Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Two

Lila's nerves for her exams were at an all-time high. Asher, by contrast, looked rather calm that morning – much better than last night, at least. He took her to her first exam with a smile, a kiss and a 'good luck', all of which she returned in kind. She'd told him that it wasn't necessary, since he couldn't be late to his, but he insisted otherwise as he jogged off to his exam.

Each exam took out two lessons, so she didn't see Asher again until morning tea started. He met her outside her exam, her mind swimming with the questions she'd been working through. Strangely, she felt like she did pretty okay. There wasn't anything that was too beyond her to answer – a feeling she hadn't had too often before.

'Must be what happens when you study with the Dux,' Lila thought as she held onto his arm. Except they'd studied together before and she hadn't felt this confident in her studies then.

She looked up at Asher, who looked curiously back at her.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah. Just trying to figure out why that exam went so well."

He laughed. "'Cause you studied for it, silly. Is it not supposed to go well?"

"I've always studied, though. I dunno, I just get this feeling that exams this time around are going to be a breeze. Trying to figure out why."

"Well, if you used my methods to study, that'd be one of the reasons," he replied matter-of-factly.

"I guess I'm also confused because… well… we did a lot of not-studying over the weekend."

His eyes met hers and he quickly looked away.

"My exam felt really easy, too. It should've been more complicated but… I've got a suspicion that the not-studying did something about my studying, somehow."

She grinned, shaking his arm slightly. "Are you sure we shouldn't get carried away, then?"

He shook his head, a slight smile gracing his face. "As much as I'd love to, I think we should keep the risk to our studies a minimum for now, my love."

She pouted.

"You're so eager," he laughed.

"Of course. I love you."

"There're other ways to express love," he replied, his eyes twinkling. "Not to say that's not a good one."

She clutched his arm tightly to her chest. "I know that. I'm just addicted, you know. It's hard to not get my fix after having it so often."

He flushed. "Sorry."

"Yes, you better be! I know a way you can make it up to me, though."

"I feel like the method you're thinking of is a bit counterproductive."

"So that doesn't work either?" she asked sadly.

"No, my love."

"Damn."

He chuckled and they carried on to the locker room, now discussing their separate exams before Lila remembered something.

"My love?"

"Yes?" he replied, looking down at her with another smile. She hadn't realised how smiley both of them were nowadays until Theo's observation of Asher yesterday, but now that it'd been pointed out, that was all she could focus on for a second. She then smiled at him – a mischievous one.

"You never told me the results from Monday."

He gave her a strange look. "Results?"

She tugged at her collar. "From your evaluation of my uniform."

He turned red, clearing his throat. "R-Right. I… think it looks great on you." His eyes flickered down her body before resting on her face. "Especially so after my evaluation."

"Does it entice you?"

He cast a look around before responding in a low voice. "Of course."

"Enough to-"

"Lila, what am I going to do with you?" he chuckled, touching her cheek.

"I've got an idea."

He laughed again, shaking his head. "The weekend, my love."

"What if I beg?"

His expression changed – right into one that she'd been waiting for. "My love, you can't do this here."

"Why?" she challenged.

"We've got more exams after this, you know. I won't be able to think straight if you keep teasing me."

"But it wouldn't be teasing if-"

He grabbed her by the shoulders, pulling her in for a kiss. The passion quickly grew but before her hands could start wandering, he broke away.

"I love you. I promise you, we'll dedicate time this weekend to whatever you want, especially since exams will be over. I'm not saying no because I want to say no."

"Alright, alright," Lila sighed. "You've done it. You've made the relentless one relent."

He laughed, squeezing her shoulders before letting go and offering his arm. "You know, I can't work out what changes to make you so passionate and throwing innuendos at me left and right to being almost too shy or embarrassed to talk." He eyed her as they walked in sync towards the locker room. "I only know of one guaranteed way to make that change happen, though."

Lila considered this for a moment. She also didn't really know what made the switch flick between those two moods she found herself in nowadays.

"What's the guaranteed way?" she asked curiously.

He smirked, his eyes glinting with desire. "When I make you feel so good you lose your mind, of course."

She squeaked in surprise, immediately raising her hands to cover her face. He chuckled, low and breathy – what she'd been waiting to hear, but was suddenly too embarrassed to cherish the sound.

"Gotcha."

She looked up, seeing him grinning, his face lightly flushed.

"Y-You're the same, you know," she murmured, lowering her hands. "You change from being embarrassed to being confident in an instant."

He paused before looking away. "I guess I do."

"I feel like I know why you change, though," she continued, a smile creeping on her face.

"Why?"

"It happens most when you're feeling… absolutely ready to go. Like right now."

He hung his head with a small sigh, his cheeks far redder than before. "Looks like you got me, too. C'mon, let's have morning tea. I need to review a couple notes for my Chinese exam."

She couldn't argue with that – especially since she needed to do the same for her Japanese one.

Except they wouldn't get to review those notes. At least, not during morning tea.

"Lila, can we please have morning tea together?" Elise asked as soon as Lila was within range of her locker. Asher hadn't left yet, so Lila turned to him to check.

"You too, Asher. Um, Isaac will be with us, too."

Lila glanced around. Grace was nowhere in sight.

'They probably want to discuss something about Grace before our group lunch,' Lila thought as she met Asher's eyes. He nodded.

