Page 2 of The Secret Of Us

Isaac must sense the way my mind has started wandering because he ducks his head down to look directly into my eyes. We both inherited our mum’s green eyes, and at one point, we used to share the same shade of dark brown hair from her, too. However, a decision made out of boredom and being left alone for too long over the summer means mine is now blonde.

“I know you still aren’t sure about what you want to do, but it’s fine. You’ve got time to think it through in the next few months. And even if you don’t figure it out, that’s fine, too. I just want you to enjoy yourself as much as you can this year.” He smiles at me, lightly shaking my shoulders before letting me go.

I muster up the best smile I can, but I know how forced it looks. Isaac does the nice brotherly thing and pretends he doesn’t notice as Violet and Luke enter my bedroom.

“Izzy, you know I love you, but I think you have a problem,” Violet says, waving my star-shaped lamp in the air. Isaac takes it from her and places it on my desk as Luke drops the box he’s carrying on the floor. “Where did half of this stuff even come from?”

I shrug my shoulders in response, adjusting the position of the lamp so it sits exactly where I want it.

“I like buying stuff.”

“We need to cut her allowance,” Violet says jokingly to Isaac. He moves to stand behind her, drooping his arms around her shoulders.

“Never happening,” he says, kissing the top of her head and making her whole face light up. There’s a slight blush on her tan skin, her brown eyes twinkling as she brings her hands up to hold on to Isaac’s. “Are you okay to unpack the rest of this yourself? We should probably start heading back soon so we don’t hit traffic.”

“I’ll get the girls to help me later.”

As much as I’ve been worried about coming back to school, I’m also excited to spend time with my friends. We met up a few times over the summer, but it’s more fun when we’re back at school and around each other all the time.

Violet steps out of Isaac’s arms and pulls me into hers.

“It’s going to be a good year. Take every day as it comes, and try to enjoy yourself.”

“I will,” I tell her, hugging her back and hoping she knows how much I appreciate everything she’s done for me.

We let go of each other and then Isaac hugs me again.

“Call me if you need anything.”

I nod, not sure why I feel like I’m about to cry when we’ve done this routine before.

Luke lifts his hand for a high five, and I slap my hand against his as hard as I can.

“I’ll be around a lot for football, mainly on Wednesdays and Thursdays,” he says, wincing and cradling his now red hand.

“Okay, so I won’t be around on Wednesdays and Thursdays.”

Luke pouts like a puppy dog while Isaac and Violet stifle their laughs.

“Come on, let’s leave her alone to sort this all out,” Isaac says, gesturing to the stack of boxes I’ll most likely leave untouched for weeks.

Violet helped me unpack the important things, sort out my toiletries in my bathroom, and put away most of my clothes. All that’s left is little things like my books and trinkets to make the place feel more like home.

The three of them leave my room with a chorus of goodbyes, and I follow them, peeking my head out the door. I watch my makeshift family walk down the hallway and disappear from sight as they turn the corner to leave the building.

I step back into my room, closing the door to muffle the loud noise outside the corridor before sitting at my desk. A heavy breath that feels like it’s been weighing down on my chest finally escapes now that I’m alone.

I check my phone and see a whole scroll of notifications, but I focus on the group chat with my friends.

Amelia

What time are you both free?

Chloe

Mum is making my bed and then they’re leaving

Amelia

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