Page 38 of The Secret Of Us

But that’s exactly what I did.

Izzy’s suggestion surprised me at first, but after thinking about it for a few hours, I can see the benefits of pretending to date. The main one being that hopefully Ryan will leave her alone and she can enjoy the rest of the year without having to worry about him ruining it. Of course, I don’t know anything about their past relationship, but it can’t have been that great considering how much she dislikes him now.

Then, there’s the fact that this could potentially help me, too. But I didn’t like what she said about herself when she mentioned that. I don’t know why she thinks she isn’t special. She was the first person to talk to me and has treated me with nothing but kindness. Izzy lights up every room she enters, and she’s constantly making the people around her laugh—even me. Being tied up with her might make people realise I’m not that bad, despite what they might have heard.

The notification sound from my phone has me nearly jumping out of my seat. I move the papers on my desk around to try and find where I hid it underneath them all. It was a tactic to make sure I didn’t keep checking it every ten seconds for a message from her, but now it’s actually lost under stacks of homework. I finally manage to find it under a textbook, and I have to take a breath to calm myself before I check it.

Unknown

I’m just finishing at the gym

Are you free?

I save her number before replying.

Noah

I’m free

Shall I meet you there?

Izzy

Sure, give me 10 to get ready

I lock my phone, throwing it back on my desk before going to my bathroom. My hair hangs messily over my forehead, so I run my fingers through it, trying to make it a little neater. I don’t think too much about why I suddenly care so much about my appearance. I step out, pulling on my favourite grey hoodie before I grab my phone and leave.

Checking the time, I see it’s only been eight minutes since Izzy texted me, so I slow my pace as I get closer to the gym. There’s a couple of students lingering around the field, but most people are either inside by now or heading that way.

When I near the building, I spot Izzy leaning against the wall wearing just leggings and an oversized T-shirt. The sun has already set, the evening starting to get cooler, and I hope she’s got a jacket hidden somewhere.

Her attention is focused on her phone, so she hasn’t noticed I’m here yet. I take the chance to look at her expression, hoping I can figure out what kind of mood she’s in so that I can work out how to make this conversation easier for both of us.

She doesn’t look as worried as she did earlier, but there’s still something about the furrow in her brow that makes me think she’s not looking forward to whatever we’re about to talk about. My heart sinks a little. I don’t want her to feel like she has to do something like this, if she’s not okay with it. I want to crack a joke, try to make her laugh like she does so easily with me these days, but my mind is blank.

“Hi.”

Great start, Noah. Well done.

She looks up, her expression relaxing and a warm smile lighting up her face when she sees me.

“Hey. Thanks for coming out so late.”

It’s only just past eight thirty, but I know what she means. Most people are usually in their rooms by now or relaxing in the common rooms.

“Shall we go for a walk?” she asks, gesturing to the fields behind the sports building.

“Yeah, sure.” I’m happy to go along with whatever she wants.

Izzy starts walking, and I follow after her, both of us not saying a word until we’ve made our way down the steps. We bypass the hockey field, going for the football one instead.

“If we’re going to do this, I think we need to set some rules,” she says, breaking the silence and getting straight to the point.

“That sounds smart,” I agree as I slow my steps. My legs are longer than hers so I’m getting ahead of her.

“First rule,” she lifts her hand and raises her index finger, “we have to act like we like each other.”

“I do like you,” I say before I can stop myself. Our heads turn at the exact same time, and I can see the moment her eyes get bigger. “I mean, not in that way. But I don’t think I’ll have to act for that.”

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