push him away with both hands and budge a little over to one side.Then I shake my head.

“Wren.”

He looks confused.“What?”

My heart is pounding like crazy.That might have been the shortest kiss in human history, but I can still feel his mouth against mine.

“This isn’t how I imagined my first kiss,” I admit quietly.My hands are shaking.I fold them in my lap and turn my face away so as not to have to see Wren’s reaction to my words.I just keep looking down, through the banisters.There’s a young woman walking through the doors, her dark blue dress almost like the night sky.There are little shimmering specks in the train, catching the light with her every step.

“Your first kiss, hmm?”Wren’s voice is suddenly very gentle.