"Should be fine," Lila said, opening her locker. "Library again?"

"Yeah," Elise replied, her shoulders relaxing with relief. Asher waved at them before heading over to his aisle.

The girls assembled themselves, waiting for only a moment for Asher and Isaac to appear. When they did, the group proceeded to the locker room exit only to bump into Grace.

"Hey guys," she said breathlessly, a beam across her face. "Are you having morning tea together?"

Lila and Elise exchanged an awkward look.

"Yeah," Elise replied, looking over at Isaac scuffing the toe of his right shoe along the ground. "Did you want to join?"

The invitation sounded lacklustre, but it didn't appear that Grace noticed this.

"Nah," she replied, shaking her head. "I'm trying to make the most out of seeing my girlfriend before she goes."

Lila could see Isaac scuffing his foot even more forcefully along the ground. Elise's neutral expression waned for just a moment – slipping into something uncomfortable – before she gave Grace a half-hearted smile.

"Okay. See you later."

Grace repeated this, waving at the others, before hurrying off to her locker. The four stood in the doorway momentarily before Elise led the group to the library. Isaac walked beside her, hand-in-hand, with Lila and Asher trailing behind, also hand-in-hand.

No one spoke – not until they sequestered themselves into an empty meeting room.

"How have you managed to keep your cool?" Isaac lamented, flopping his torso onto a table, his head turned to the side. "I'm dying and it's not even midday. And Grace just talks about it so… casually." He shuddered. Elise lightly rubbed his shoulders as she looked expectantly at Lila and Asher for their answer.

"I… just try and forget about it as much as I can," Lila replied with a sigh. "Sometimes, it can be really hard to stop the snarky comments in my head but I think they also help in a way. Lets me get that energy out, even just a little. Reminding myself that Grace is a victim helps, too – that while she's taking part in it, the fault isn't on her so much. It's squarely on Ms Alexander."

"She really doesn't get it, does she?" Isaac murmured. "Like, with how… casual she put it."

"I'd been hoping that she would but with the way Ms Alexander was talking yesterday, I can see why she doesn't," Lila said despondently.

"It was as I'd thought," Asher interjected with a scowl. "The Ms Alexander we talked to after camp was entirely prepared, professional and emotionless. Very different to the panicked Ms Alexander yesterday. The difference in manipulation was crazy."

"Do you think it's because she was targeting you the first time?" Lila asked curiously.

"Absolutely. I think… if she'd been like that the first time, I would've torn them both down easily. She probably had to make herself that way so I couldn't."

"Like it was with Piper," Lila murmured softly.

"Like it was with Piper," Asher confirmed. "I wonder if she knew how that went down."

"I told Elise and Grace about it when it happened, but Grace was also there. She heard you yelling, but not what you said."

"She was dating Ms Alexander then," Elise said, her nose wrinkled. "She probably told Ms Alexander everything. It was pretty exciting stuff." She eyed Asher, who looked embarrassed at the reminder. "Not as exciting as when you clocked Jackson across the face, though."

"You had to bring that up again, didn't you?" Asher groaned.

Elise grinned. "Absolutely."

"You've been off your rocker this whole year," Isaac said suddenly, prompting everyone to look at him. "Any reason for that?"

His shrewd, narrowed eyes held no trace of a joke, despite his word choice. Had he not confronted Asher about it until now?

"Call it a rebellious phase," Asher shrugged, pointedly not meeting Isaac's gaze.

"I doubt your parents would let you have one."

"That's the point of rebellion, isn't it?" Asher replied through gritted teeth. Lila tried her hardest to prevent shaking from her nerves. As smart as Asher was, to the point where one wrong word from Isaac would've revealed his relationship with Elise, Isaac was just as perceptive – one wrong movement, gesture, facial expression and-

"I don't buy it. You've been weird since I came back from Bali in January. Phases don't last that long. Like, you still look like you just commando rolled out of a tumble dryer and we're in September."

Asher leaned forwards in his chair, his hands clasped together in front of him. He stared down at the table for a very long moment – one that felt like minutes. Was he going to tell Isaac about his Mum? About everything else? The late-night bike rides he'd had on his own, their visit to the nightclub, the stalking, the lockpicking, the break-and-enter, the farmhouse, the Banker, the blackmail, the investigations they'd carried out into the morphine ring and his Dad's hospital? There was also the Police interview, and the failed attempt to report his Mum missing – and a myriad of other things she'd surely missed in that list.

Asher hung his head lower, such that Lila could only see his eyebrows. She placed a hand on his thigh and he took in a heavy, haggard breath. Lila's eyes darted to Isaac, whose severe expression had melted into one of concern, before flickering back to Asher. He lifted his head just enough to give her a sideways glance.

"At first… it was because Holly said she preferred someone who didn't look like a nerd."

"Bitch," Isaac interjected. Asher didn't react to this, his brow furrowing as if he was thinking very carefully.

"I figured it gave me more time, not being so obsessive with tidiness. More time to study, more time to relax, depending on my mood. So it slowly became my new habit. Then… well, you know how long I've liked Lila for. I didn't want to admit it, but I couldn't shake it even when I was dating Holly. And it was like… fate was laughing at me – bringing us together when I had a girlfriend. But I found myself… getting so attached to Lila when I was trying so hard not to. Should've called it quits with Holly then, but I was still just… trying to tell myself that it was just 'cause we were starting to be close friends; that my crush was a side issue, something that'd go away.

