Olivia’s POV

Walking to school, I was desperately trying to think of something to come up with. Beth told me on the phone she wasn’t coming into school today because she couldn’t handle the embarrassment but to save her from the questions from random people when she came back in, I had to come up with something good. Rumours travel quicker than real news in this school, so whatever I say has to be consistent with people possibly knowing about her troubles from last night anyway. I walked into class and sat down quickly next to Mandy, who had a worried expression on her face.

“So?” She said instantly.

“She’s sick.” I said, hoping it’d be believable.

“No wonder, she probably worked herself into a state!” Mandy whispered. Of course, I passed on the information from the phone call to Mandy just like Beth had asked me to. “Thing is, why was she so upset about us guys? It’s not like we called her and stopped her from seeing us! If anything, I started it when I called them to come round her house!”

“Exactly, but I don’t think she’s seeing it like that! She didn’t talk to us for a couple of days and she thinks we hate her! No matter how much I repeated that we didn’t it was like she didn’t want to believe it!” I shook my head. “I even said I was angry at first but when I thought about it, it would be what I’d have done too!” I quickly checked the classroom, neither Sam or Conor were in yet.

“After school, we’ll knock for her and we’ll have a girly night. I think it’s exactly what she needs.” Mandy said and I nodded in agreement.

“Pizza or Chinese?” I said, my mouth already watering from imagining the tasty food we’d be consuming tonight. “If she lets us in of course!” The door swung open ferociously and Conor stormed into the room. I kept eye contact with him as he walked along the front of the room, down beside our chairs and towards his normal seat. I couldn’t help but notice how he looked withdrawn.

“You seen the state of him?” Mandy said in my ear, making me jump.

“Yeah, it doesn’t look good. I might have a chat with him after registration.” I said without thinking.

“You’re brave!” Mandy exclaimed. “You know the rumours of what he did to that guy who upset him! If you’re going to talk to him, you’d better stay alive!” She joked. I rolled my eyes.

“Look, he got on with Beth so he’s hardly going to beat me up! It’d only ruin his chances of getting back with her!” I said smugly. Mandy raised her eyebrows and folded her arms. Seconds later, Sam walked in looking a little worse for wear too. I looked back to Conor who was giving him evils and gritting his teeth. I couldn’t help but wonder what had made those two hate each other more than normal, but it looked like Conor was ready to kill him.

“Go talk to him now!” Mandy said, shoving me off my chair so I stumbled to my feet.

“Yeah, thanks!” I hissed. Mandy always was quite impulsive but it never really helped her – or us – in day to day life. Now standing in the classroom like an idiot I took a deep breath in and walked over to Conor, sitting on the chair next to his. He shot me an evil glance and I knew I wouldn’t get anywhere trying to be nice to him anymore.

“Well, I did come over here to talk about Beth, but if you’re going to be like that forget it! Maybe it’s time you started making friends in this place?” I stood back up and walked back over to my seat, sitting with Mandy.

“What the hell did you say?” Mandy winced.

“If he wants to give me evil looks, I’m not going to help him.” I shrugged, still playing along in case he was listening. I folded my arms and looked forwards, just waiting for him to come over to me, but he never did. Registration went quickly and I had to call out for Beth being sick and before I knew it the bell to first lesson was ringing.

“Yeah, your plan worked so well!” Mandy said sarcastically.

“You pushed me off my chair in the first place! I blame you!” I said back before we hugged and she left to go to her lesson. I quickly packed my things away and walked out of the room, onto to be greeted by Zack.

“Hey there, little miss.” He said to me in his croaky, hoarse voice that only ever sent chills down peoples spines for the worst reasons.

“Sorry, I’ve got to get to class. Conor’s still in there if you’re waiting for him.” I tried to be as nice as possible.

“It’s not him I was waiting for. It was you!” He said scarily. My stomach dropped and I instantly imagined Conor asking him to beat me up for being rude earlier. “You alright, Sir?” Zack’s persona quickly changed as my form tutor walked past us and down the stairs. Part of me wanted to call out for help but I don’t think it was going to make it any better for me.

