Othello (Shakespeare For Everyone Else #2)

  ***

  “Do you really think she’s cheating on me?” Orion asked near the end of third period once the teacher had given the class permission to talk until the bell rang. He slid his desk closer to Archer’s so no one else could hear their conversation.

  “She lied to her dad, didn’t she? For months she lied to him about seeing you.”

  “I never wanted her to do that.”

  “Do you think she’d want you to find out if she was seeing another guy?”

  “N-no.”

  “But she could probably keep a secret about it, couldn’t she? She’s done it before. I mean hell, Orion, didn’t you say that she was afraid to talk to you at first when actually she liked you?”

  “She did.” He pressed his forehead to the cool desk, trying to calm his nerves. “Oh God, it must be true. She could do it and I would be none the wiser.”

  “You don’t know if she’s doing anything yet,” Archer said, resting a hand on his back, patting it. “I’m just worried about my friend is all.”

  “And I appreciate that. I really do.”

  “You’re not mad?”

  “I’m not,” Orion said, lifting his head up. “I don’t believe ignorance is bliss. I’m glad you talked to me about this.”

  “I don’t believe you but I’m happy to help, I think. Don’t look too much into this until after the tournament, Orion. You’re stressed and you’re looking for a release. You shouldn’t take it out on Devony.”

  “I don’t plan to. Not without proof.”

  “Don’t go searching for proof either,” Archer warned. “If you start acting like a snoop, you’re probably going to scare Devony away. You don’t want that, do you?”

  “I don’t want that.” He shook his head. “I don’t think Devony would cheat on me with Micah.”

  “Let’s hope not…for her sake.”

  “But it makes sense though, doesn’t it? Micah and Dev are a much better match.”

  “Devony’s father is fond of him.”

  “Oh God. I know. I know that!”

  “Archer and Orion,” the teacher warned from the front of the class. “Voices down.”

  “Yes, Ms. Crane,” Archer said, leaning closer to Orion. “Maybe she’s tired of being ashamed, you know? Maybe she just wants to have a relationship that she doesn’t have to explain to everyone.”

  “That would make sense,” Orion said, reasoning in his mind. “I can’t keep my eye on her, though. Our class schedules are very different. Do you think that Ellie could do it? They’re close friends.”

  “I can ask her.”

  “I should have never let her keep a secret from her father,” Orion said. “He was right. A real man wouldn’t have allowed such a thing.”

  “Darren said that out of spite, don’t take him too seriously. He’s a man who only wants the best for his daughter.”

  “And that’s clearly not me,” Orion said.

  “Stop beating yourself up over things you can’t change. Micah flirts with everything, Orion. You know that better than I do. What you need to do is not let him weasel his way back into your good graces. Make him work for something for a change. Did he talk to you yet about helping out with the tournament?”

  “You already know he called Devony late last night.”

  “So that’s how he’s going to do it?” Archer asked. “Just see how hard Devony works on his behalf.”

  “That means nothing,” Orion said as the bell rang overhead.

  “Does it?” Archer asked, starting to leave the classroom. He lowered his head as Orion quickly packed up his things and caught up with him.

  “Archer, do you really see something I should worry about?”

  “You’ll have to decide that for yourself,” Archer said, taking a sharp turn around a corner when he saw Devony and Ellie walking towards them. He didn’t want to be seen.