"So… when Piper started to fuck with Lila, it just set me off. I'd thought it was because she'd been stalking me, but… when I saw all the texts and calls Lila'd been getting from those stupid photos, I was one shove from exploding. Then, Lila did all that work to find out who it was and, yeah, I verbally exploded at Piper. I mean, what other option was there when Lila showed up to my place in tears? She… couldn't stand, she was that overwhelmed."

He paused, his position still the same. From the fact that he'd specifically avoided talking about his Mum, Lila could tell Asher was employing a trusty method – giving Isaac just enough truth to satisfy him. Lila could also tell that Asher was trying his hardest to avoid giving Isaac any body language to read. So… she'd need to try her best to remain neutral, too.

Both Elise and Isaac looked at Lila in alarm.

"You never mentioned that when you told us what happened," Elise said, reaching a hand over to Lila. Lila took it, giving it a squeeze, before letting go with a sheepish expression.

"I… was more focused on what Piper had done, to be honest. Plus, it was pretty embarrassing," Lila replied awkwardly.

"I told you that you didn't need to be embarrassed," Asher said, looking up for the first time since answering Isaac.

"Well, I wouldn't be if it happened now," Lila said with a faint smile. "It's pretty embarrassing to cry in the arms of someone else's boyfriend and all that, though."

A dark look crossed Asher's face and he stared down at the table once more. "So… there was that, then of course there was the whole Holly thing. That… really broke me, but Lila held me together, somehow. I… felt really selfish, wanting her there with me all the time, distracting me, having adventures in the city, and all that. My world was falling apart but she was my constant. It did mean we didn't hang out as much, Isaac. I only wanted Lila. Sorry."

Adventures in the city was one way to put it.

"I… uh. Nah, that's understandable," Isaac replied after clearing his throat. He looked almost apologetic.

Asher sighed again. "Then, Lila's brother needed some help with his studies, so I was over at Lila's for a bit. It felt nice to be needed by Lila, even if it was through her brother, since I'd needed her for ages at that point."

Lila wasn't quite sure where Asher was going with this anymore, but Elise appeared completely hooked on every word Asher was saying. Isaac started to look guilty, though Lila couldn't figure out why.

"While I was helping Daniel, you guys were trying to get us together," Asher continued. "I started getting hopeful… then as I started to get really hopeful, Lila went on a date with Theo-" Elise tapped Lila's hand and she took it back, rubbing where Elise had hit her.

"It happened so fast," Lila frowned. "I was in shock."

"You and everyone else," Elise sighed dramatically. She then jerked her thumb towards Isaac and added, "This guy nearly carked it."

"Look, I'm not gonna lie. It felt like I was gonna when I heard what happened," Isaac said nonchalantly. "After all our hard work, too."

"I was almost as upset about that as the whole Holly situation," Asher said quietly. "I mean, I'd just finished up helping Daniel and kinda asked Lila to hang out when she said she was going on a date with someone else. Theo, no less. Me but better."

Lila felt her face turn bright red as Elise and Isaac both gave her accusatory looks.

"You're better-"

"At the time, it really felt like he was," Asher cut Lila off, glancing at her once more. He turned his gaze back to his hands, a small smile across his face. "Then, after that ordeal was over, Lila told me she liked me. It was the best thing that'd happened to me for quite a while, but it was crushed in an instant when I realised I was still hurt over the Holly thing. Even though Lila was right there, I just couldn't bring myself to ask her to be mine when I was still so messed up over being cheated on. So… I was back to feeling like shit. A different type, but still shit nonetheless."

He pressed his hands together tightly before saying, "Then we visited you guys at Maccas, to see what was going on with Elise-" Elise winced but Asher barrelled on, having not seen this, "-and that day I was told I was going to Vanuatu and taken immediately. Lila and I had made heaps of plans for the holidays, date-like plans, and… I'd been hoping I'd be able to work out what was going on with me so I could feel like I could be Lila's without that hanging over my head. Or at least without that being a major issue."

He paused for another long moment. Lila had almost thought that was the end when he started talking again.

"Then, Piper was murdered. I'd never thought she'd be murdered. Or that anyone around our age would be murdered, actually. It… was inconceivable yet also a massive relief which just made me feel guilty. It was really complicated. What wasn't complicated was the thought that… I'd shatter completely if something like that happened to Lila. So, by then I'd made up my mind. Holly was so inconsequential. Lila's everything I've ever wanted and I wasn't about to let her slip through my fingers when we'd finally been brought together – enough to be each other's best friends, let alone partners."

Asher pursed his lips, giving Lila a quick look – almost too quick for her to catch.

"Then, I came back from Vanuatu and was hanging out at Lila's when the Police came knocking on the door for us."

He was telling them that? Lila's body felt cold, the suddenness of Asher's admission that the Police-

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"The Police?!" Elise shrieked. Isaac was pale, looking between both Asher and Lila like he couldn't believe they were sitting before him.

"Y-You mean, like, people in costume, right?" Isaac asked faintly. "Some eager trick-or-treaters. Not real cops, right?"

Asher looked directly into Isaac's eyes as he shook his head. "Actual cops. They pulled us in for questioning."

"You got questioned by actual cops?" Isaac asked, the disbelief dripping in each syllable. "You, Asher Wagner. For what?"

