Avalon (10 page)

She turned back around and huffed like a spoilt child.

Emily patted my shoulder as if to make me feel better about my confrontation with Rachael. “You’re right,” she said softly.

“I know,” I whispered.

For the rest of the journey Emily and I talked about some music she had recently downloaded. She gave me one of the ear pieces to her head phones and put on some music on her ipod and asked me what I thought of her newest playlist. Emily was a marvellous friend and I was grateful that she hadn’t asked too many questions about Leo. I’m sure the questions will come soon enough, just not on the school bus and not in front of other people.

As usual we brushed our horses and saddled up. I was riding Western today, named because he looked like he could be the horse of a cowboy, but don’t all horses look like they could be in a western? Western, was a dirty white colour with grey markings dotted all over him, he was mild in spirit; a nice gentle character. I often rode him because he was predictable, not like Spit Fire, as the name might suggest, many of the girls had fallen off him over the years.

When we returned to school, still in our horse riding clothes, we showered and changed. I twisted my damp hair into a loose messy bun and put on my blue fitted jeans and a loose tank paired with a summer weight scarf wrapped casually around my neck with the ends flopping over my chest. I put my ankle boots on and went to the dining hall for dinner. Unconscious of my actions, I looked for Leo and found him. He spotted me immediately and gave me a wink and nodded that I come over and join him. I took a tray and a plate and put a slab of lasagne on it and teamed that with some salad, and navigated my way over to him.

“You look amazing.”

“In this?” I squinted.

“Yes, in that, but then again, you look amazing in anything.”

“Stop.” I rejected his praise.

“It’s true Holly, you better get used to accepting compliments because while you’re with me I’ll shower you with them.”

Sitting across from me I noticed Leo was wearing a black and blue striped polo shirt. “And you look good in everything, I love the shirt you are wearing, and the grey one you wore yesterday looked incredible on you.”

“So you noticed it? That means you noticed me.”

“How could I not notice you?”

“That’s what I like to hear,” he winked. “I thought you might have gone to sit with your friends.”

“I didn’t even notice they were here.”

“Because you only have eyes for me.”

“Something like that.”

“I’m glad.”

“So? No Henry tonight.”

“Nope, and I think he can change rooms tomorrow too, so I’ll have my own room until someone else decides to board.”

“How do you feel about that?”

“I don’t mind, actually I’m used to being on my own. I don’t mind my own company.”

I nodded understanding. “I mean who else will put up with you?” I joked.

“I think you might,” he retaliated playfully.
“What are you going to do after dinner?”

“I’m going to make a start on my English book. You know, the Einstein one you have already read.”

“Oh, yes.”

“You were amazing when you told the teacher all about it.”

“Ha, he was pretty taken aback that someone had actually read it.”

We finished eating but stayed with our trays and empty plates until the dining room cleared. It was time to go our own separate ways, at least for a few hours. Ever the gentlemen, Leo got up and then came around to my side of the table and took my hand to help me out of the bench seat.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

He kissed my hands. “Go,” he told me. “I’ll see you very soon.”

When I got back to my dorm I went straight to my room. Emily was out with Hugh or in the common room. I took my boots off and dug my novel out of my bag and curled up on my bed. I opened my book to read but remembered to set my alarm. I chose to set my stopwatch alarm because it wasn’t as loud as my bedside alarm clock, and I didn’t want to wake Emily. I curled up to read again but found it harder than ever to concentrate, with my mind continuing to dart at my watch or thinking about Leo. My God he made me feel so wonderful. I smiled at myself and tried to read some more, then eventually gave up given nothing was going in.

When Emily returned she talked about Hugh constantly, Hugh this and Hugh that, Hugh is amazing, Hugh and I did this.... and so on. I turned off but nodded as if I was listening.

“OK enough about me,” she said finally. “What the hell is going on with you and this new kid, Leo?”

“I like him. I like him a lot.”

“Woohoo!” Emily said, making me laugh. “Don’t worry what anyone says, you just go for it, OK?”

“I am.” I nodded.

Em washed her face and got into bed. I changed too, so that she wouldn’t ask why I still had my clothes on. The lights went out in our dorm and I lay on my bed in silence, looking at the ceiling and frequently rolling over to look at my bedside clock. I tossed and turned and wished the time away, until eventually I fell asleep and woke up to the sound of my alarm. I had put it on for fifteen minutes before midnight, so that I could change back into my jeans. I got out of my bed and fixed it back up with two puffed up pillows, loosely shaped as a body, then placed the duvet cover on top to look like there was someone sleeping in there. I changed and took my zip-up hoodie with me to the window. I turned around to check Emily and then slowly opened the window carefully. I saw Leo waiting, he took one of my hands to help me outside and held the window with his other as I hurdled my way out.

“Put it down almost all the way, but leave it slightly open so I can get back in,” I said to Leo.

He did exactly that and took my hand and I followed him. We were careful to not be seen, sprinting a little, then jogging when necessary hiding behind corners and classrooms.

“Where are we going?” I whispered.

“Back to my room.”

“But you’re on the first floor. How will we get up?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered.”

We reached the boys’ dorm and Leo moved a commercial size recycle bin next to the dorm block underneath his window. We would have to jump up on top of it and then climb through the window.

I pushed the bin to check for sturdiness, it wasn’t going to move. I opened the lid slightly and looked inside. There were numerous broken bricks and tiles layering the inside almost to the top of the bin. No wonder it was so heavy. “That’s got to weigh a ton,” I stated.

“It’s not as heavy as you think.”

