Chapter Three
In the back of the library, Devony knit her fingers together and tried not to look at him directly. She couldn’t stand the panicked look in Micah’s green eyes as they searched hers, begging for help. “You know I’ll do everything I can,” she said to him.
“You should help him, Dev. Even Archer’s upset about the whole thing and you know he doesn’t give a damn about anything! He’s still blaming himself. He’s convinced the whole thing could have been avoided if he had kept a closer watch on him,” Ellie said.
“I wouldn’t stress too much about this, Micah. I’m sure he’ll let you help out with the tournament. I mean look on the bright side, at least he didn’t tell your father that you were drunk and fighting last night,” Devony said.
“Thank hell, he didn’t,” Micah said, trying to smile though it hurt his eye. “Whatever you’re able to do, thanks so much.”
“It’s not a problem. You and Orion have been friends for a long time. I refuse to believe he’s doing this for any other reason than to show the school he’s not going to tolerate fighting.”
“Do you think he’ll replace me?”
“Replace you?” Devony asked, looking curious. “As a friend?”
“As a vice-president?”
“Of course not! Orion would never do that! It’s just a slap on the wrist, if that.” Devony slid her arm across the table and grabbed his hand. “You’re not going to lose your position as vice-president. I’ll do everything and anything I can to make sure that you’re helping out with the tournament tonight. I’ll see him at lunch, I can text him, call him, and be a nuisance until he’s so fed up with me that he won’t have a choice but to give in.”
“You don’t need to go so far.”
“It’s not a problem. So that’s enough of this talk about losing your position of vice-president, Micah. Don’t be silly. If I’m on your side, Orion will be too.”
“Speaking of Orion,” Ellie trailed off as she saw Archer and Orion enter the library.
“I should go,” Micah said, quickly pulling his hand out from under Devony’s. “I don’t want him to get the wrong idea.”
“Don’t you want to be here when I talk to him?”
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” he said, standing up. “I’ll go out the back, okay? Don’t mention I was here.”
“Well…I guess I can’t stop you,” Devony said, watching him silently leave the library.
Archer caught sight of Micah stepping through the back door. “That can’t be good,” he muttered.
“What can’t be good?” Orion asked. “Did you see something?”
“No, nothing…” he said, trailing off for effect, “…it’s nothing.”
“Did you see who just left the library? Was that Micah?” he asked, looking around the room. His eyes fell on Ellie and Devony. Had he just been there talking to them?
“Micah? I don’t think so. Did you see the way that person snuck out? Whoever it was had something to hide, and what could Micah want to hide from you? It couldn’t have been him.”
“I think it was.” Orion approached the table, leaning over it to look at Devony. “Who were you just talking to?”
“Someone who wants to help out with the tournament,” Devony said.
“Who?” Orion snapped.
“What’s with the attitude? It was your friend, Micah. Orion, please talk to him. He really wants to help out and he hates that you’re mad at him. He didn’t mean to—”
“He didn’t mean to what? Get drunk? Get into a fight? Or get caught?”
“Orion, don’t be mean. Talk to him.”
“So that was him just now?”
“It…it was. Orion, he feels terrible about what happened. Go get him, bring him back, and tell him that you’re done being mad.”
“Not now.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m still mad.”
“But you are going to forgive him by tonight, right?”
“Why so soon?”
“He wants to help out with the tournament. You know what an amazing opportunity this is.”
Orion rolled his eyes but leaned in, and gave Devony a kiss on her cheek. Her freckled face blossomed with a blush. “I’ll talk to him.”
“When? During lunch period?”
“Probably not then.”
“So when?”
“Devony, please. I have a lot on my mind. Can you understand that?”
“I understand, but I still really want you talk to him. Don’t wait another week, another day or even another few hours. You’re stressed and he can help you. That’s what having a vice-president is for! Micah’s always been a good friend to you and even when we were dating in secret he never told anyone. You have to forgive him.”
“Enough,” Orion snapped. “I’ll talk to him if you just stop talking about him.”
Devony winced but quickly regained her composure. “You don’t have to be so harsh, it’s not like I’m asking you to do anything terrible.”
“I said I would talk to him!” Orion said, slamming his hand on the table.
“Shhh!” the librarian hushed from the front of the room. “Keep that noise down.”
“Alright,” Orion growled. “I’ll talk to him, Devony. Okay? I’ll talk to him, but in the meantime, can you please just mind your own business? I’m sick of it.”
“Sick of it?” Devony repeated as she stood up from her chair. “I’m getting a little sick of you acting this way. Come on, Ellie. We have class.”
“I’ll see you later,” Orion called, narrowing his eyes as Devony stormed towards the library’s exit.
“I’ll talk to her,” Ellie said as she rushed by to catch up to her friend.
“Thanks, Ellie, I appreciate that.”