"Yes, me," Asher replied. "The day Piper went missing, she found Lila and I at the shops. She wanted to talk to me, but I wanted to get the hell away from her. That interaction was caught on CCTV, so they wanted to know what happened. We… never found out what she wanted to say. Not gonna lie, but it's haunted me for a little bit."

"Hang on, hang on," Elise said rapidly, staring at Lila. "Asher said 'us'. You were questioned too?"

Lila nodded. "Yeah. As a witness. It… well, it almost felt like it would've been as a suspect if I hadn't been forthcoming about the fact that Piper stalked Asher and me. Um, she had pictures of my house, too."

Elise shivered. "Jesus, Lila, and you said absolutely nothing about it."

"I… thought it was pretty confidential," Lila said, glancing at Asher. "Plus… it looks bad."

"You guys are cleared, right?" Isaac queried nervously.

"As far as I know," Asher responded with a shrug. "I mean, it's not like we murdered her." He then turned his eyes back down. "After that, the term started and I got the balls to ask Lila to be my girlfriend. Then…" he paused again before saying, "then we found out about Grace. We decided to talk to her about it all at camp, and that went about as well as you could expect. Obviously, we had to keep that a secret. We were also trying to get you two together and you were both so stubborn. Felt like pulling my hair out."

"Sorry," Elise mumbled.

"Eh, it's fine. Knowing that you guys were actually together made the pain worth it since it wasn't like the outcome would be that you wouldn't date each other," Asher chuckled. He stopped chuckling with a grimace. "Then… those Grade 12s were expelled and Jason was murdered in the same way as Piper. It's… beyond freaked me out. Then… Jackson said that about Lila and I just saw red. Couldn't think straight."

He let the statement linger for a few seconds and murmured, "Essentially, my emotions have been all over the place since January. After the year I've had, I think it'd be weirder if I didn't act differently. This has been the worst and best year of my life – and only the best because Lila entered into it."

A tingling warmth spread from Lila's heart throughout her body. The touching earnestness of Asher's statements – if she wasn't already in love with him, she would've fallen for him right then.

"I had no idea about the extent of all that," Isaac eventually said sheepishly. "Sorry I asked."

Asher shook his head. "I'd been wondering when you would. I get that you're worried about me and that I've been different this year, but I'm seriously okay. Better than okay now."

Elise's eyes were shimmering as she tapped Lila's hand again.

"What the hell, Lila," she said with a light laugh. "Isaac's right. Asher is the sappiest one of us all."

Lila looked at Asher, whose face had turned red. Their eyes met and she smiled, her heart beating a little bit louder and a whole lot faster.

"I think I could give him a run for his money," Lila finally said, touching his cheek.

"You better," Isaac said, his tone as grave as his expression. "If you don't, I won't ever forgive you."

Asher blinked at Isaac before pulling Lila towards his chest.

"She does," he beamed. "Every day." Then, his smile turned cheeky. "She was the first to give a pet name, you know."

"You guys have pet names?" Isaac asked.

"Yep. My love." He sounded so proud, as if he'd won the lottery.

"Oh my God, that's adorable," Elise declared with a giggle. "Damn, you started that, Lila? You are sappy."

Lila felt her cheeks turning red.

"Sappy enough that I approve," Isaac grinned. "How'd that even happen, anyway?"

Lila turned her head so that she was looking entirely away from Asher, who grasped her hand.

"Ah. A sex thing," Isaac remarked.

Both Lila and Asher spluttered, their struggle to respond to this assertion painfully apparent. Isaac cackled.

"You two are so embarrassed," he said, waggling his fingers at them as though he was casting a spell.

"Isaac, stop that," Elise frowned. "Both of them know how to throw hands. Besides, you get just as embarrassed."

Isaac looked affronted before sighing. "Yeah, I do."

Silence passed between the four again and Lila felt herself relax a little, now that Isaac's comments were long behind them. They started eating their respective morning teas when Elise exhaled deeply.

"I'm still no clearer on how to cope with the Grace situation," she said dejectedly. "Did you see how happy she looked just now? I think… she thinks we're all happy for her or something."

"I think she's mostly relieved," Asher replied quietly. "After we called her out on it and met with Ms Alexander the first time, Grace wanted to have lunch with us privately. She said she wanted to be with people who knew."

"I guess it's not like I can't relate," Isaac sighed. "The relief I felt after telling you guys about me and Elise was insane."

"Grace is still Grace," Lila murmured. "Sure she's dating a teacher, but… she's been our friend for years. Well, with Elise and me anyway."

"Yeah… but what if she starts talking about her partner? I don't want her to hold back on that, since it's actually pretty nice talking about Isaac as my boyfriend, but I also don't want to hear it about Ms Alexander, of all people."

"It wouldn't be fair to ask Grace to not," Lila sighed.

"I don't have a problem with shutting it down," Asher said. Everyone stared at him.

"What?" he asked after a beat.

"You'll find a way to cope," Lila said encouragingly to Elise.

"Why'd everyone look at me?"

"I hope so. I mean, now that I've told her about my secret relationship and she's told me about hers, it's not like… we have any more secrets to hide," Elise muttered.

'I've got more than a few,' Lila thought before nodding.

"Yeah," Lila said, her smile tighter than she wanted it to be.

"Guys? Why am I being ignored?"

