Page 42 of Take My Place

“Thanks.”

I get into the car and Romy climbs in after me. “How are you feeling?” he asks. “I’ve been really worried about you.”

“I told you. I had a migraine,” I say. “I’m sorry if I was short with you. I just needed to be alone.”

“Did I upset you?”

“You didn’t do anything.” I sigh. “I’m the one who should be apologising. I told you I get really bad stage fright. What I didn’t mention is that after I come off stage, I always feel like crap because I’ve wound myself up so much. It takes a few days for me to recover, but I’m fine now.”

God, I’m such a liar. But how can I tell him that I’m struggling with my feelings for him and two other guys?

“You can always talk to me, you know?”

Romy puts his arm around me. I stiffen a little, then allow myself to relax into his embrace.

“You should have told me. I’d have arranged for a massage for you. We’ve got an amazing masseur who comes to the house. He could have set up the table in your room and helped you relax. Or, if you don’t like that idea, I could give you a massage…”

I laugh. “Any excuse to get your hands on my naked body.”

“Can you blame me? It is pretty incredible.”

“That’s very sweet of you, but honestly, I am much better off in bed on my own, sleeping away the weekend.”

“You certainly seem better now,” Romy says. “But if you need a massage anyway, I’d be more than happy to oblige.”

“I may well need one after the day I’ve got,” I told him. “Mondays are bad enough at the best of times, but I’ve got double politics. Dull with a double dose of dull.”

“At least you’re not in pure maths with Dr Clyde,” Romy reminds me. “His voice is so monotonous it’s almost impossible to keep my eyes open.”

“Looks like we could both do with a pick-me-up after school,” I say. “Maybe we could go to that ice cream place? They’d be open this time.”

“I like that idea. We’ve got a date.”

When we arrive at the Academy, Romy takes my hand, and we walk up the stairs together. Maybe everything is going to be all right after all. Whatever the truth is about Declan, it’s pretty clear he wants to pretend like he doesn’t have any feelings for me, and that’s just fine. I’m pretty good at faking being okay. We could both lie about our feelings and everything would go back to normal.

The bell rang to warn us that our first class is about to start, and Romy kisses me. “You’ve got music first thing, right?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Say hi to Declan for me.”

“Okay.” I frown as Romy turns and goes off in the direction of the economics department. What did he mean by that? Has he seen something happen between me and Declan after all?

I don’t have time to think about it too deeply, as a second bell rings to let us know that we have five minutes to get to the classroom or risk a late penalty.

I hurry to the music department, getting to my seat next to Declan moments before Mr Metcalf walks through the door–and he isn’t alone.

“Good morning, everyone. I’d like to introduce you to a latecomer to our class.” Mr Metcalf indicates the youth standing next to him. “Lucas Donatello, would you like to tell everyone a bit about yourself and why you’re here?”

My jaw drops as the angry stranger who’d competed in the bike race speaks. Looking around the class, I’m not the only one who is surprised by his being here.

“As Mr Metcalf says, my name’s Lucas Donatello,” Lucas began. “Some of you may remember me from when we met a week or so ago. I’m staying with Solomon Archaic, who is an old friend of my mother’s.”

I gasp at the mention of my father’s name. Declan kicks me under the table, warning me not to make too big a deal out of it. He is right. I need to wait and find out more information before I open my mouth big enough to put my foot in it.

“My mother wanted me to experience the very best education for my final years of school and the Academy’s reputation is renowned throughout the world. When Solomon said he could get me a place here, it was an offer too good to refuse. I’d been studying at a conservatory back home in Italy so Mr Metcalf here kindly agreed to let me audition for him to see whether I’d be able to enter his class at such a late stage. Luckily I was able to impress him enough to be able to study alongside you all. I feel very honoured to be here and I look forward to studying with you.”

“Thank you, Lucas. Here’s hoping you maintain the same standard of excellence you displayed at your audition. Ivy and Declan, you’ve got some real competition now. You’re going to have to work hard if you’re going to maintain your position at the top of the class. Lucas, why don’t you go sit in that spare seat next to Ivy?”

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