Page 77 of Save You

“You’re on, Helen,” I reply, far too late, and get up to rebuild the tower.Little by little, brick by brick.Just like Ruby and me.And everything else.

23

Ruby

I’ve never been this nervous on a Monday morning before.The bus to school seems to take twice as long as usual, and I’m far too antsy to enjoy it like I normally do.As we finally cover the last few yards and the bus comes to a stop, I tell myself sternly to get it together.

This is a perfectly ordinary school day.

Nothing has changed.

So, heartbeat, you can calm down a little, if you please.

I’m the last person off the bus.And as I step down, I see him.

James is leaning against the fence by the field, opposite the bus stop.His smile looks almost shy, even if nothing else about his body language does.I remember that one morning over three months ago when he surprised me like this.That time, we’d been at Cyril’s party, and he’d wanted to protect me from prying eyes at school and stop people asking silly questions.

This time, he doesn’t wait for me to reach him, but comes over.His smile doesn’t slip—far from it.Yesterday evening, I couldn’t help noticing how often he smiled, for real, when wewere playing games with my family.I can hardly believe that this is the same boy who cried in my arms back in December.It’s good to see him like this.

“Hi,” I say, smoothing down my fringe.It’s windy and I’m afraid my hair must be all over the place.But James is still looking at me like I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

“Good morning.”He lifts a hand and tucks one of the stray strands behind my ear.He’s so close to me that I can smell him.His familiar scent.Warm.Kind of like honey.One day, I’ll have to ask him what cologne he uses.

“Shall we?”he asks, nodding toward the main doors.

My heart skips a beat.This all feels exciting and new—even though he’s met me off the bus and walked me to my classroom before.

“Yes,” I say, wondering if I can take his hand.Are we at that point yet?Am I allowed?What will everyone think?James makes up my mind for me by wrapping his hand around mine.The tingle spreads from my fingertips through my whole body.

“Is this OK?”he asks.

“More than OK,” I reply, squeezing his hand.

Then we walk together toward Boyd Hall.We don’t pass many people I know, but everyone knows James.And everyone seems fascinated by the fact that he’s holding my hand.I hear some of them whispering; a few heads turn in our direction.For a moment, I’m uneasy and feel a bit queasy.I glance sideways at James—and the feeling fades slightly.

Because James looks as though walking across the courtyard, hand in hand with me, is the most normal thing in the world.

“By the way, I’d like to take you out on a date,” he whispers to me, just before we reach the hall.

I fight the smile that’s trying to spread over my face.I raise an unimpressed eyebrow.“Oh, really?”

James nods.“Uh-huh.Next Saturday.If you’re free.”

I act like I have to think, and James starts to grin.“You’re killing me, Ruby Bell.”

Now I do smile.

“I’d love to go out with you, James Beaufort,” I say, looking him in the eyes so that he knows how seriously I mean what I’m saying.

As we walk into Boyd Hall, he whispers: “I was hoping you’d say that.”

After assembly, James walks me to my class.We reach the door just as Alistair, Cyril, and Wren come around the corner behind us.Wren glances at our linked hands, turns on his heel, and heads through a doorway.I notice James stiffen, and at once I want to pull away, but he’s holding my hand tight.

“Morning, you two,” says Alistair, giving me the hint of a smile.

Cyril just nods almost imperceptibly, which I return.I haven’t forgotten what he said to me in December, or how hurtful those words were.It’s up to James who he’s friends with.But that doesn’t mean I have to like him.

“Morning,” James replies, his voice calm and unemotional.