Isaac gave Asher a pitying look. "'Cause you said something dumb for once."

"What? How?"

"I'm sure you'd hate it if someone said you couldn't talk about Lila anymore. Not that I've ever done that, even when you were with Holly."

"Ah." Asher paused. "Right. Did I actually?"

"Yeah, dude. Only time you stopped was when you didn't show up to school, and that's 'cause you weren't there."

"Oh."

Isaac snickered and Lila held Asher's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"So, then, I guess we just deal with it as it comes," Asher said lightly, "since I shouldn't shut it down."

"She might not even say anything," Lila added. "She knows Asher doesn't approve and it's not as if the reception from you guys was ecstatic."

"This sucks," Elise exhaled.

"I know," Lila replied with a sympathetic smile.

"And you guys dealt with it alone," Elise said.

"Well, we had each other," Lila said reasonably. "We weren't properly alone."

"I still can't believe you were able to make a decision like that," Isaac said, glancing at Asher, who clenched his hand in Lila's grasp.

"It… did take a while, but I just followed Lila's lead. Grace is her close friend, after all. I'd expect her to take my lead on something about you, after all."

"Ah, like my Banker loan," Isaac nodded. Lila blinked. Had he told Elise about that?

Elise didn't seem surprised, though Asher looked just as bewildered as Lila felt about his casual admittance of the existence of his loan.

"I can see you two looking like fish out of water. It's obvious that you knew about it, Lila. Plus, it was one of the first things that came up when I started McWorking," Isaac said frankly. "Of course I told Lise about it since she asked why I needed a job. I'm honest, remember." He winced. "Okay, now I'm honest."

Asher checked his phone before standing up.

"I believe you, Isaac. Also, we're cutting it very close to the next exam block," he said, stretching his arms. "Let's go."

Everyone scrambled to clean up their messes before heading out to their lockers and grabbing their requisite exam materials.

The next exam block was relegated to Language exams – at least, so it was for Lila, Elise and Asher. They headed off to the Language block together and Lila remained in full focus for her writing exam until a minute or so before time was up.

'This is pretty good,' Lila thought as she wrapped up her final check. Asher's mnemonics for shared characters and radicals were deeply embedded in her mind from the weekend, it seemed.

"Glad that's over with," Elise said as soon as she met up with Lila and Asher outside the Language block. "That was horrendous."

"Really?" Lila asked, holding Asher's arm as they set off towards the locker room.

"Really. Why'd I decide to take German of all languages?" Elise bemoaned, folding her arms in front of her chest.

"Actually," Lila interjected, looking at Elise as she continued to silently scowl, "a while ago, you said you had a meeting with your German teacher about your exchange trip to Germany, but Asher said that wasn't going ahead. What were you doing?"

"When was this?" Elise asked, her scowl replaced simply with a furrowed brow.

"Late April."

At this, Asher glanced down at Lila before looking away just as quickly. It was actually that full day of school that Asher had missed after Holly told him she was pregnant, but Lila wasn't going to elaborate to that extent.

"Ah," Elise pursed her lips before sighing. "I was having a McChat with one of my managers about their offer to make me a Crew Trainer. I'd talked to my parents about it and wanted some more information. I didn't want to tell you since the main reason I was thinking about it was for the pay increase to help Mum. I was also considering picking up a café job as well, so I had to talk to the owner about what hours they'd give me."

"Jesus, Elise," Lila said in astonishment. "How would you have had time to do anything?"

"That's what my Dad asked when I told him what I'd been doing after those chats. He said that he thought the Crew Trainer opportunity would be good for my personal development, not for money. He also told me off for trying to get a second job – that we weren't that desperate yet."

"How is your Mum going, by the way?" Lila asked gently. Elise pursed her lips.

"She… was doing better, but a few weeks ago she started going downhill." Elise folded her arms tighter against herself. "Actually… she…"

"If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to," Lila said, lightly brushing Elise's shoulder.

"I think… I will at lunch," Elise replied, relaxing the tension in her shoulders. "I just… I also want to tell Grace. In the spirit of… reminding myself that Grace is still Grace. I've already told Isaac all this, but I think you guys should get an update, too."

"Alright," Lila replied with a nod. "Again, you don't have to if you don't want to."

Elise gave her a small smile in response. "Thanks."

The rest of the walk to their lockers involved a hearty discussion of their Language exams. As expected, Asher had concluded that his Chinese exam had gone very well, which Elise again lamented at.

Upon splitting and returning once more as a group, this time with Isaac, the four stood in wait for Grace's arrival. Elise started to look nervous once again, which prompted Isaac to put his arm around her shoulder – and a few whispers from their cohort.

"Have you told anyone else that you guys are dating?" Lila asked as she leaned into Asher's chest, his hands gently grasping her shoulders.

"Uh… actually no," Isaac said after a quick look at the ceiling, as if the answer was inscribed in the air vents. "Not a soul. Have you?"

Elise shook her head, uneasily casting a glance around. "Maybe we're showing too much affection too quickly."

Isaac shrugged, looking down at Elise with a smile. "Do you care? I mean, now that our friends know. It's not like we have to hide it."

"B-But what if there's rumours?" Elise asked, her apparent anxiety increasing with each word.

"Rumours that we're dating? That's not really a rumour. That's just a fact."

