Welcome to New Haven (19 page)

Holly thought she heard the word ‘bulldog’ coming from Stacey’s direction, but when she turned, Stacey was looking down into a magazine.
 
When Holly turned again to Dev, she definitely heard ‘ruff’ like a dog barking.
 
Holly, again, turned and Stacey looked down.
 
A twisted smile forming across her lips.
 

“I’m going to smack her!” Dev whispered to Holly as she turned back around.
 

“Don’t bother, Dev.
 
I’m sure she’ll get what’s coming to her.”
 

The rest of the day was uneventful.
 
Holly had had her first class with Dev, as well as Alex and Ben but then A.Eng with just Alex. As Dev and Ben’s class was next door, Holly was still safe. The guys had walked with them, but Alex had stayed on Dev’s other side so she was between them and Dev had been keeping the conversation flowing so that Holly didn’t need to add anything.
 
Holly had left for lunch because of her free period.
 
Her day had been safe.
 
She’d spent more time in Alex’s presence than the other days, and she had just about coped.
 

Her body had other ideas though.
 

Her legs were like jelly all day and the tingles she felt had her pressing her legs together every time she felt his eyes on her.
 
As Alex had not tried to talk to her, she knew Dev had asked him not to push her.
 
She’d said so herself.

Later on that day, she had a text conversation with Dev.

D: Hey girl! How are you feeling after classes today?

H: Good.
 
Thanks for keeping the guys talking.
 
I thought I might swallow my tongue if I had to say anything.

D: Haha! Seriously that bad?

H: You have no idea Dev.
 
I could barely keep it together in Eng. I could feel him there.
 
I was close to running from the room.

D: It’ll get better I’m sure.
 
I’m here for you, honey. x

H: Thanks. See you tomorrow. X

D: Ok. Sweet dreams. ;) X

Wednesday, after homeroom, Holly made her way to Tech class and paused as she walked through the door.
 
Ben
and
Alex were in her class, sitting at the back. Ben gave her a huge smile and waved.
 
Alex smiled too, not as overboard as Ben, but there was something in his eyes as he looked at her.
 
Holly managed a pathetic wave, her cheeks immediately flaming, and she rushed to take her seat to her left, next to the wall.
   

The lesson was to put a string of code together, using the provided software, and once complete a dancing kitten would appear on the screen.
 
The only help they could have was from the teacher as he gave out some hints and tips before the lesson.
 

Holly knew it would take a few weeks to complete, and she was happy that the work was to be done individually.
 
Less chance of awkward conversation with any of her classmates.

Holly was out the door the minute the bell sounded for next lesson, and her phone beeped.

D: Tener una buena lección de Español! :)

H: What?
 
I understood ‘good’ and ‘Spanish’ :/

D: XD I said to have a good Spanish lesson.
 

H: Thanks.
 
You’ve just earned yourself extra tutoring. :)

D: No problem.
 
Alway happy to help.

H: Yeah, yeah.
 
See you at lunch. X

D: See you then. X

Holly was glad when Spanish was over.
 
She had come out of there feeling as though she had learned zilch. Nothing, zip, squat.
 
She was becoming increasingly annoyed with the ‘teacher’ and knew it wouldn’t be long before another outburst in her class.
 
She could feel it.
 

The girls met up and went to their table.
 
The guys were absent, and Holly relaxed a little in their absence.
 

“Where are the guys?” Riss asked, looking around.
 

“They’ve gone to discuss their new training program with the coach.
 
Because of the new schedules, their workouts have been messed up.
 
Where they were going to their usual gym after school, sometimes they’ll use the school gym.
 
Alex used to go to the gym on Fridays, but now he’ll be using this one.”
 
Dev explained to everybody as they ate.
 

“So they can’t eat lunch?”
 
Kayla asked.
 

“I think they’re eating in the Phys.Ed department. So they can go over everything.”
 

The girls continued to eat, and Kayla checked Holly’s nails for her handiwork.
 

“They still look awesome.”
 
Kayla said with a smile.
 

“I can’t wait for swimming.”
 
Said Dev as they walked to the Phys.Ed department.
 

It was situated at the back of the school, with its own separate buildings and pool room.
 

“Me either” Kayla agreed.
 

“Is it wise to eat and then swim?”
 
Holly asked.
 

“We don’t do much for the first twenty minutes.
 
Just some technique work, before doing laps.”
   

“You’re not swimming?” Riss asked as they girls noticed Holly getting changed into her track pants.
 

“No, I’m running track instead.”
 

“Why?
 
I thought we all had to swim.?”
 

“I ran at my last school and before I started here, my Mum asked whether I could carry on instead of swimming.”
 

“I’d rather swim.”
 
Said Kayla.
 
I don’t like running one bit.”
 

“I like to run.
 
I prefer to be outside.”
 
Holly said, and she was glad that the girls didn’t ask her any more about it.
 
She would tell them eventually, but not for a while yet.
 

“Oh.
 
Well I guess we’ll meet up afterwards?” Dev asked, looking a little upset that they weren’t having their lesson together.
 

“Definitely”

After their showers, the girls were getting their things together when they heard Stacey talking.
 

“He just doesn’t know he wants me, yet.” She said. “He’ll cave soon enough.”
 

She sounded certain of that, and she gave a little ‘hmph’ for good measure.
 

”Just leave is Stace”
 
another voice said.
 

It sounded like Cerise, Stacey’s friend from homeroom.
 