“Quickly.” I heard Conor’s voice from behind me as I was pulled into our classroom with Zack following, swiftly locking the door as we got into the classroom. He sat me down in my normal seat and pulled a chair in front of my table, Zack quickly following suit and sitting next to him.

“What the hell?” I exclaimed. “Is this how you talk to everyone in the school?” I kept my voice low, though. I didn’t want any of us to get in trouble.

“What were you going to say to me this morning?” Conor jumped straight to the point. His face was focussed, a complete difference to the withdrawn, vacant look of this morning.

“It doesn’t matter, does it? You gave me a stupid look and dismissed me.” I still played hard to get. You can’t just kidnap people in your class and make them tell you things!

“Just fucking tell me!” Conor slammed his fist on the table and I jumped back. Zack looked worringly over to Conor.

“Mate, chill!” He said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Remember she’s Beth’s best friend, not yours. You should be thankful she even wants to talk to you!” Conor’s face fell and he put his head in his hands.

“I just want to know if I’ve still got a chance…” His voice trailed off at the end. “Sam’s just screwed it all over.”

“Look…” I took a deep breath in and out. “She’s an absolute mess. I’m not going to sugar coat it for you because I know you can handle it. She rang me up and she was crying for ages, she was apologising for leaving us to concentrate on you guys and then you both just blew it up in her face.” I could feel the anger building up inside me. Why should I even be talking to Conor? After what they both did, I should be ignoring them for her!

“That’s not what happened! I swear! Sam and I had an argument and he just spilt everything out to her! He’s jealous because she likes me and not him.”

“Liked.” I corrected him. “Right now, she doesn’t want to know about you guys.” I could see what I just said had deflated Conor.

“Look, I know it’s not my place,” Zack began. “But honestly, he’s pathetic without her. Is there anything we can do?” I was beyond shocked that Zack had this nice streak hidden behind the evil exterior, but I was willing to try and help them out.

“Listen, Mandy and I are going round her house today.” I leant in towards them. “I could try and put in a good word, say you spoke to me and everything?” Instantly, Conor grabbed my hands in his and looked me dead in the eyes.

“Please, I’m willing to beg you.” This rebel the school had always feared and his rebel friend were sitting in front of me, a non-existent girl, begging her to help fix a broken relationship with my best friend? This is unbelievable!

“Don’t beg. It ruins your image.” I pulled my hands away from Conor’s grip. “I’ll do it, yeah, but if one more thing goes wrong I’ll absolutely tear into you two.” Conor’s face looked comforted and Zack breathed a sigh of relief. “But in future, don’t kidnap people to talk to them. I was willing to talk to you earlier!” Conor let out a small laugh and Zack’s face lit up.

“I don’t know how to thank you!” Zack said to me. “You’ve helped us out more than we could ever asked. If this all goes well, I owe you big time.”

“I second that!” Conor nodded.

“Look, between us,” I said quietly. “When she called me up yesterday, she began talking about ‘Conor and Sam’ but by the end of it she only ever spoke about you, Conor. It’s like she’s not that bothered about Sam. She did have a few feelings for him because he was quicker to make the move than you, but after you went round and had the drinks that were made for Mandy and I, she said something clicked between the two of you.” Conor looked shocked at me.

“She told you that?”

“You’ve locked me in a classroom when I’m meant to be in first lesson, do you think I’d waste my time lying?” I said, slightly jokey.

“See Con, I frigging told you so!” Zack patted him on the shoulder. The relationship between the two of them was quite adorable, when you got past the evil rebel stuff. “Look, I’m at Conor’s after school, any chance I could get your number so you can tell me how it went?”

“Smooth.” I joked as I pulled my phone out. “Saying ‘Olivia, can I have your number?’ would have worked just as well!” I gave him my phone and he copied my number onto his phone.

“Thank you so much!” Conor said, to my surprise. “You’re a great friend.” They stood up and Zack unlocked the door. I grabbed my bag and headed for the door, but Conor grabbed me by the arm and spun me round. He pulled me into a hug and whispered another thank you in my ear, quickly followed by ‘If you tell anyone about this…’ which I quite expected. Zack pulled me in to another hug as I walked out and I turned round and gestured zipping my lips closed so they knew I was serious. This evening is going to be a weird one…