Elise pressed her fingertips together, her eyes remaining worried. "I… guess."

"I can-"

Elise grabbed his arm with her hands, shaking her head again. "Nope. I've decided not to care. Our friends know, and that's all that matters."

"Okay, but if you want me to tone it down-"

"Nope. We just started being able to do this at school," Elise replied brightly, her mood changing so quickly that no one spoke for a moment.

"Alright," Isaac chuckled, his expression melting into a fond smile as he pulled her closer.

"Well, you could probably tone it down if Theo's to be believed," Lila smirked. Elise and Isaac both flushed, though Grace quashed any attempt from either of them to respond with a cheery greeting.

Elise and Isaac passed an uneasy look between them, though Lila returned Grace's greeting with as much pep as she could muster.

Not a word was shared between the four until Grace rejoined the group, armed with her lunch.

"Library?" she asked.

"Yeah," Lila nodded. "Let's go."

Lila expected Grace to attempt some conversation, but despite her perky exterior, something about the way she fiddled with the zip of her lunchbox told her that perhaps Grace was putting on an act.

An unsettling feeling weighed in Lila's chest, almost as though someone had started to sit on it. Ms Alexander had seemed emotional and kind through her actions, though her words were more than manipulative, but how had she been with Grace after they'd left yesterday?

The group piled into the first empty meeting room that they could find, which was a bit squishier than the ones they normally sat in when they all ate together.

The silence was punctured only by the sound of zippers and utensils clacking against Tupperware for quite some time. Elise and Isaac's usual shine had been virtually snuffed out now that they were sitting opposite Grace, who seemed ravenous by the fervour with which she shovelled her food into her mouth. It was another worrying sign for Lila since Grace tended to eat daintily.

Elise and Lila shared a look of concern. Then, Grace spoke.

"Um…" she faltered before sighing, setting aside her empty lunchbox. "My… partner wasn't happy yesterday."

Had someone turned the aircon all the way down? Elise and Isaac stared at Grace as though she were a mannequin come to life. Lila could understand why and was probably just as guilty of staring in the same way. Grace was immediately talking about it, just like that?

"I imagine she wouldn't be," Asher nodded, taking a wide bite of his chicken burrito before coughing. "I should tell Gabriel to chill on the jalapeno sauce. Is yours okay, my love?"

And now everyone was staring instead at Lila. She glanced down at her limp, untouched burrito.

"It… looks fine," she said lamely, picking it up and inspecting it as if it would scream in protest.

"'My love' is cute," Grace smiled, though her eyes did not reflect its warmth. "How'd that happen?"

Lila immediately took a large bite of her burrito in an effort to escape the question. Asher followed suit and Isaac chuckled.

"I don't have the details, nor do I want 'em, but it seems like it's something that Lila said while they were banging," he said with a chortle that was probably louder than he intended by the way he cleared his throat afterwards.

Lila flushed deeply, both from the heat of the jalapeno sauce and the fact that Isaac was entirely correct.

"I don't know if it's as cute anymore, but I'm definitely glad for you guys," Grace said, her smile dropping slightly. She pursed her lips for a moment, then sighed once again.

"A-Anyway, um… with that, I was hoping that I could miss the group lunch next week. Since next week's… her last." Grace's lower lip quivered as she stopped speaking, her eyes shining briefly.

"Of course," Elise replied, sounding relieved by Grace's request. "Take as much time as you need."

"Thank you," Grace smiled, this time a smidge more genuine than the last. "I… would've cancelled today, but I think Mia needs to cool down after how she was at morning tea."

"Are you okay?" Lila asked, her concern growing.

"Yeah. Just trying to get used to the idea that… things will be different and you guys know now. I'd… never thought I'd tell anyone when I first started dating Mia. Now though, I just feel so relieved. I didn't like hiding her, even though I told myself I did."

The silence that followed was deeply awkward.

"… How's your prep for the musical going?" Elise asked quietly, her eyes trained on her lunchbox. Grace's posture relaxed as she smiled – a brilliant one – at Elise.

"Really well, actually. I'm so glad I don't have to dye my hair."

"Dye your hair?" Isaac blinked. "What's that got to do with a musical?"

Grace laughed. "We're doing High School Musical. I tried out for the part of Gabrielle but I ended up getting the part of Sharpay Evans. It's actually really fun, acting like someone who's the total opposite of me. Plus, I get to be as dramatic as I want. Helps get the feelings out." She paused before adding, "Even though Sharpay has a crush on Troy, I think I would've hated being so loved up with Noah Hensley on stage as Gabrielle."

"What're the dates again?" Asher questioned, pulling out his phone. Grace stared at him with wide eyes, taking a moment before speaking.

"The 19th to the 22nd of October," she replied.

"You guys got tickets yet?" he asked, looking around at everyone else.

"Not yet," Lila said sheepishly. "I've been meaning to save up, but-"

"Got it. How's the Saturday sound? Or should we go on the opening night?"

Grace appeared flattered as Lila tried to think – which would be better?

"What do you think, Grace?" Lila asked.

"Well… the Saturday is pretty popular. Maybe-"

"Let's go for Saturday or Sunday," Elise interjected suddenly, looking at Isaac in excitement. "We usually get shifts on Saturdays and Sundays, but everyone jumps at the chance for those because of the increased rates so a shift swap is easy."

"Ah, actual shifts?" Asher smirked.