“There are more fish in the sea.”
 

“No!” Stacey spat, her voice snapping.
 
“Alex is by far
the
hottest guy in this school,
ever
.
 
He’ll be mine ,eventually.”
 
She said, so sure of herself.
 

Holly and the girls walked around the wall separating the changing area from the mirrors, where Stacey was talking.
 
A few other girls were there too.
 

“He’ll come around.
 
They always do.” Stacey looked like a little secret was attached to her statement, as well as her smug smile.
 

“I wouldn’t count on that.”
 
Said Dev as she stepped closer to Stacey.
 
“Alex would
never
go with you.
 
You’re just too self absorbed to admit it to yourself.”
 

“Wow.
 
Here comes the protective sister.
 
Do me a favour, Fuck off and mind your own business.”
 
Stacey snarled at Dev and Holly could feel her hands curling.
 

“Alex
is
my business, So fuck you.” Dev said as she took another step to Stacey.
 

“Oh don’t worry, sweetie…He will.” Stacey and her friend laughed and then turned their attention to Holly. “Aww, here comes the new girl.
 
All the way from boring England.” She snorted.
 

Holly narrowed her eyes at Stacey. She knew she couldn’t hit the girl because she would get suspended, and she didn’t want her Mum and Dad brought into the school.
 

“Oh, cat got your tongue?
 
That seems to happen a lot to you doesn’t it?
 
Or is it just with Alex?”

What the hell?
 
How did Stacey know what happened with Alex?
 
Only Dev, and Alex, know.

 
”Aww, do you wike him ‘ittle girl?” Stacey said in a condescending, childlike voice.
 
“Are you hoping that his tongue gets tied up…in your pussy?”
 
Stacey laughed again and Dev was about to step forward when Holly stopped her.
 

“Don’t waste your breath Dev.” Holly whispered and motioned for Kayla and Riss to back off.
 

“Go and run along, little girls. And don’t worry. I’ll take real
good
care of Alex…
and
his tongue.”

Holly’s blood was boiling at that point, but she didn’t want to fight her at school when she had only just started.
 

“Wow.” Holly said as she turned to face Stacey, stepping in closer to her.
 
“You really are a sweat, aren’t you?”
 
She said as she smirked, nastily at Stacey.
 

Stacey looked slightly confused, but then smoothed her hair down.
 

”Thanks.” She said and snorted a bitter laugh. Holly took another step forward and looked right into Stacey’s eyes.
 

“Oh that wasn’t a compliment.” She said, her voice low and threatening.
 

Stacey’s face paled but then quickly regained composure.
 

“What the fuck does it mean then?
 
She snapped with a snarky look.
 

“Google it…” Holly said, keeping a straight face.
 
“…And don’t forget to look up the ‘boring British’ version.”
 

Stacey’s mouth popped open as Holly and the girls turned to leave.
 

“Oh my God! That was fucking awesome!” Squealed Kayla.
 

“Did you see her face?
 
I thought she was going to pee herself.”
 
Said Riss.
 

“I wanted to smash her face in!” growled Dev, obviously still angry with what Stacey had said about her brother.
 

“Not in school.” Holly said, shaking her head, as the girls turned to her.
 

“I’m so angry!”
 

“Believe me, I wanted to punch her, but is she worth getting suspended over?”
 

“I guess not”
 
Dev said as she huffed.
 

“If she touched you, then self-defense would be acceptable”
 
Riss said with a thoughtful look.
 

“I wanted her to, just so I could…agghhh!” Dev roared in frustration.
 

It was lucky that it was the end of the day.
 
Dev was
pissed,
and she’d put up with Stacey for two years.
 
Holly had only put up with her for less than two weeks, and she knew it wouldn’t take much more of Stacey’s shit to tip her over the edge.
 
She took a deep, calming breath.
 

“Thanks for backing me up.”
 
Dev said to Holly.
 

“No problem.
 
There’s no way I was going to let her get away with that.”
 

“Thanks girls, I knew you were ready for a fight.”
 

“Girl, we’ve got your back no matter what.” They said.
 

“You guys are the best.
 
By the way Hol, What’s a sweat?
 
Here, it means ‘like’. Like ‘I sweat you’ means ‘I like you,’ or ‘I’m hot for you’.” Said Dev
 

“Yeah if you talk like an ass.” Added Riss.

”I hear ya!
 
What does it mean in Liverpool?”
 

“It means a very promiscuous person.
 
Or a big slut for short.” Holly said with a wide smile.
 

“Wait till Stacey finds out!” Dev laughed loudly.
 
“She thanked you!”
 

“I know… and that makes it so much better.”
 

The girls laughed so hard that they gained few strange looks from some of the students.
 

Alex was waiting in his car for Dev, when the girls came out of the building, all giggling.
 
He watched as Holly turned and got into her car.
 
She glanced at him, a smile still on her face and his heart stopped.
 

She was so beautiful.
 

Her face all lit up with her smile, the sunlight sparkling in her eyes.
 
His haze was broken when Dev got into the car, smiling like an insane person.
 
He turned back to Holly, but she was already driving away.
 

“Oh my God, Alex, you’ll never guess what!!”
 

Alex listened as Dev told him what happened in the girls’ changing rooms.
 
Stacey mocking Holly’s shyness and then she seemed to skip because she looked at him and then said “anyway” which usually meant she was missing something out on purpose.
 
Dev then told him what Stacey said about her using his tongue and his stomach rolled.