[XXXXXX]
Finally. This one is the place, it has to be. Somerset High School.
Why do it? I'm bored. Oh, and I hate him.
[Evie]
"You got it Eleanor." I yawn.
I grab my welcome clipboard and pray that Liam will remember to hand in my roughy draft to Miss Baker. Waving goodbye to the office assistant, I wait in the atrium.
My student should be here any minute. When I joined the Welcoming Committee it was really just so I could feel like I contributed to my piece of the Spartan Spirit Sisters Award. I actually love it though. And missing class is always a bonus.
The bell has already rung and the halls are slowing to a trickle of students. I keep my eyes peeled for the lost looking one and stand as confidently as possible holding a little sign with his name on it.
Sure enough, a tall boy approaches me. I look up at him and introduce myself, extending a hand.
"Hi I'm Evie, I'll be your guide today."
"I'm Emmett, but I guess you already knew that." He laughs. I turn away quickly desperate to begin the tour and hide my red cheeks.
***
"This is the stadium." I continue on the tour. It's fourth period already and I've taken Emmett just about everywhere I could think of. "Students eat lunch out here and of course we have sports year round. Soccer and lacrosse are about to begin and baseball and softball will be on the west field over there."
I point behind the building and smile. He's been nothing but charming the whole time, asking questions and being really nice. I'm glad he's a senior, it's the freshman tours that are the worst.
"Wow, there's so many activities here. If not for the terrible lunches you speak of, I might think it was private. All your missing is fencing and stables for horses." Emmett laughs.
"Sorry to disappoint." I chuckle along. I glance up as the bell rings for second lunch. "So do you have any friends that go to school here? Why did you choose Somerset?"
"My family just moved close by, and my brother has already been going here for a while. At least I hope so." He says.
"That's so cool. Somerset is a great city, you'll love it here. Who's your brother?" I ask.
"I doubt you know him, he's a scrawny little loser of a thing."
"Be nice! Family is forever, I'm sure your brother doesn't feel that way about you."
"Meh." He just shrugs and I feel chilled.
We've had so much fun walking the halls and going up to the third floor and back again. I haven't learned much about him, but he's certainly been one of my better tours.
"You can eat lunch with my friends and I if you'd like." I offer. Part of me hopes he'll turn me down, but he doesn't.
"Cool, thanks."
Brandon and Mia are kissing in our spot already. I groan and cough loudly.
"Evie!" Mia breaks my brother's vacuum seal on her face. "You're here early today."
"Welcoming committee." I jab to my side. "This is Emmett. Emmett, my brother and best friend."
"Oh damn, okay." He laughs. "Hey man."
We sit and Lauren and Boston make their way over as I'm getting my lunch out. I repeat my introduction and Emmett gives a wave from over the rim of his Arizona.
It's a calm day, a little chilly and a little awkward since there's a stranger in our midst. Eventually everyone sits munching and quietly talking amongst themselves. Emmett fiddles with his phone and I wish the boys would hurry up so I could actually enjoy my lunch.
"âthat's what I said and she still wouldn't fuck off." I hear him before I see him.
"Liam?"
"Yeah?"
"You're an asshole." Ash's head pokes around the corner and they join us.
The smile slips off Liam's face when he sees Emmett beside me. I watch him morph from hurt to indifference in a second.
"Ash, Liam, this is Emmett." I roll my eyes. "He's new. Has a brother that goes here."
"Oh cool, what's his name?" Ash says politely.
"You wouldn't know him, a bunch of cool kids and cheerleaders? You guys are not his crowd." Emmett murmurs.
I shrug at my friends and offer Liam my cookie in exchange for his Doritos. With ten minutes left in the period, Emmett sits up and actually talks to me.
"So, Evie. What's your story?" He asks. I still for a moment before answering.
"There's not much of one. My brother's Captain of the lacrosse team, my friends are cheerleaders, and my ex is sitting right over there." I smile.
"That's sounds like one hell of a story."
"What about you?"
"Meh, my family's moved around a lot the last few years. My brother kind of ran away and everyone's concerned and stuff."
"That's horrible!" I exclaim.
"He wanted to leave, can't blame him. I only wish he'd taken our sister with him. She didn't deserve to be stuck with us."
"I'm so sorry, it's sounds like you've had a tough go."
He only nods once and smiles. I find myself reciprocating. People are beginning to stand and trickle out of the stadium, but we stay put. None of us are ever in a hurry to get to class.
"Where the hell is Ollie?" Boston groans, sitting up from his spot.
We all share glances.
"If he's not here we know who he's with." Mia laughs.
"Damn. I have his math homework and he has my English. I need that assignment for next period." He sighs in defeat and returns his head to Lauren's lap.
"I know you didn't just confess to academic dishonesty." She deadpans, raising a brow. "I'm calling your mom."
"Whaâ don't tell my mom babe." His face falls when she pulls out her phone.
"I won't." She cackles. "Oh god, that's for threatening to tell Sean about Malibu."
"I'll never tell about what happened in Malibu."
"Hey! Hi! My ears, my eye, my brain." Mia moans.
"You're a fine one to talk." I say. She turns to me with pink cheeks and promptly shuts her mouth.
"You guys are a whole other breed. Thanks for letting me eat with you." Emmett laughs and grabs his garbage.
"Oh, I guess we're going." I say goodbye to everyone and fix my skirt. I lead the way up the stadium steps and towards the courtyard.
"Only thing left to do is grab your schedule and locker. Then you'll be free to go." I cheer.
I run into someone when I face forward again and stumble back. "Sorry!"
"I'll never forgive you." Ollie grabs my shoulders and shakes me amicably. I laugh.
"Emmett this is Ollie, Ollie, Emmett. And his boyfriend is coming now."
"Sam?"
"Emmett?" I watch horrified as the smile falls from Sam's face and fear replaces it.
"Surprise, little brother."
"No. No."
It happens so quickly, I barley blink and Sam is running away. Ollie chasing behind confused."
"Why didn't you tell me Sam was your brother?" I ask.
"He's a fucking loser, never thought he'd be hanging out with you guys. The stupid pansy ruined my life."
"Hold on now. Sam isn't like that at allâ"
"Where's Ollie and Sam? Sam said they'd meet us here." Liam comes up with Ash.
"Iâ"
"You too?" Emmett says awestruck. "Why the hell are you friends with my brother?"
"Brother?" Liam asks darkly. "You? You're one of the pieces of shit he left behind?"
"Liam, calm down. I'm sure there's a rational explanation for all of this." Fear beats steadily in my chest.
"Ash take her away."
"Excuse me?" I scoff.
"Come on Evie." Sure enough Ash wraps a firm hand around my arm.
My legs give out and my eyes droop shut, but I definitely hear a fist connect with a face.