"Shut up," Isaac retorted, his face flushed.

Asher's smirk didn't die down as he tapped on his phone. "Looks like Saturday's sold out and there's only ten spots for Sunday."

"Sunday, then," Elise nodded. "I'll grab my ticket-"

"Nope," Asher shook his head. "On me."

"Aren't these, like, over $50 at least?" Elise blinked in astonishment.

"And?"

"Lila, talk some sense into your boyfriend-"

"He's made up his mind," Lila said dejectedly. "He'll just buy more tickets."

"I'm not that bad," Asher laughed. "But yes, I've made up my mind. Firstly, it's to support Grace, secondly, you two work at least some of the time and deserve a break, and lastly, I want to. Oh, actually, it's also easier to buy the tickets as a set. That way we can make sure we sit together."

"But the cost-"

"All good," Asher insisted over Elise's protest. She turned to Isaac.

"Isaac-"

"Like Lila said, he's made up his mind," Isaac sighed. "Best we can do is buy him dinner as thanks."

"That's not-"

"Deal," Elise said firmly, glaring at Asher and forcing him into silence.

"I'm guessing you've made up your mind, too?" Asher asked feebly.

"Yup."

"Thanks, guys. Especially Asher," Grace's eyes shimmered, the threat of tears forming turning her already bright blue eyes a more vibrant colour. "I'd… almost thought I'd ruined everything after yesterday."

Elise shook her head. "Grace, I'll always be your friend." She pursed her lips before letting out the faintest sigh. "It's just a big shock."

A tear escaped Grace's right eye as she nodded. "I know. I-I'm glad you'll always be my friend, Elise."

Elise reached over to touch the back of Grace's hand with a warm smile. "Now, tell us more about your musical preparations."

From there, lunch was surprisingly normal. Isaac's demeanour was the last to revert to how it was with Grace prior to yesterday's discovery, but it did all the same. Conversations transitioned from Grace's musical rehearsal stories, to recent McShenanigans, to the exams they still needed to take, before winding up with predictions for the soccer game on Saturday.

The upturn in mood helped Lila feel settled for her final exam for the day, which she sorely needed. This time, it was an exam she shared with Asher – English. Actually, the entire cohort was taking the exam at the same time to avoid collusion after the fact, though their assigned exam rooms were separated by their usual English class.

"Feel prepared?" Asher asked as he and Lila waited outside their exam room.

"Absolutely," she grinned. "You helped with my notes, after all."

He laughed. "Well, I hope that you do well."

She glanced around, finding that their classmates were occupied with either last-minute note reviews or chatting with other students, before giving him a cheeky smirk. "I think I will with a good luck kiss."

"Lila," he chuckled, his eyes shining with mirth, "seriously, what am I going to do with you?"

"I-"

"Aside from what I want to do with you," he interjected, squeezing her shoulder. He paused, his eyes darting between hers before smiling. "I never thought in a million years that I'd be in a position where you'd want me like you do-"

"I know of a couple-"

He pressed his lips to hers but before she could savour the feeling, he pulled away, his eyes sparkling.

"My love, I'm being serious," he said, caressing her face. "I love you and I want to tell you this. I also never thought in a million years that you'd love me like you do. I feel it even when you're not teasing me – it… feels so strong, whenever you meet my eyes and smile. Keeping my feelings in when they were a secret was hard, but having to restrain myself from just loving you feels harder. And, no, I don't just mean sex," he added, evidently anticipating the question on her lips. "Things like holding you in the way I want."

Her heart fluttered. He was looking at her with as much love as he'd described her to look at him with. She swallowed, with so many things she wanted to say fighting to get out. "I… feel the same. You hold me plenty, though."

He smiled again, swiftly capturing her lips in his again. Then he said, "But at school, there's a limit still."

"You're exactly right, Asher," Ms Shard's disapproving voice made them both jump away from each other. "At least a metre apart in my presence, please."

Though Ms Shard's voice was stern, Lila thought she could detect humour in her eyes.

"There's an exam to do. Please be seated," Ms Shard continued, gesturing towards the door. Lila and Asher obediently headed in without another peep. They took seats next to each other and Lila gave Asher one last encouraging smile before setting up for the exam.

The English notes they'd worked on over the weekend were perfect. She smashed through the questions, glancing every so often at Asher as she did so. Every time she did, she was reminded of something he'd said about English and how much she loved seeing his focus.

She noticed when he finished his exam, about five minutes before time was up and she was not far behind. After she double-checked each question she'd been asked, the clock on the projector screen rang, signalling the end of the exam.

With a stretch, Asher stood, grinning at Lila. From the loud conversations around them, there was a lukewarm reception to the exam questions.

She gathered her things and followed him out of the classroom. As soon as they were out, he turned to her, his beam infectious.

"Day one of exams done," he announced, taking her arm in his. "How'd you go?"

They discussed the exam all the way to the locker room before splitting off to grab their things and reuniting at Lila's locker, as usual.

Isaac and Elise were discussing the exam outside Elise's locker and Grace slipped by all four of them with a quick wave and exit.

'Probably running off to see her girlfriend,' Lila thought as she watched the locker room door close behind Grace.

Seeing Isaac reminded Lila of something. She glanced up at Asher as she locked her locker and he looked back at her with a serene smile. It looked like stress was beginning to peel off of him in layers. He didn't seem stressed before their English exam, though. Just how good was he at masking it?

