Page 25 of Take My Place

“If they don’t let you stay in my class, they’re nuts,” Declan agrees. “You have a natural understanding for how music works that I can only dream of.”

“Thanks. Let’s hope Mr Metcalf agrees with you.”

“Ivy!” An ear-piercing scream that could split the sky streaks across the quad as Milly runs towards me and practically throws herself into my arms.

“So you’re talking to me again are you?” I ask, surprised with how much I missed Milly now that she is here.

“I never stopped,” Ivy replies. “I had to figure out how to do it without getting into trouble with my family. You know what it’s like.”

“Not really.” I shrug. “Where I come from, we don’t play stupid games. You don’t have to spend all your time wondering who’s going to stick a knife in your back.”

“Don’t be like that, Ivy,” Milly pleads, tears in the corner of her eyes. “You’ve no idea what it’s been like while you’ve been gone. Ally and Taylor have been total bitches. Archer’s been horrible, too. He’s missed you so much. I thought he’d be happier now you’re back, but he’s as grumpy as ever.”

“He’s probably just jealous.” Romy possessively put his arm around me, marking me as his. “You can’t blame the poor guy. I’d feel the same if I knew I’d lost Ivy to a better man.”

“I wouldn’t say ‘better’,” Declan growls. “I think we all know about marriages of convenience. And just because you’re engaged doesn’t mean you’re going to stay that way.”

“All right, guys. That’s enough.” I shake my head. I am tired already and the day has barely begun. “If you all care about me as much as you say you do, you’ll at least pretend you get on when you’re around me. I’ve got enough on my mind.”

“Sorry, Ivy.” Declan didn’t look sorry at all.

Romy says nothing.

The bell rings, signifying the start of lessons.

“Meet me for lunch, Ivy?” Milly asks, looking between us three.

I think about it for a moment. “Okay.” Milly is about the only friend I had in this place. I needed every ally I could get if I’m going to survive the next few months unscathed.

Besides, she might be able to tell me more about what is really going on with my father. Milly might come across as being all naïve and innocent, but she is a lot more astute than she lets on.

“I’ll let you two girls be alone, then,” Romy says.

“Yeah. You do that.”

Romy kisses me quickly before heading off to his economics class while I turn and walk off to Pilkington’s office.

I remember when I first saw Mr Pilkington, the headmaster, on my first day at the Academy. He’d made it clear just how powerless I was when he told me two of my subjects had already been chosen for me. Now he has the power to make me endure another year in this place if I didn’t meet up to his standards.

I knock on the door and wait to be summoned.

“Come in!”

I walk in and take a seat opposite Mr Pilkington.

“Ivy.” He smiles warmly. “It’s so good to have you back with us. I always knew you’d want to return to finish your education here.”

I didn’t exactly want to come back, but I nod as if he’d said something profound.

“Now I’m sure you’re aware that we cannot just accept you back into your classes as if you’d never been away, especially given your grades in politics and business.”

“Yeah. I know.”

“I suppose it’s too much to ask for you to have continued your studies during your absence?”

I look at him pointedly. “I wrote a few songs.”

“I see. Well, we will have to give you some assessment tests to ascertain what classes you will be returning to. We cannot risk the reputation of the school by allowing you to take an exam you are unprepared for. We pride ourselves on our academic achievements and will not risk a pupil failing to live up to their potential. Not only do you let yourself down, you let the entire Academy down.”

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