“Yes it is. Have you seen the contents?” I whispered with emphasis. “When did you move it?”

“A couple of hours ago. There wasn’t anything in it when I moved it,” he said. Although that sounded implausible I couldn’t be bothered to argue.

“OK. Let me lift you,” he said, picking me up with ease and placing me on top of the bin. He pushed his body up with his arms, as if he were doing a standing push up and joined me as I waited for our next move. Leo lifted me up to his window and I climbed in.

“Are you all right?” he asked when he joined me.

“I’m fine. I’ve never ever snuck out before, but that’s because I never had a reason too.” I did now. “So this is your room?” I said as I landed on the floor next to the window.

“Yes,” he said climbing in behind me and making his way to his bed. He sat down and patted the space next to him.

I looked around his room, there wasn’t very much to make the space personal, but then again mine didn’t overly represent who I was either, all my things were still at home.

“You don’t have any pictures of your family in here,” I stated.

“No.”

“Are you sure you want to stay at school this weekend?” Leo asked me.

“No, I’m not sure, but I thought we agreed we would stay on the weekend. I could be persuaded to change my mind. It depends on what you’re doing.” I playfully shoved his shoulder.

He nodded. “Leave it to me. I’ll organise something for us.”

“But Sara and Stuart won’t just let me go anywhere. I have to say something credible.”

“Say....” He thought for a second. “Say you’re staying with someone, maybe Emily.”

“They would buy that. What about you?”

We lay on his bed and I snuggled up close, my head resting on his shoulder. He ran his fingers through my hair and kissed my forehead, I don’t think I had ever felt so secure.

“What are you thinking?” I asked.

“I’m thinking how lucky I am to have you right next to me right now. What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking how wonderful I feel when I am with you.”

“You make me feel the same and I won’t ever take that for granted.”

“Do you think two people are meant for each other?” I asked gazing at the ceiling.

“I didn’t think so, despite what other people say; you know the old cliche there’s someone out there for everyone. I didn’t think that was the case for me, but then I saw you and the moment I did, everything changed.”

“Me too,” I said softly turning to face him.

“You are quite simply meant for me. I’m sure of it.”

I looked up at Leo and moved closer to his mouth, leaning in to kiss his lips. My lips parted, I closed my eyes and planted them onto Leo’s. He pulled my body on top of his and placed his fingertips on my head, keeping my long hair away as it fell around his neck and shoulders. We stopped and he held my face in front of his, my breathing had become heavy, while Leo’s had stayed the same. He looked composed, as if he knew what he was doing. I had nothing to be fearful about.

“I promise to do you no harm,” he said gently kissing me again, a long and delicate kiss. His mouth explored mine and his hands caressed my body. I wanted to do so much more.

“Two and half days, Holly, and look what you’re doing to me. You’re going to make me break all the rules.”

I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant, but I assumed he was talking about school and how the girls and boys are not allowed to fraternise with one another in the dorms of the opposite sex. There’s always been something deep inside me that hates rules, that wants to break the rules, but they have to be worth breaking too. Like Stuart said to me once, ‘know the consequences of your actions and then make the decisions you can live with.’ I would say being with Leo was more important than being at this school, even though I love my friends. Quite simply being with Leo was right. I just knew it and no rule set by anyone would ever take that away from me.

I curled up against him again and we talked softly about anything and everything, I gave Leo an insight into some of the students and teachers at school; a ‘who was who’ kind of speech. I told him
about Sara and Stuart, my house
, where we lived and why I was living with them.

“My mum was unable to look after me, she was having another child and there were some complications, so I came to live with Sara and Stuart. They’re like my parents, even if they are not technically.”

He nodded. “I don’t know your circumstances, Holly, but I don’t know how your parents could do that. That must have been hard for you to deal with.”

“It’s not my parents fault. They wanted me to stay with them, but they knew it wasn’t best for me. Besides I’m over it now. Sure I was devastated at first but Sara and Stuart helped immensely, as did coming to this school.” I didn’t want to go into too much detail, the days of Avalon were light years away, irrelevant to someone like Leo. I would never need to tell him the truth about the first twelve years of my life. He would think I was crazy. Me, coming from another world! I smiled, thinking how absurd the whole story would sound to someone who knew nothing about Avalon.

“Now that you’re in my life, there’s no way I would ever let you go.” He meant it. “I’ll have to find a way to get this message across to my parents,” he mumbled.

“Pardon?” I sat up. “You said something about getting a message across to your parents.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. They will understand when they meet you.”

“Understand what?”

“How I feel about you.”

“Oh, are you sure? Is there more to it?”

“No, Holly, nothing more to it. They will adore you, like I do.” He pulled me back down so that I was lying by his side. I put my arms around his and snuggled in.

“I feel the same way.” I said yawning.

“No one is going to keep us apart,” he promised.

I fell fast asleep, even in unfamiliar surroundings, I slept well subconsciously knowing Leo was by my side, and while he was there, everything would be just fine. He held me in his embrace all night until the alarm went off. I yawned and opened my eyes, looking up at Leo while he looked down to meet my gaze. He smiled and kissed me gently.

“Let’s get you back to your dorm. The sun hasn’t come up yet, but it will soon.”

I got up reluctantly, but I understood all too well that it was in both of our interests to keep what we were doing a secret. I also needed to get back before Emily got up. Even though I trusted Emily, I knew if she knew what I was doing, she would tell Hugh, then Hugh would tell someone else and before I knew what was happening, everyone in the damn school would know what Leo and I were up to.