"Ready?" he asked, holding a hand out for her to take. She nodded and intertwined his fingers with hers, briefly glancing behind her at Elise and Isaac before beginning to walk with Asher to the exit.

Her eyes constantly surveyed the students around them, most of whom were complaining whilst milling about or scarpering to the carpark and bus station as quickly as possible. Asher, however, seemed incredibly content to stroll with Lila at a leisurely pace – something she was fine with since the exam had meant they were leaving slightly earlier than usual.

She took a deep breath. "My love?"

"Yes?" he asked, turning his gaze to her eyes.

"You… said a lot of stuff today."

"I tend to do that around you," he chuckled.

She smiled before continuing. "Right, but I'm talking about morning tea with Isaac and Elise."

His hand twitched in her grasp. "Ah. Right."

"I know you carefully avoided a whole bunch of stuff we've been doing together, but you told him about the Police interviews. Why?"

A flash of worry passed through his eyes. "Sorry I didn't ask if I could-"

"I don't mind," she said firmly. "I'm just curious."

"Curious, huh…" he pursed his lips before softly sighing. "I want to tell Isaac everything, but I know I shouldn't. However, after their big reveal, it felt like we should trade in another bigger secret as part of that car trade-in deal. Since we're cleared for Piper's murder, I think, I thought the interview could be a good one. Plus, I've been bracing myself for him to ask me what's been going on all year. I'm surprised he waited until September, to be honest." Then, he grinned at her. "I didn't say a single lie."

"Were you thinking you would?"

"Well, at first, I was just going to deny everything. 'Course, that'd be a shit idea so I didn't. Felt like my brain was working double-time to think about what I could tell him."

She pulled him closer to her. "I think you definitely met your goal," she said before grinning widely. She skipped ahead of him, turning to face him whilst walking backwards.

"Elise and Isaac are right, though. You're really sappy."

He returned her grin with one of his own. "You make that sound like a bad thing."

"It's definitely not a bad thing. It… when you say things like that to other people, I feel… really…" she tried to find the words, faltering in her steps as she did so. "Loved."

He stopped in his tracks, his expression entirely serious. "Well, I do love you. Genuinely, with everything I have. I… I'd liked you for a really long time, but this year when you first said you'd help me – it just threw me into that feeling so much more. I wanted you around all the time and… it felt like you wanted to be there, too."

"I did," she smiled. "Still do."

"When I think about this year, all I can think about is you, you know. So when Isaac asked me why I was so different this year, I couldn't separate you from it, my love. Isaac said I kept talking about you but I've never told him to that extent how… how much you've really been there for me this year. I mean, I felt like I couldn't get into it properly since, well, it'd be tied into what we've been doing. I've mainly told him general stuff, like what we've been watching, or playing, or just casual things, or asked for advice since we started hanging out regularly. So I thought I should also tell him a bit more of the… more vulnerable stuff, I guess. It'd also mean that he's less likely to ask again."

"I see…" she gave him a shrewd look before closing the gap between them and wrapping her arms around him. He chuckled, placing a hand on her head before she looked up at him, her hands still around him.

"I love you," she murmured.

"I love you too, Lila. You'll miss the bus if we stand here for too long, though."

She made a disgruntled sound. "But… I want to stay here with you."

"Stay here? Surely it's not comfortable just standing half on the path to the bus."

She made another disgruntled sound, shaking her head against him. "No, but I mean… with you in my arms."

He didn't respond, his hand running over the top of her head before slipping through her ponytail. She tightened her hold on him and he lightly touched her shoulder.

"If you stay over on the weekend, we can spend all night like this," he said gently. She looked up again, into his eyes. She was struck by how emotional he seemed and she asked if he was okay, not moving an inch.

"Yes, my love. Just… hoping this isn't another dream of mine. You're being too cute for me to handle letting you go home."

"Then-"

He stepped back just enough so that he could kiss her, freezing her attempt at a suggestion in her throat.

"Even though I don't want you to go home and therefore away from me, the Maths exam is tomorrow. I'm sure you want to study for that one," he said as soon as he broke away from her.

She sighed. "Yeah, I do."

She followed his lead to the bus station, her mood far more subdued. She really didn't want to go home, since it meant he wouldn't be with her, but she also really needed to study.

They arrived at her bus stop, slipping past the teacher on duty before standing together, their hands linked.

"We should think about our plans for the holidays," he said with a small smile.

"I have," she nodded. "Imposing myself on your house for all fourteen days."

He laughed a deep belly laugh, squeezing her hands in his. "I'd love that, but I'm not sure your parents would."

She pursed her lips. "… Maybe," she said reluctantly. "I'd have to see what the limit is."

Her bus interrupted their conversation, squealing into place before them. He passed over her bags, his expression sullen.

"See you tomorrow," he said as she pulled her bags onto her shoulders.

"See you tomorrow," she repeated. "Though, I don't see a goodbye kiss-"

He immediately provided her with one, a small laugh settling in her chest. As eager as she seemed to be for physical contact, she could tell in moments like these that he was just as eager – if not more.

"I love you," she said after he broke away, his hand still cradling her head. "Study well and get some sleep, okay?"

"Same to you, my love. Especially the sleep. You need it for exams."

"I promise," he smiled.

"Good."